Strangers.
A black minivan showed up out front of GG’s house. The tinted windows obscured all the faces inside.
Still, I made my way across the road, teetering in my heels after a glass of champagne on a very empty stomach. I rectified my lack of breakfast but it hadn’t quite taken effect just yet.
GG stood at the door. “Oh hey, babe. Everyone else is inside. Except for James, who is using the bathroom.”
I kissed her on the cheek and ascended into the vehicle.
There must have been twenty people aboard. I recognised Taylor, Sophia, and Malcolm immediately, but no one else.
“Hi everyone,” I said.
I pretended like I knew the faces, or at least I wasn’t intimidated by the idea that I was setting off on an adventure with people I barely knew.
It wasn’t my idea of fun, but going to wineries and going wine tasting certainly was. And I wasn’t in a position to make a fuss with my friends. GG wanted me there.
I promised myself not to complain.
Introduction.
Taylor stood from his seat and gave me a quick squeeze. “Hello lovely. Here, come sit near me.”
Behind Taylor’s seat was an empty one, next to a man, one of the many faces I didn’t know. I took my seat and extended my hand to the stranger. “I’m Andie.”
This handsome figure smiled at me with beautiful green eyes, gentle white skin, and a slight redness to his manicured beard. “Joel.”
Taylor leaned over the seat. “Be nice to this guy. He’s my lawyer.”
“Ahh, a lawyer. Are you here to make sure Taylor doesn’t do anything stupid?”
Joel laughed. “No, I’m more here to make sure he doesn’t spend all his money on wine. His accountant is sitting in the back row as my back up.”
I joined in and chuckled along with him.
Buyer.
“You’re not going to stop me from buying wine, are you?” Joel shook his head.
“Oh, I wouldn’t presume to control your finances. But I warn you, I’m a sucker for any Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley. And I heard we’re going to Yarra Yering. And their standard bottle is $110. I can be a bad influence.”
I couldn’t tell if Joel was flirting with me. When you get to your mid-thirties, banter like this doesn’t automatically mean you’re flirting. Sometimes it’s breaking the ice, being kind, and making conversation that befits two strangers obliged to get along.
Either way, it was better than everything else going on right now.
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
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