Gabriella couldn’t help but notice that she hadn’t looked at Ryan when she’d asked the question, instead inspecting the color of the wine. “With the construction?”
Ryan smiled. “Oh, well, I was always interested in how things were made. I’d examine toasters, bookshelves, everything. Drove my parents crazy. I eventually started teaching myself, and it went from there until I was old enough to get a job and assist a local contractor. We’re kind of similar in that way, I guess. Knowing early where our interests fell.”
“We’re not that similar,” Madison said flatly. She swirled her wineglass and took a delicate sip.
Ouch. Gabriella passed Ryan an encouraging smile, or at least tried to, but Ryan’s gaze was firmly on the tablecloth.
“Well, you’re both great at what you do,” Joey said, trying to save them. She looked around expectantly. “What’s the special tonight?”
“I believe it’s a citrus grilled pork chop with polenta and a garlic mash,” Becca said, jumping right in. Bless them both. A for effort.
“You have the most magical words,” Gabriella said, focusing on the food. She was a recent fan of this chef, brought in from Chicago when the resort opened, and there was no way she was passing up that pork chop. “Decided. The special. What are you having?” she asked Ryan, who surveyed the menu.
Ryan offered a small smile, which meant she was rebounding. “Is it wrong that I’m gravitating to the burger?” She seemed embarrassed.
Gabriella shook her head. “Not at all. I bet it’s wonderful.”
“Remember when we’d hit up restaurants back east along the wine trail?” Madison asked. “I’d always let you order for me because you knew what would be good or in season. I guess that means I’ll have the pork chop, too.”
Gabriella turned to Madison, slightly uneasy about the reference to their past, which felt pointed. “Good call.”
Ryan closed her menu. “You know what? You make a good point. I think I’ll have the special as well.”
“Convenient,” Madison said quietly, the corners of her mouth tugging. This wasn’t like her.
Ryan stared at Madison, who seemed not to notice. Gabriella watched the muscle in Ryan’s jaw tighten and placed a hand on her leg under the table. Ryan covered it with her hand and gave it a squeeze.
Becca, Joey, and Gabriella did what they could to keep the conversation lively and afloat, but it was honestly exhausting navigating through the palpable tension. Perhaps this dinner hadn’t been a good idea after all. She wouldn’t have predicted the obvious strife.
They were a couple glasses in and discussing plans for the chardonnay release when the entrées arrived. Everything looked fabulous, the plating and the presentation superb. Gabriella couldn’t wait to try the food. The Crown Jewel was bustling, full of lively tables as the little lights of Whisper Wall twinkled below them in the newly fallen darkness. But their table was strained, and what a shame that was. It should have been the perfect evening out with friends. Maybe they’d find a way to recover.
Ryan picked up Gabriella’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. “How long did the two of you date?” she asked, indicating Madison in the conversation as well.
“Us?” Gabriella, surprised, looked to Madison and back. “Four months. Nearly five,” she told Ryan.
“It was a memorable five months, though, wouldn’t you say?” Madison laughed to keep it light, but it was anything but. The wine had loosened her up.
“Apparently not,” Ryan said quietly and began to eat. Oh no.
“I’m sorry?” Madison asked, still smiling pleasantly, her wineglass practically dangling from her fingertips.
Ryan turned and looked Madison square in the eyes. “I just meant apparently it wasn’t that great in the end, since you two called it off. What was it you said?” Ryan asked Gabriella. “That you two make better friends, right?” Ryan went back to her meal, and Gabriella now wanted to crawl under the table, furious at both of them. Ryan could have let the earlier comment go. Should have.
“We’ve definitely found what works best for us,” Gabriella said in what she hoped was a measured voice.
“Maybe.” Madison set down her fork in thought. “As for back east, I think our lives just weren’t aligned at the time. But it was serious. We practically lived together and talked about getting married. Remember that?” she asked Gabriella casually, as if reminiscing about a fun movie they’d once seen.
“I love this wine,” Joey said loudly, too loudly. “It’s so fruit-forward and fun.”
“Isn’t it, though?” Becca said, leaping into the conversation