Page 42 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

His mind was a haze of misplaced bitterness.

He owed his parents one whopper of an apology.

Snapping his computer closed, he lifted his cell and stared at the unread messages from Talbot. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to read them until now.

Talbot:We need to talk. Please call me.

Talbot:I understand you’re mad. I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I’m not expecting anything from you. I need to talk to you. There is something you need to know.

Talbot:This is important. I wouldn’t keep bothering you if it wasn’t.

Talbot:There is one more truth that needs to be told and you need to hear it from me.

He tossed his phone to the table. He couldn’t even imagine what that was and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out.

A tap at the door sent his hangover into overdrive.

“Open up, little brother,” Chablis’ voice rang out. “I’ve got a key and I’m not afraid to use it.”

“The door’s unlocked,” he yelled.

Chablis strolled into the cottage carrying a ginger ale in one hand. “I’m fucking sicker than a dog with this kid.” She tossed her purse on the sofa and made a beeline for the pantry. She found a bag of pretzels and pulled up a chair. “I’m also hungry all the time, which makes no sense, but at least I’m not throwing up.”

“I guess that’s good news.” He folded his arms. “I take it you’re here as the next wave to tell me what an asshole I am.”

“Pretty much.” She smiled before chomping on her snack. “But in all fairness, I’d also be pissed at Mom and Dad. I’d probably behave the same way.” She waved another treat in the air. “However, I understand why they did what they did, including trying to keep you from Talbot. I mean, shit. When you said she kissed like Daisy, I guess you meant it.”

“We can’t call her that,” Merlot said. “We have to remember she’s Talbot. Her safety is at stake.”

“At least I know you still have a heart.”

He chuckled. “I only lost my mind for a day.”

“You really hurt Dad. He’s been sulking like I’ve never seen him before.”

“I will never forget the weeks following the funeral. Dad acted like he’d lost his best friend. I thought it was because I was in so much pain, but now I know it was the beginning of another secret and one he really had no choice but to keep.”

“I’m glad you see it that way.” Chablis reached across the table and took his hand. “This family is highly dysfunctional. We have a boatload of pain, and I’ve been on the receiving end of it more than once. When Mom refused to tell Malbec the big bad dark secret and he abandoned me and then everything that happened with Dax, I thought I would die. But the one thing I’ve learned is that all that brought us back together and we are stronger than ever, even if our mom is still stranger than shit. She’s already planning on how she will win that damn race.”

“She cheats every year.”

Chablis rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but thank God, I’m pregnant and can say, sorry Mom, I’m not going to be in that race with you.”

“I fake twisted my ankle last year, so I’ll have to devise a better excuse. Zinny is out. So are the twins. We need them running the wine booth.”

“Sounds like you’re taking back that resignation that Mom is so terrified you might actually follow through on.” Chablis smiled.

“I don’t know, maybe.” He shrugged. He had no desire to go back to being a parole officer. Those days were over, although he did miss carrying a gun on a regular basis. “But I’m still taking a few more days off to clear my head. I’m not sure I can be around our folks without saying something I will regret.”

“What about Talbot?”

“I have no idea what to do about her.” Merlot still couldn’t wrap his brain around his rage or where it originated. He’d been incredibly and unreasonably cruel. However, he wasn’t sure there was a place for her in his life. “I need to apologize to her as well.”

“I’m glad you’re being a decent human being.”

“The only problem is I’m not prepared to face her just yet.” Merlot knew he needed to get his head out of his ass and put on his big boy pants. But that didn’t mean he and Talbot would mean anything to each other. There was too much history, too much pain, and there was no going back. “Is it a douche move to text her anI’m sorry.”

“Oh my God. Yes. At least call her.”

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