Page 129 of Fall Fake-Out

“Ben Walker is in charge, and Dom’s really handy.” Reese shrugs. “So, with them giving instructions, I don’t think the barn will fall over once it’s finished.”

We reach the baked goods table where Rosie, Emma, Maven, and Sadie are already chatting over the donuts.

“Good morning!” Rosie beams. “I see you ladies are about as helpful as we are.”

We all laugh.

“I feel no shame,” Reese says. “This kind of manual labor is not what I do.”

Juliet joins us as well.

“Is this where all the women hang out?” Juliet asks.

“For now,” I say. “Until I find something useful to do.”

“I don’t know.” Emma glances over her shoulder. “I think the men have it covered.”

“And would you look at our men.” I whistle.

Every head turns.

Collectively.

Uniformly.

Our eyes land on different things.

Across the field, Archer tosses a beam onto his shoulder. Juliet’s gaze fixes on him.

Rosie tracks Dean as he saws a piece of wood.

Emma’s eyes drift toward Carson.

Sadie pretends not to notice James.

Maven watches Ben carry a two-by-four.

Reese studies Dom hammering.

I find Wade manhandling a ladder with just one arm.

Nobody says anything.

Not one word.

Then, all of us slowly tilt our heads in the exact same direction like synchronized swimmers.

Sadie fans herself with a volunteer flyer. “Is anybody else warm?”

“It’s fifty-eight degrees,” Emma says mechanically as her eyes stay put.

“Then why do we all feel hot?” Reese pulls off her sweater.

Rosie grabs a bottle of water and presses it dramatically against her forehead. “I’m experiencing symptoms.”

“Like good bone structure,” Juliet mutters.

Landrie walks up from behind. “What are you all staring at?”