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I smiled Ellie always referred to her mother by her first na totheir dream a reality”

“It’s not my idea of fun Brides are insane Even perfectly norer I’ married”

“You just like butting heads with your mother”

“I can’t help it She keeps asking me what my life plan is”

I sighed “Your mom always did love a plan”

“And I keep telling her, reat head winemaker they’ve had at Abelard for fifteen years and pro”

“Solid strategy”

“Actually, I think she’s just wondering when I’ll stop taking up one of their guest roo them if they want me to be able to afford rent somewhere they should pay me more”

Ellie had recentlypractically our entire senior year in the south of France, doing an internship at a vineyard her dad’s family owned She spoke fluent French, because her dad had been born there and he spoke nothing but French to her and her brothers growing up Now she lived and worked at Abelard Vineyards, her parents’ winery, which was on Old Mission Peninsula, only about twenty minutes away

“Ell, you can totally afford a place around here,” I told her “It just won’t be as fancy as those guest rooms at Abelard”

“Listen, as I’ve explained to Mia and Lucas, I need to be able to live in the lifestyle to which I’ve becoht?”

I laughed “I’m not sure that’s hoorks” Downstairs, I heard soo Someone’s at my door”

“Okay See you tonight”

Three

Winnie

Ending the call, I hurried down the steps, wondering if it was one ofon the wall near the front door, and I glanced at it

My dirty blond hair, which I had not brushed yet today, was pulled back in a haphazard ponytail I wore no ed out of my pajamas earlier, the outfit I wore—ripped denim shorts and a cropped white top—wasn’t what I’d have chosen to ood first impression The bottoms of the shorts were all shredded and the shirt had a coffee stain on the front I was barefoot too

Whoever it was knocked again