Page 16 of Out of Place

“How’s it going out there?” Camden asks. He’s got a stupid smirk on his face, like he knows exactly how it’s going.

“Fine,” I tell him. “I just didn’t realize it was going to be hotter than Satan’s asshole out there today.”

The three guys choke out a laugh, and Aunt Dottie looks at me with an open mouth. “Olivia. Language.”

I mumble an apology. “And those blueberries are turning my fingers purple. I’m going to have to get my nails re-done.”

“Glad to see you have your priorities in order,” Camden says. I roll my eyes. Landon chuckles. Bennett says nothing and pretends like none of us are here.

Aunt Dottie just shakes her head and tells me to go wash up for lunch in the bathroom down the hall. When I get there, I look in the mirror. The person I see is not me. My hair is a mess, mascara is running down my face, dirt is smeared across my cheek, and my eyes are red.

I hate this place. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

I wash my hands and attempt to get some of the dirt off my face before walking back out. I stop in the hall outside the kitchen when I hear voices from the kitchen and realize they’re talking about me.

“What’s she doing here, Dottie? You know we can handle this without her. She’s more worried about breaking a nail than doing hard work.”

“Camden Ellington. Don’t be like that. It’s her first day,” Aunt Dottie says. “She’ll come around. She’s my sister’s daughter, after all.”

“Yeah, your sister who ran off with a billionaire and left you to run this place the first chance she got,” Camden replies bitterly.

“Boys, I wanted this farm. Helena didn’t. She did what was best for her, and I stayed here, which is what was best for me. We’re both happy. But I’m getting older. I need someone to look after this farm when I’m gone.” Is she talking about me? No way. If she is, my parents conveniently left that part out when they sent me on this little “adventure.”

“And you think she’s the one to do it?” Camden asks in disbelief.

“I don’t know yet,” Aunt Dottie answers honestly. “But I’m keeping an open mind. You should, too. She’s family.”

He scoffs. “She’s not cut out for this. She’s going to go running to Mommy and Daddy as soon as she can.”

“That’s enough,” Dottie says with a sharper tone.

“Come on. We all saw how she showed up here yesterday, looking like something from a lingerie fashion show.” Man, Camden really does not like me. Too bad I don’t really care.

“I said that’s enough,” Dottie says, her tone is even more forceful. This time, everyone goes quiet. “People can change. The three of you know that more than anything. So give her a chance. She needs this. I need this.”

There’s silence for several more moments before I realize no one else is going to say anything, so I step into the kitchen.

Everyone is looking down at their plate when I walk in. Only Aunt Dottie looks up at me. “Your sandwich is right here, hun.” She points to the plate sitting next to her at the table.

I look around the table, but no one will meet my eyes. I clear my throat. “I think I’m going to eat outside.”

Aunt Dottie’s brows furrow, but she doesn’t stop me as I grab my plate and walk out the back door. I sit down on the porch swing and take a bite out of my sandwich.

These people think I’m a joke. My so-called friends back home don’t even notice I’m gone. My family is embarrassed by me.

How did this happen? How did my life take such a terrible turn?

I focus on eating my sandwich to keep myself from crying when the back door opens. I expect to see Aunt Dottie, but Landon comes and sits next to me.

“How much of that did you hear?” he asks, not trying to deny what I heard.

I shrug. “I don’t care what some stupid, uneducated farm boys think about me.”

He laughs his stupid laugh that makes my stomach flutter for some unexplainable reason. I take an angry bite of my sandwich, refusing to look at him.

“And I don’t want this stupid farm,” I tell him.

“I didn’t think you did,” he says casually.