Page 46 of The True-Blue Romance

He kisses me on the temple, his breath rumpling my messy hair, then disappears out of my office. He leaves the door open and I hear him call out “Hey, Beauregard” before the front door gently clicks shut. A second later, Beau shows up at my office, a grin on his face and questions in his eyes.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Joey looked so happy!”

“How do I look?”

Beau takes me in, smile growing a shade more pleased. “You look well loved. Can I tell Trevor?”

“Not yet… Joey wants to tell Savannah.” I rub my neck that’s getting warmer with each second. “He’s rushing so fast. I’m still getting used to the idea of it all. Doesn’t feel real.”

“I don’t think that’s about Joey.”

I look at Beau in confusion. “What’s it about?”

“It’s ’cause you think only bad things happen. You deserve a good life after so much bad. Don’t sabotage yourself.”

“I won’t.”

Beau hums in obvious disbelief, then disappears from my doorway. I’m left wondering if he’s right. Do I sabotage things that seem too good to be true? Surely not.

I’ve never cared so much about my appearance in my life. I took a scalding hot shower when I got home. I even conditioned my hair, although it didn’t really help to tame my wayward brown waves. I spent an inordinate amount of time in front of the mirror trimming my beard so it’s less of a wiry mess and hopefully more farmer chic. I shouldn’t be stressed. Joey and Savannah have been at my house thousands of times over the years. I mean, Joey used to come over when Savannah was a baby when he needed a break. While he’d napped, I’d cradled Savannah in my arms and shown her around the farm. In a way, she’s always been mine. I think she knew it too.

The door opens just as I’m leaving the bedroom, hastily tucking in my button-down short-sleeved shirt. Savannah runs through the door like a bat out of hell, zeroing in on me with frightening accuracy. I grab her under her armpits and lift, spinning her around to make her giggle.

“Hi, angel.”

Savannah giggles and slaps her palms against my cheeks. “I want to see Buster.”

“Well, let’s go, then.” I hitch Savannah to my hip because she’s still the perfect size for it. I can hear Joey fiddling around in the kitchen as I slide the back door open, already having to tighten my grip on Savannah to prevent her from jumping and running to said bunny.

The summer air is warm and washes over me in a rush. My chest tightens with some emotion I’ve never felt before. Not really sure how to name it even. But Savannah bounces excitedly the closer we get to Buster’s cage, so that emotion is soon forgotten, replaced only with the joy that Savannah so easily radiates.

“I haven’t seen him in forever,” Savannah complains, lips trembling in a pout.

“He’s okay. I check on him every day, make sure he’s got food. And the goats are takin’ a likin’ to him.”

“Are they all friends now?”

“If not yet, then soon.”

I unlock the cage and push it open, finally carefully setting Savannah down. Buster’s whiskers twitch and he bounds over to Savannah, already in love with her like everyone else in the world seems to be. I smile, watching them interact for a few moments, before leaving them alone to go check my goats.

I open the cage and let them bound out into their fenced pen. The two of them automatically get the zoomies, jumping all over their toys I’ve procured over the years. I can hear Savannah with Buster in his home, and the sun is starting to kiss the tree line at the other side of my property. The only thing that could make the moment more perfect is Joey beside me. As if summoned by my thoughts alone, Joey appears at my side, his broad shoulder brushing mine. His fingers tangle with mine between us, and I can’t help but shoot him a lovesick, dopey sort of grin.

“Missed ya,” Joey whispers.

“You saw me, like, five hours ago.”

“Missed you, even so.”

“I kind of want to get a duck,” I say, apropos of nothing.

Joey leans his free arm against the fence, resting his chin in his hand. He scrutinizes the yard for a bit before tilting his head to look over at me. “You’ve got room for more than a duck.”

“Well, I know that. Problem is that I’m afraid if I keep going, then I’ll never stop.”

“Get what you want,” Joey says without preamble, genuinely supporting me. “Get the animals you want. You’ve got enough love to give for a zoo.”