Page 119

“Well,” I said, breaking the silence, “that’s exactly what we’re doing tomorrow night. We’ll go out, get a drink, have some fun. No farm work, no Solace Blooms—just a little downtime for you. Think of it as a way to unwind.”

She studied me for a moment, as if deciding whether or not she could trust me to follow through with my plan. Finally, her shoulders sagged in resignation, and she gave a small nod.

“Fine,” she said, though there was a reluctant smile on her lips now. “I’ll go. But only because I’m too tired to argue.”

I grinned, feeling a surge of triumph. “That’s what I like to hear.”

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “You’re relentless, you know that?”

“That’s part of my charm,” I said, my grin widening.

She laughed, the sound light and genuine. For the first time all evening, she looked like herself again—like she was letting go of some of the weight that had been on her shoulders. And that, in itself, felt like a small victory.

I stood up, walking over to her side of the table. I offered my hand, pulling her to her feet. “Come on. Let’s get you some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a good day.”

She took my hand, allowing me to lead her toward the stairs, but not before giving me a teasing look. “You really think you can handle everything on the farm tomorrow?”

“Absolutely,” I said, my confidence unwavering. “I did it for years.”

She smirked. “I’m going to sleep. Don’t wake me unless there’s some sort of natural disaster.” Rose paused. “On second thought, just let me sleep.”

“I can do that. Good night, Sunshine.”

She gave me a playful shove as we reached the stairs. “Good night.”

I was just glad to see her smiling again. Maybe it was because of my plan or maybe it was because, for once, she was letting herself have a little fun. Either way, I’d take it.

Tomorrow night, we were going to celebrate more than just Solace Blooms. We were going to celebrate Rose.

Since all the things to do were in downtown Wippowa, I texted Charlie to see if we could crash at their house so we didn’t have to drive back after having some drinks.

Wells: Can Rose and I crash with y’all tomorrow?

Charlie: Sure can. What’s going on?

Wells: Rose needs a break so we’re going out for dinner and drinks. Even gave her the day off.

Charlie: Are you going on a date, Calloway?

Wells: Why does everyone think that? No, I’m just trying to be nice.

Charlie: Sounds like a date.

Charlie: Which, I wouldn’t be mad about. Y’all are cute.

Wells: You’ve officially turned into a softie.

By pure luck, my favorite restaurant had a reservation for two available at seven o’clock tomorrow night. The food was amazing, and the drinks were top-notch, so I knew Rose would love it. I quickly grabbed the reservation and shut my phone with a satisfied smile.

I rinsed off the plates and wiped down the counters, the rhythmic sound of the sponge against the surface soothing in a way I hadn’t expected. The day had been long, but there was a quiet satisfaction in knowing Rose had finally given herself the space to relax for the first time in days. She had worked herself ragged on the farm, and I was determined to make tomorrow night something special for her.

Once the kitchen was clean and the last dish was in the dishwasher, I headed upstairs. The house was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that made everything feel more intimate, more personal. I stretched as I reached the top of the stairs, my body aching from the day’s work but my mind still buzzing.

I changed into a pair of comfortable sweats and collapsed onto the bed, my eyes closing for a brief moment. But my thoughts immediately turned back to Rose. I couldn’t shake the image of her—the way she had looked when she finally let herself unwind, her face softening as she sank into the chair, too tired to do anything but enjoy the quiet. It was clear that the weight of the farm was heavy on her shoulders, and I couldn’t help but admire how hard she worked to keep everything running smoothly.

Tomorrow night needed to be perfect. I didn’t just want to take her out; I wanted to give her something she could truly enjoy—something to remind her that she deserved to take a break, that she was allowed to have fun without thinking about work for once.

I ran a hand over my face, exhaling slowly.