“I think that’s all. Thank you so much for your time,” the reporter said.
“It’s my pleasure,” I said.
Jessie lowered her microphone, and the camera stopped rolling. Her smile was bright as she brushed her hair back off her neck. The Texas summer heat was definitely uncomfortable.
“That was great,” she said. “You’re a natural on camera.”
I laughed. “Nah, I’m sure I looked nervous.”
“Were you nervous? You didn’t look it.”
“Thanks. Is there anything else that you need?”
She shook her head. “We’re good. I’ll take this back and edit. Should air tomorrow. We’ll send you a link and the write-up.”
“Perfect.”
“Good to see you, Julian,” she said and then sauntered off with her cameraman.
I blew out a breath as soon as she was gone. I actually hated being on camera. Jordan was the one who did well with public speaking. He was better in front of a camera. Even though I had the charm one-on-one, it was a different matter in front of a crowd. But I was the face of Wright Vineyard. Jordan was counting on me. He’d handed over all the responsibilities, and I had to take up the mantle. That included getting over my nerves with public speaking.
I shook out my hands. A problem for another day.
I headed back inside and watched the end of the show. Our new manager, Alejandra, had tours set up for after the show along with coupons for customers to come back another day for a tasting. She was handling the rest of her team beautifully as Cosmere’s show ended and people streamed out of the venue.
“Congrats, cuz,” Morgan said as she strode backstage with Jensen on her heels.
My Wright cousins were a blessing. They were the part of my family that I’d never known I was missing. It was like having five more siblings. Always up in our business and meaning well and joking and laughing and ready for a good time. Jensen was the oldest and ran Wright Architecture, a passion project that he paired with Fortune 500 Wright Construction, which Morgan ran. Austin also worked there as a senior vice president with Jordan. Landon was the quintessential middle child and a professional golfer. He’d even started a PGA course here in town. Then, there was Sutton, who had rebelled against it all and ran a local bakery in town, Death by Chocolate.
“I didn’t know you were here,” I said, hugging Morgan. Then I shook Jensen’s hand.
“Wouldn’t have missed it,” he said with a smile.
“We’re excited to build on the Wright brand,” Morgan said.
Jensen nudged. “No work talk.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
Jensen crossed his arms in the typical big-brother move. “I’m older than you.”
She held her hand up. “Don’t care.” She winked at me. “Heard your dad showed up.”
I sighed. Of course that was why they were here. “He did. Yeah.”
“Everything all right?” Jensen asked.
“I don’t know. Jordan invited him.”
Morgan balked at that. “What? Why?”
“Crisis of conscience,” I volunteered.
Morgan laughed. “That’s something. So, is he here to stay?”
“I don’t know. He said that he’s a changed man.” I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t believe him, and I told him to leave. I’d guess he wants something, and he’s trying to get in with me and Jordan to get it.”
“Sounds like his MO,” Morgan said.
“I agree. He’s trouble. But maybe he’s being sincere,” Jensen said.
Morgan shot him a look of disbelief.
“I don’t support him. just mean…if I could have our parents back,” he said, his eyes meeting Morgan’s, “I’d do anything.”
“He’s not,” I insisted.
Jensen nodded, backing off.
Their mom had died from cancer when they were young, and their dad had died when Jensen was just out of college. He’d had to take over the mantle at a young age. I appreciated what they meant, but their dad wasn’t like my dad. Just because they were brothers didn’t mean anything.
“Well, congrats on the opening,” Jensen said. “Can’t wait to come back and do some wine tastings when I can get away again.”
“How are Emery and Robin?” I asked.
Emery had delivered a healthy baby girl last month by emergency C-section. Both were fine, but Emery had taken longer to recover.
“They’re both great. Her mom has temporarily moved into our guest bedroom. She’s been a big help with Robin,” Jensen said. “I know Emery’s ready to get up and get moving again.”
“I bet.”
“Well, we’ll get out of your hair,” Jensen said, shaking my hand again and then disappearing with Morgan.
I waved them good-bye and went to find Nora to help her close down the event. Nora was Hollin’s younger sister and the in-house event planner. She’d graduated from Texas Tech earlier this month, but she’d been interning with an event planner in town for a few years. She was a pro, and I was lucky to have her working with us.
“We’re all good here,” Nora said, patting down the bar top over an hour later when almost everyone had gone home. “I’m heading out for the night. I’m exhausted.”
She’d been working on the event night and day since she’d graduated. She’d gotten to the venue this morning at five a.m. and not stopped since then. She was a champ for only being all of five feet tall.
“All right. Have a good night. Take tomorrow off.”
She saluted me with a yawn and headed out. Jordan and Annie followed her, leaving just me and Hollin behind.
I took a seat on a barstool as Hollin hopped behind the bar.
“What’ll you have?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Too tired to drink.”
“That’s not the energy I’m looking for here, Wright,” he said, cracking a smile. “You don’t want me to choose for you.”
True. I really did not. “All right. Just a beer then.”
“Boring,” he said as he popped the top on a Blue Moon, poured it into a glass with an orange slice, and passed it to me. “Enjoy.”
I tipped the drink to him and took a good, long sip. Maybe I needed this more than I’d thought. Between Ashleigh, my dad, and the interview, I was wrung out.
“Good news, boys,” Alejandra said, striding forward in her mile-high heels. She’d worked all day in them, paired with a tight-fitting top and jeans. Her headset dangled from one hand.
