Page 26 of While the Sun Shines

“What big day?” Abelardo asks.

“Don’t,” Drew says.

“Wedding bells a-ringing,” Cooper says.

“Who’s getting married?” Abelardo asks.

“Nobody,” Drew says quickly.

Cooper grins and waves a hand toward his chest, leaving a dusty mark on his shirt. “As best man, I would be fully in charge of making sure everything goes seamlessly, as well as throwing the single most epic bachelor party that has ever been seen.”

“Things going seamlessly is definitely your strength,” Whit says, and Cooper smears a streak of flour down his nose.

“Cooper thinks Drew and I are getting married in twenty years,” Penny says and Abelardo laughs.

Yeah. Drew picks a finger at the label on his beer. How funny is that?

“And c’mon, Coop, more importantly: who’s going to throw my bachelorette party?” Penny asks.

“I think this morning was Cooper’s audition to be the stripper,” Whit says.

Penny grabs Cooper by the waist, fisting her hands in his T-shirt. She yanks it down, straining the cotton against his shoulders. “Clothes on, Cooper Langston. I’m going to staple this to you.”

“You just grabbed a handful of sheep snot,” Cooper says.

“Did you guys get them out on pasture?” Drew asks.

“Fucking gross.” Penny wipes her hand off on Cooper’s arm. “Have you heard of clean clothes?”

“Last time I tried to shower, all I heard was screaming. You can understand if I’m slightly terrified of my own bathroom,” Cooper says.

“My own bathroom, fucker.” Penny grabs Cooper’s belt, pulling his jeans up high on his waist.

“I tossed the sheep those last couple bales, so they’re all set for tonight.” Whit gently pins Cooper’s wrists behind his back so he can’t get away from Penny. “And they were still nervous, so I figured it was okay to leave them in the barn.”

Cooper tries to squirm free, but Penny just tugs his pants up higher. “M’gonna pull these up so far you’re going to have to start showering in them,” she says.

Drew rubs his thumb and forefinger into the bridge of his nose. “So are we out of hay, then? Until we get that field baled? Maybe I should just run to the co-op and get a couple bales.”

“Now?” Penny asks and lets Cooper go. She holds out her hands toward Drew. “We’re all hanging out. If you even think about going back to work, Andrew, you’re next on the bus to wedgie-ville. And I’ll eat your pizza too.”

Abelardo clicks his beer bottle against Drew’s. “I’ve been really looking forward to getting to know you, if you can hang out for a bit.”

Really? Drew wants to ask. Do we have to? Sit here with this guy who very literally swept Penny off her feet?

“Or I can come with you to the co-op if you want company,” Abelardo says.

Well shit, that’s even worse, stuck in a car together. Drew quickly takes a sip of his beer. “No, yeah, the sheep’ll be fine.”

“My ass won’t,” Cooper says, trying to shimmy his pants back down his hips. “Go pick on Drew. I liked that idea.”

“We can’t ’cause Drew’s always two seconds away from a nervous breakdown,” Penny says.

“Fine, how about Abelardo?”

“He’s our guest,” Penny says.

“Just want to give him the full farm experience,” Cooper says. “Isn’t that what a vacation’s for?”