Nicole's POV
By the time I arrived at the wine bureau, the weight of lectures and crowded classrooms still clung to me.
I checked my phone for the time as I pushed the glass door open.
It was my afternoon shift, my first official day.
The familiar scent wrapped around me instantly, warm and comforting. Oak, fruit, something slightly sweet. It calmed my nerves more than I expected it to.
“Nicole!” Mia’s voice called out from behind the counter.
I turned, instantly smiling. “Hi.”
“Just in time,” she said, eyeing my bag. “Done with classes?”
“Barely survived them,” I joked, earning a laugh.
She handed me an apron and gestured toward the back. “Go ahead and drop your things. Today is light, you will mostly be observing, greeting customers, and helping with a small tasting setup. No
