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“Gah!” I reared away from the large animal, unable to stand up or catch myself soon enough, and found myself sitting on my butt in the dirt.
“Whoops.” Bryce’s hand reached down for mine and pulled me up. I was standing inches away from him as he looked down. “You okay?”
I nodded, because my words had seemingly abandoned me.
He looked to the left. “Should we go see the piglets?”
I swallowed heavily. “Um, yeah. Let’s go.”
Hawthorne greeted us at the hog pen, and he and Bryce shook hands.
Bryce easily found a conversation with Hawthorne. “How’s it going, man? I don’t think I’ve been up here since the fire out at the vineyard.”
I raised my eyebrows as I listened to their conversation. Fire?
“I’d say we missed you, but I’d much prefer your trips are limited to the petting zoo or the Apple Festival, you know? I can do without the red trucks.”
Bryce laughed. “I feel you. How’s Andi? Did she and that guy work things out?”
I felt myself bristle with jealousy. Why was Bryce asking about Andi? Was he being polite? Did he have a thing for her?
Hawthorne nodded. “Oh yeah. She and Ross have been married for a while. They live in Virginia and run a security company. Very hush-hush, or so I’m told. Apparently, I’m not good at keeping secrets,” Hawthorne said with obvious irritation.
Bryce smiled. “Good for them. It’s good to see you. We’re just enjoying the day and the animals.”
“Glad you came out.” He turned to me. “You want to hold one of the piglets?”
It took a moment to process what he’d asked. “Seriously? Can I?”
“Sure.” Hawthorne opened the gate and led us into the pen with the baby pigs. The mama was flat on her side, with close to a dozen suckling baby piglets scrambling for a spot.
Hawthorne grabbed one that had just let go and brought it over to us. When he handed me the tiny animal, I was surprised how heavy it was.
“It’s so…solid,” I said with a laugh.
“They’re like little bowling balls. In a few weeks they’ll be twice this size. Little mini tanks, destroying everything, it seems.”
I petted the little piglet on the snout. “No, you wouldn’t do that would you?” I looked up at Bryce. “I have a friend out in LA who has a pig as a pet. Her condo tried to kick her out, but apparently it wasn’t in the rules that you couldn’t have one. So she kept it.”
Hawthorne shook his head. “They’re smart animals. But man, I can’t say I’d want to let one into my bedroom. When Tate and Rose were still here, one of them ate his T-shirt off the fence. Not that Rose minded,” Hawthorne said with amusement.
Bryce shook his head. “No way. Give me a dog any day. Even a cat, if I’m making concessions.”
“A cat is not a concession. A cat is the perfect pet,” I argued.
Hawthorne and Bryce both looked at me like I was crazy.
“I said what I said,” I doubled down.
A walkie-talkie on Hawthorne’s belt crackled. “Hey, I’ve gotta run. Just put that little guy down wherever.” He pointed at me and then at Bryce. “You sort her out on the whole cat thing, all right? You’ve got to do it now, or you’re going to end up with like three of them when she moves in.”
I mentally questioned his assumption in a yell. When I do what now?
But Bryce was already taking the piglet from my arms and following Hawthorne out of the pen.
“We marked a new trail out around the pasture and through the woods to the creek if you guys are up for a walk. Just head that way. You can’t miss it.”
Before we could ask any questions, Hawthorne was hopping on a four-wheeler and rolling out of sight.
“So now I’m moving in and we have four cats?” I asked with a teasing smile.
He turned to me and his easy smile made my heart skip as he quipped, “I believe he said three cats, so let’s not get carried away here. I do have limits,” he said. Then quietly he continued, “Even for you.” There was a hint of seriousness to his statement. I was overcome by the desire to step closer and draw out his thoughts. I’d never understand why I was so special to him.
Instead, I turned to look where Hawthorne had pointed out the trail and then looked back at Bryce.
“What do you think? Up for a walk?” Bryce held his hand out toward me.
It never occurred to me to say no. To the walk or to taking his hand.
Whatever Bryce was offering in that moment–a simple walk as friends, or a house together with a handful of pets–I wanted to say yes.
