Page 50

The phone buzzed again. Same number. I exhaled sharply and hit decline. Whatever it was, it could wait. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk—especially not from someone trying to sell me an extended warranty on my truck.

Granger flopped down beside me with a satisfied huff, his head resting on my boot. The evening air was thick with the scent of earth and ripe fruit, the kind of smell that settled deep in your chest and made you feel like you belonged to the land. I rocked back and forth, my gaze fixed on the horizon, where the last streaks of sunlight melted into the trees.

Then, my phone buzzed again.

I let out a slow breath, gripping the worn arm of the chair. Whoever it was, they were persistent. A nagging feeling crawled up my spine, the kind you get when something isn’t quite right.

This time, I answered.

“Take your extended warranty and shove it up your ass.”

Silence, then a hesitant breath.

“Wells?”

The voice was soft, uncertain. But I knew it. My stomach tightened.

“Sunshine?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” Rose’s voice was quiet—softer than I’d ever heard it before. A stark contrast to every conversation we had up until now.

“I was just thinkin’ about you,” I admitted.

“You were?” She sounded surprised, like that was the last thing she expected me to say.

“Yeah.” I kept my tone light. “Was about to head inside and have some orange Skittles.”

“That’s disgusting. Forget I called.”

“Don’t be so sensitive about the color of my candy, Rose.” I paused, something clicking in my head. “Wait, I didn’t give you my number.”

“You didn’t,” she admitted. “Blythe did.”

“Ah.”

A beat of silence stretched between us before she spoke again, her voice edged with hesitation. “I’ve been thinking about your proposition.”

“My very generous offer,” I corrected.

“Can you just let me finish?”

I smirked. “Now you know how it feels.”

“I’m trying to swallow my pride here, alright?”

There was a beat of silence, like she was weighing every word.

“I’m taking you up on your offer.”

I sat up straighter, the chair creaking beneath me. My stomach knotted. When I made the offer, I never actually thought she’d accept.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” Her voice was steady, but I caught the hint of uncertainty tucked beneath it. “Although you should know… I have a black thumb. Anything green I touch dies.”

A slow smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Good news for you, these plants are damn near impossible to kill. Believe it or not, things that grow outside are a lot tougher than the fragile little plants you kept in that apartment of yours.”

“Is that your way of calling me fragile?”