All of Me by Heatherly Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

“Eric, I’m taking a break.”
    “Hey, how long are you going to be gone? You have to get me some help,” Eric shouted from behind the bar.
    “Ivey, do you mind? All you have to do is pour and look pretty. You can do it.”
    Great. She knew almost nothing about wine. “You’re kidding, right?”
    “I’ll be right back,” Brooke said as she led Ivey behind the table. “Eric, here’s your help. Be nice.”
    Eric, who didn’t even look old enough to drink, glanced at her sideways. “So. Who are you?”
    “Ivey. Can’t that man wait to talk to Brooke?”
    He lifted a shoulder. “I doubt it. He’s the boss.”
    That explained it. Ivey had never seen Brooke rush to please a man like that. She was probably working on a promotion. “Help me out here. What should I do?”
    “Push the Cabernet, and you’ll be fine.” Eric handed her an opened bottle.
    For the next twenty minutes offering Cabernet seemed to be enough as Ivey poured and smiled.
    She recognized some of the locals, but most of the people here would be tourists. The wine train made a regular stop here, and it was that time of the year.
    “My heavens, Ivey, is that you?”
    Ivey turned to see Wynonna Pusini, the high-school cafeteria lady. Most everyone in town referred to Mrs. Pusini as the town’s spinster. Aunt Lucy said every town had one. It wasn’t fair, but the label seemed to fit. Mrs. Pusini was a spitfire Greek-Italian woman who didn’t put up with anyone’s shit, and that was the main reason, she’d once explained to Ivey, that she had no husband.
    Ivey stood up straighter and poured a glass of the red. “Hi, Mrs. Pusini.”
    She had to be retired by now, and she wasn’t alone. There was a gentleman with her, balding with a slight paunch, his arm protectively around Mrs. Pusini’s waist. Well, well, good for her.
    “This is my husband, Al.” She introduced Al, who took his arm off her for only a second to shake hands with Ivey. “I got married last year. Can you believe it?”
    “Finally someone had the good sense to catch you.”
    “That would be me.” Al nodded.
    “What about you? Are you and Jeff back together? Please say you are. You wouldn’t believe it, but I finally believe in happy endings.” She held out her glass again.
    Ivey poured her another taste. “No, we’re definitely not back together. But we’re friends.”
    “Bah! Friends? What kind of nonsense is that?”
    Ivey blinked. Mrs. Pusini had had enough, and Ivey held back the bottle. That didn’t make her too happy, if one were to go by the sour expression on her face.
    “We don’t all get our happy ending,” Ivey said.
    “Baloney. Look at her, Al. Isn’t she pretty? What about your nephew?”
    “What about him?” Al, bless his heart, asked.
    “For Ivey. She needs someone. Isn’t he about her age?”
    Al’s brow furrowed. “I think he’s nineteen.”
    “Perfect!” Mrs. Pusini sang out.
    Oh, for the love of Pete. “I’m twenty-five.”
    “Even better. You’re a cougar.” She cackled. Still smoked a pack a day, Ivey would guess.
    She didn’t like this new Mrs. Pusini. As Al pulled Mrs. Pusini along to the next tasting table, Ivey wondered if they still had a town spinster. Seemed like everyone was married or dating someone, if tonight was any indication. Except, of course, for her. She was the loneliest number.
    Every town had a spinster. Could she be the town’s spinster in training? Ivey wracked her brain for the last time she’d had a date. Back in LA, she’d given up hope on men. Seemed like every single one of them was either gay or an actor. But it was time to get back in the game. She couldn’t take Mrs. Pusini’s place. Someone else would have to do that.
    Ivey bent over the bar and waved. “Mrs. Pusini, wait! I’ll give you my number.”
    She waved back and smiled. Possibly she couldn’t hear over all these talking, happy, disgusting couples. Who are you kidding? You’d give anything to be that disgusting.
    When Ivey