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“Thanks, James.”
“No problem. And Haze?”
“Yes?”
“Can you keep it on the down low about the fact that Ian loves you? I didn’t mean to spoil it before he said it to you. Shit. I don’t want to ruin that moment for him telling you whenever it happens.”
“Maybe it won’t happen,” I argued.
“Trust me”—he shook his head—“it will. Just wait and see. And hell, act surprised, will you? But not too surprised. The normal amount of surprised. Not too much and not too little.”
I chuckled and nodded. “Will do. Did he tell you that he loved me during your confession-time game?”
James lowered his eyebrows, perplexed. “Confession-time game?”
“You know, the game you two play in the pens when cleaning them. To make time go faster.”
“Uh, I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
He seemed completely thrown off by my comment, and those butterflies came flying back to me in an instant.
Oh, Ian. You and your lies to get to know me.
21
IAN
People always said you’d miss home the minute you left it, but I didn’t believe that. I wasn’t going to miss that place—not for a minute. I wouldn’t miss working in the pigpens or going around town with small-minded people. I wouldn’t miss manure or moving hay. I wouldn’t miss the mosquitoes that were out for murder. I wouldn’t miss the things that made up Eres, but there were people I’d miss.
Three, to be exact.
I’d miss Grams and her homecooked meals. I’d miss how she’d still come over to my place and fold my laundry, even though I’d tell her I could do it on my own. I’d miss her hugs and comfort. Her wise words. Her positive persona. Her daily doses of love.
I’d miss Big Paw too. I’d probably even miss him chewing out my ass over stupid things. I’d miss his hard-knock style of parenting. I’d miss his almost smirks, when you did something to make him proud. I’d miss his attitude and tough love.
Then there was Hazel. I’d miss every single thing about her. Even the things I had yet to discover.
I sat inside the shed as I stared at the stars in the sky. A few hundred feet away was the barn house, where an energetic party was taking place. I’d told my grandmother that the boys and I hadn’t wanted a going-away party, so of course she and Big Paw had thrown us a going-away party.
“Are you going to sit in here all night reflecting, or are you going to come down to this party of yours and celebrate breaking free?” a voice asked.
I glanced up to see Hazel wearing one of my hoodies and black shorts. Her thighs looked smooth and thick, and fuck, I wanted to bury myself between them and stay for a while. She was wearing her favorite pair of lucky black shoes. My shoes. There was no denying that they looked better on her than they’d ever looked on me.
“You know I don’t give a damn about that party,” I answered. “I’d rather have my last night hanging out with the people I care about the most.”
“Like who?”
I gave her a knowing grin. The color on her cheeks heightened as she returned the smile.
Those fucking kissable cheeks.
“How about you come outside and hang out with me. I feel like swinging on the tires.”
I did as she said and met her outside of the shed.
She started wandering off in the direction of the old tire swings set up against the two big oak trees on the ranch. Right behind the tire swings was a wishing well that had been out of commission since before I was born, but still people would come around and toss their coins into the well in hopes that their dreams would come true.
Hazel reached into her back pocket and pulled out two coins. “Do you believe in magic?” she asked.
