Page 125 of Trick or Tease

It was that kind of silent, secret language that couples that had been together forever spoke. I had a feeling I would never get close enough with anyone to develop that secret language.

“We wanted to show you something,” Lucy said gently. “Something Garrett suggested.”

I immediately started to stand up. “No thanks. Not interested.”

“Wait,” Lucy said. “Seriously, you need to see this.”

“If this is about him trying to apologize⁠—”

“Sabrina, please,” Billy interrupted, gesturing for me to sit back down. “Just look at the papers first. Then you can decide if you want to hear him out or not.”

Against my better judgment, I settled back into the chair and pulled the documents toward me. The legal language was dense and confusing, but as I read through the pages, certain phrases started to jump out at me.

Partial ownership transfer. Equal shares. Unanimous consent required for any sale or major changes.

I looked up at Billy with confusion. “What is this?”

“It’s a partnership agreement,” he explained. “Garrett had the idea, and I agreed. We’re giving you and Lucy each a twenty-five percent ownership stake in the farm.”

My mouth fell open. “What? Why?”

Lucy leaned forward, her eyes bright with excitement. “It means we’re all partners now. Equal partners. And look at this part.” She pointed to a specific clause in the contract. “It says that any major decisions about the farm, including any potential sale, require unanimous approval from all four partners.”

I stared at the papers, trying to process what I was seeing. “I don’t understand. Why would you do this? This is your farm, Billy. Your family. And Lucy, I know you’ll be a part of this family soon. But me? I’m just your friend. Your neighbor. You can’t give me part of your farm.”

Billy’s expression grew serious. “Because Garrett realized he fucked up. Badly. And he wanted to make sure nothing like this could ever happen again. He wanted to put your fears to rest about having the rug pulled out from under you.”

“This is his way of proving he’s serious about staying,” Lucy added. “About choosing this life over his old one. He’s literally giving you the legal power to stop him from ever selling this place.”

I felt dizzy. This was the last thing I expected. “But this is your family’s farm. Your inheritance. You can’t just give it away⁠—”

“We’re not giving it away,” Billy said firmly. “We’re sharing it with the people who helped make it what it is. You and Lucy are family to us, Sabrina. You always have been. This just makes it official. We had a successful season because of you. We know you are going to be a huge part of the success in the future.”

I looked down at the papers again, my mind reeling. Partial ownership of the farm. A real stake in the future we had been building together. Legal protection against anyone who might try to destroy what we’d created.

It was everything I had been afraid of losing, handed to me on a silver platter.

It wasn’t like I had a lot of options for my future. I just always assumed I would be part of the farm. But not in any official capacity. I didn’t need that. I just wanted to help my friends. They were my family.

“There’s something else,” Lucy said softly. “Garrett’s waiting for you. In the center of the corn maze. He wants to talk to you, if you’re willing.”

My heart somersaulted. “I already told him I wasn’t interested in talking.”

“I know,” Billy said. “But he asked us to give you these papers first. To show you he’s serious about making things right. The rest is up to you.”

I stared at the ownership documents, feeling overwhelmed and confused and more than a little angry that Garrett thought he could fix everything with legal paperwork. Freaking lawyers.

But underneath the anger was something else. Something that felt dangerously like hope.

“Fine,” I said finally, standing up from the table. “I’ll go hear what he has to say. But this doesn’t change anything between us. I don’t like him.”

Billy and Lucy exchanged another look, this one tinged with what looked like cautious optimism.

“We’ll come with you,” Lucy offered.

“No.” I needed to face this alone, whatever it was. “I can handle Garrett Hogan.”

The walk to the corn maze felt like it took forever and no time at all. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure everyone in the county could hear it, and my palms were sweating despite the cool October air.