Ex To See

The Winery is fairly busy for a Sunday evening and I spend most of the time clearing empty wine glasses and dropping off cheese trays to tables. Tinsley is a whirlwind around the bar, answering questions about the notes in certain wines and what pairs well with certain cheeses. I'm still learning appropriate pairings because I've always been a firm believer that all wine goes well with everything- which is not correct, I guess.

When I glance to the clock above the wine rack, I notice I only have an hour left here and the opening door brings my attention back to the front. I watch as Jackson strolls over to the host stand and he catches my grimace as he walks over. He leans against the post when he reaches me and an amused smirk covers his face.

"Hey Sawyer, what did you think of my photography skills? I think I caught you perfectly in your natural habitat. Drunk and making a fool of yourself." I frown and snatch the menu he's leaning on out from under his arms.

"You're just jealous I wasn't stumblin' on over to your bed." Jackson snickers but I know he is jealous. I stuff the menu into the stand and glance back to him.

"So how did your girlfriend feel about you snapping pictures of your ex-fiancée in her bra?" He pulls himself away from the stand and I see pink coloring his cheeks.

"We're datin'. There's no labels yet," he mutters, but I'm sure he still got an earful from her about his inappropriate picture. Tinsley makes it over to the stand and when she sees Jackson, she scowls, "Ya know, if you weren't datin' my boss's daughter, I'd throw you out. You should be ashamed of yourself Jackson Hemming." He tilts his head back as he laughs and looks back to Tinsle.

"She's the one that stripped down in a park and yet I should be ashamed? I was merely trying to capture her beautiful figure. She should be flattered really." Jackson is unaware that Poppy is now standing behind him and I'm pretty sure smoke is coming from her ears. I quickly wipe the smirk from my face and my eyes dart from Jackson to Poppy. He finally catches on and spins around. I watch as his shoulders slump forward and he chases Poppy to the back of the bar.

"What does Poppy see in him?" I ask and Tinsley giggles.

"He's one of the most attractive men in Hollis and is also the wealthiest," she says. "Most girls can see past his douchbaggery for those two reasons alone." I frown and she giggles again. Maybe if Poppy really is in dire need of money, she would look past his wandering eye. I glance to the back of the bar and watch Poppy's dramatic hand gestures. She clearly doesn't mind that this is the same man that has been engaged twice in the past year, but has yet to make it down the aisle.

Jackson grabs her hands and attempts to kiss her as she turns her cheek. He pulls her into him and seconds later, she's melting into his arms. He brushes her dark hair behind her ear and her alabaster skin looks porcelain in the dim light. He kisses her again and this time she's more receptive. Looks like all is well again.

Tinsley catches me staring and asks, "Did ya hear that she calls him Jax? Like, she's trying to make it a thing. It's all Jax this and Jax that. She loves talking about him when you ain't around." I look to her and roll my eyes. I'm sure he loves having someone as obsessed with him as he is.

The front door opens again and I spot Lucy Breeland from the Historical Society coming over to the host stand. Her dark pony tail swings as she walks and she's all smiles when she sees me.

"Why hello there Ms. Sawyer. I had forgotten you worked here now." Her sweet voice makes me smile and I reply, "Yes, I help out here a couple days a week. Would you like a table?" She's still smiling as she shakes her head no and she looks down to retrieve a manila folder from her purse. She hands me the folder and says, "I'm just here to give this to Poppy. Can you pass it along to her?" I nod as I take the folder but I leave the cover shut. It has a Historical Society label on it so I know it has something to do with the club.

"Are we going to see you on Wednesday night? I don't think I ever got a response from you about attending?" She asks me and I quickly become confused.

"Wednesday? What's going on then?" I ask her and she looks to me like it's obvious.

"The meeting we have at the Samuels? I thought Poppy told you on Saturday. The club is meeting at the Samuels to go over the plans for the landscaping. She's having everyone over for some dessert and wine. Mrs. Hemming will be there too." A lightbulb pops on in my head and I realize why Poppy never "informed" me. Lucy is the same age as Tate and Jackson's mother but she doesn't have any children. She may not be aware of all the drama that has happened between Jackson and me unless she's diligent about reading the Hollis Herald's gossip column. I'm unable to answer as Poppy comes bolting towards Lucy and from the frazzled look on her face, I know I was not supposed to be invited on Wednesday.

"Mrs. Lucy dear! I didn't see you walk in," Poppy gushes as she lightly kisses Lucy on the cheek. I hand her the folder Lucy entrusted me with and smile, "Mrs. Lucy was just dropping this off." Poppy takes the folder from me but from her manic expression, I can tell she is worried that Lucy spilled the beans. Her eyes run over the folder and Lucy looks to her, "I was just telling Sawyer here about Wednesday," her eyes flit back to me as she continues, "I know the Samuels adore you so I do hope that you'll come!" Poppy looks frozen as her smile doesn't move from her frazzled face. I nod back to her, "I'll see if I can arrange a few things in my schedule to make it. It was great seeing you!" She gives us her warm smile again and turns to leave the winery. Both Poppy and I watch as the door closes and I see Tinsley has made herself sparse. Poppy finally looks to me and says, "Look Sawyer, I'm sure it looks like I didn't invite you-"

"It's not a big deal. I understand," I say trying to remedy any tension between us. I don't need Jax creating more enemies for me.

"It's just, I know you dated Tate Samuels and Scarlett Hemming was also going to be there. I thought it might be awkward for you," she says trying to come across sincere, but I know it's because it would be more awkward for her than me.

I nod to her, "Yeah, thanks for looking out for me. However, I would be just devastated if either family thought I was avoiding them so if you could just say I had to work or something that would be great. I would hate for them to think there was any drama." I know how fake I just sounded using the word devastated but I know how to play the game. Poppy smiles another fake smile and nods in agreement. She taps the folder in her fingers before swinging back around to find Jackson.

Tinsley finally reappears next to me and says, "So it might be getting awkward for Poppy it seems like."

I glance to her and nod, "Her and Jackson were merely fooling around when I decided to join the Historical Society. But now that they are dating, I'm sure it's weird for her to have his ex-fiancée everywhere. We are friendly with the same people, I work at her family winery. Her possible future mother-in-law was at one time my future mother-in-law. It has to be awkward if not frustrating for her."

"I think Poppy genuinely likes you, I think she just wants to see you as a friend and not as her competition. I think if you just stick to yourself and focus on work, she should have no reason to be bothered by you," Tinsley says as she drops a stack of freshly laundered napkins between us. I grab the silverware bin and reply, "You're right. I'm just going to focus on myself and there shouldn't be any trouble. I don't want to deal with Jackson or Poppy any more than I have to. He's the one that broke my heart. I don't have any lingering feelings, even if he wishes that weren't the case." I grab a fork and a knife and roll it into the napkin as I glance one last time to Jackson and Poppy. She happens to catch my eye right as I look over and I watch her frown. I quickly look back to my napkins and ask Tinsley about her boyfriend. Her high-pitched voice goes up another octave when she talks about him and we spend the rest of work giggling and gossiping. I make it a point to never look over to Jackson again.