“Yeah?” I asked.
Hollin’s eyes tracked her. There was no way that was happening. He’d said so when he hired her. Even if she wasn’t off the market, she’d bust his balls for even trying. “I like good news. Lay it on us, Villareal.”
“We’re booked out for tours the next two weeks.”
“Shit!” Hollin said.
“I know. We sold off a few cases of wine already, too. Not to mention, the admission costs more than covered the event, even with Cosmere’s fee.”
When it had just been Campbell, he’d done it for free, but we hadn’t expected the rest of the band to comply with that. Also, I was sure their manager, agent, and record label wouldn’t have liked it either.
“That is good news.” I lifted my glass to her. “Want to stay for a drink?”
“Unfortunately, no,” she said. “I’ll leave you to celebrate. I’m going to go home to Adrian. I don’t think I’ve seen him all week.”
I finished off my beer, and Hollin passed me another.
When I started to protest, he held up his hand. “Cuz, we’ve earned it.”
“Fine.” I pulled it toward me.
Just then the door to the backstage opened, and out walked Jennifer, talking to Campbell with wide, adoring eyes. I’d never seen her look at anyone like that, and something twisted in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t care if Campbell Abbey was a famous rockstar and Jen loved his music; I didn’t like it.
I stood. “Hey, Jen. Celebratory drink?”
Her eyes snapped up to mine, and her smile brightened. “Uh, sure. I need to get home to Avocado and Bacon, but maybe one.”
“Avocado and Bacon?” Campbell asked.
He nodded his head at Hollin as Jen slid into the seat next to me, and Campbell walked around to make his own drink.
“They’re her cats,” I explained.
Jennifer wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like cats. They’re just cats that live on my street.”
“That you feed.”
“Well, yeah. I don’t want them to starve.”
“They have names.”
“I can’t just call them Cat One and Cat Two!”
Campbell laughed. “I think I get it. You take care of stray cats?”
“I…well, yes.”
“Cute,” Campbell said with a wink.
Jennifer flushed and took the drink that Hollin had passed to her. I glowered at him. Hollin tried not to laugh as he leaned his elbows against the bar.
“So, next weekend.” Campbell arched his eyebrow.
“What about next weekend?” I asked.
Hollin buried his face in his drink at my tone.
“I liked Jennifer’s images, and she asked if I’d be interested in sitting for a portrait series she’s working on. She said she could get us studio space.”
Oh. Not a date. What the fuck was wrong with me? Why had I immediately jumped there?
“That’s cool,” I added lamely.
“I’d really love to shoot the portrait session, but I’m not free next weekend. Sorry,” Jennifer said with a wince. “It’s my brother’s graduation in Austin, and my parents would skin me alive if I missed it.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s going to be terrible.”
“Why?” Hollin asked. “Don’t get along with your brother?”
“No. I mean, we get along okay, but my mom’s…tough. She doesn’t approve of my job, especially because Chester is kind of a genius. And then I’ll get the third degree about not having a date. My mom even made some comment about how my brother’s girlfriend will be there and I won’t have a date.”
“Oof,” Campbell said. “Tough.”
“Fuck that shit,” Hollin responded eloquently.
She shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of the drink Hollin had poured her. “It’s fine.”
There was that word again.
Fine.
It wasn’t fine.
“Well, no problem. We can reschedule,” Campbell agreed. “I miss being home. Hoping to spend more time in Lubbock this summer. Maybe another show in a month?”
“Definitely,” Hollin agreed.
“Fuck,” I whispered as I checked that date on my phone. “Just not that last weekend in June. I have a gala I’m supposed to attend.”
Jennifer slid her eyes to mine. “The one Ashleigh mentioned?”
“Ashleigh was here?” Hollin demanded.
“Uh, yeah…meant to tell you,” I muttered. “I took care of it. She wanted to cause trouble.”
“That’s all she does,” he snarled.
Hollin had never forgiven her for trying to sabotage the winery. None of us had, but Hollin had taken it personally.
“Yeah. Well, we planned this gala to help promote the winery when we were still dating. Now, I have to go stag. Kill me.” I downed the rest of my beer.
Hollin shook his head. “That fucking sucks.”
“Maybe there’s a solution here,” Campbell said, his gaze shifting between me and Jennifer. “Maybe y’all should go together?”
“What?” I barked.
“I mean, you’re friends, right? It’d be easy enough for you to go to Jennifer’s brother’s graduation party and woo her parents, and she could go to your gala and make Ashleigh jealous.”
Jennifer’s eyes went wide, and she shook her head. “I don’t think—”
Hollin nodded his head. “It’d be great. Julian, you can woo anyone. And having Jen there would make Ashleigh go crazy. It’d be beautiful.”
“The perfect fake dates,” Campbell said with a knowing smile.
Jennifer stood, shoving her drink farther away from her. “I think we’ve all had a long night. I’m going to go check on the cats. Thanks for the drink, Hollin. Night, y’all.”
I watched her walk out with something heavy settling on my chest. I’d pushed her too far. That kiss had ruined any chance I’d had. Just the idea of fake dating me and she’d literally run out of the room.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Hollin asked.
“What?”
Campbell arched his eyebrow and tossed back his drink. “This is your cue to go after her.”
“Fuck,” I muttered and dashed from my seat and into the cooling summer evening.