She cast me a harsh glare. “You’ve been scared to disappoint your dad your whole life. I see that so clearly now more than ever. But what about the fact that he’s been disappointing you? If you continue to live your life for everyone else, then you’re not living for yourself. I’m afraid you’re going to look back at everything and hate yourself for it one day. Or at least have a huge ball of James Russo–sized regrets. At some point, you have to stop being worried about who you’re letting down and realize that every time you go against your heart, you’re letting yourself down. And that’s way worse.”

Silence hung in the air between us as I waited for more words to spill from her lips, so I could add them to the cyclone of thoughts currently spinning inside my mind.

When no more words came, she said, “Okay, you can talk now.”

“I’ve never even thought about working for someone else before,” I said, feeling a little stupid because it seemed like such a simple solution, if I were looking for one. I knew that almost any winery would hire me on the spot, but I’d never even considered that an option. I wasn’t sure I wanted to. It was a big ask—to give up my legacy and what was supposed to be rightfully mine without a second thought.

“So, what are you thinking?” Jeanine’s voice sounded hopeful for the first time since I’d arrived, but I knew that my response would change all that.

I sucked in an audible breath. “Honestly? I’m thinking that I don’t know how to walk away from my family and still be okay with that. But I do know how to walk away from James. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”

THE FIXER

James

My phone rang with a number that rarely ever called during my lifetime, but I had saved it nonetheless.

“Jeanine,” I said into the speaker, wondering what exactly she was calling for.

“I need to talk to you, lover boy,” she said.

I knew instantly that she was aware of what had gone down between me and Julia. I wasn’t surprised or upset in the least, considering that she was Julia’s best friend.

“I didn’t do anything,” I defended myself without any idea as to why, but once I started, I couldn’t seem to stop. “I didn’t hurt her, Jeanine. If anything, it’s the other way around, so I’m not sure what exactly she told you, but ask her yourself.”

“Jesus, Russo, shut up for one second and just meet me outside,” she snipped and hung up.