“I guess that’s part of it. They said they wanted our names to be special. So, they named each of us after the city where we were conceived.”
Beau choked on his sip of wine. “Uh. That is not what I thought you were going to say.” He started to laugh.
“I don’t tell too many people, but since you’ve obviously been initiated into the James family pack, you can probably handle it.”
He grinned. “Yeah, your brothers are awesome. It sort of makes me wish my parents had wanted to have more kids. A brother would have been fun. I’m having a great time with them.”
“I’m glad. They obviously love you. You have managed to experience every competitive sport offered at the winery.”
“So what changed?”
“What do you mean?”
“With your parents. Why did they go from gypsy-hippies to strict, iron fist ruling dictators?”
Beau had asked a question my brothers and I had asked repeatedly. Austin was the only one who could remember all of the trips they used to take and the life that was so different from the one I grew up experiencing.
“I don’t know. They aren’t really dictators.” I thought back to the conversation with my father in the kitchen this morning. He was always genuine and warm—just cautious. I was their only daughter and that wasn’t an easy post to hold among my brothers. They were all protective of me. “I guess they grew up and had responsibilities with five children. They started the winery as a dare almost, but it turned into their entire life. I think they thought it would be more fun and less business. Turns out running a winery is a full-time business.”
“Isn’t that what everyone worries about? Life might stop being fun?” Beau watched the water rippling over the rocks.
“Are you worried about law school in the fall? I’ve heard it’s not much fun. All those vicious one L horror stories.”
“Me? Worried? No.” He slammed back the remaining drops in his glass. “What’s the next wine on the tasting?”
I reached into the bag to pull out our next sample. I let the crimson liquid flow into his glass.
“This one is good too.” He smiled. “Are you worried about L.A.?”
Of course I was worried. I was terrified to move across the country, but I couldn’t tell Beau that. “That’s silly. L.A. is going to be amazing. I know I’ll probably just get commercial spots or be a movie extra for awhile, but it’s still going to be amazing.” I thought about all of the casting calls I had tossed in the trash. I hadn’t even applied for the first spot.
Beau sighed. “I thought you might say that.” He stood up. “It’s getting dark. We should probably get back to the house before your dad gets hungry.”
“But we didn’t try all the wines.”
I was frantically trying to think of how I could drag out our time away from the house and my brothers. Beau held out his hand. From my position on the ground, I looked up at his brown eyes covered in sadness. I placed my palm in his, allowing him to ease me off the ground.
“Another time, movie star.” His hand still held mine. I didn’t want to let go or break contact with him. I reached down with my free hand and slung my backpack over my left shoulder. His fingers entwined in mine. We walked back to the house, not talking, but somehow I felt Beau was saying something much more important with his hand pressed into mine.
“I feel like you’ve been holding out on me, London.” Nina was busy tucking in the sheets to my trundle bed that we had just erected from under my bed.
“Nina, I love you, but I cannot hear you talk about my brothers. It’s just gross. Nothing. Not one detail. Ok?”
“Awww…but who am I supposed to tell that Austin is such a great kisser?” She giggled as I hit her with one of my throw pillows.
“Ick. That is exactly what I don’t want to hear. You already kissed my brother?” I tried to erase the image burning a hole in my brain of my older brother lip-locked with my best friend.
“Hey. I came here to do you a favor.” She picked up a pillow and pretended to hit me with it.
“You’re right. Thank you. The cookie dough was the perfect magic to break them up.”
“So? What happened? I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since dinner. I can’t believe we played in a card championship all night. They are relentless.”
“Yeah, my brothers are extremely competitive. They play any game they can, any chance they get.”
“And? What about Beau? What happened when you got him alone?” Nina positioned herself on the edge of the single bed.
I smiled. “He held my hand. It was nice.”