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“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
He looks up from his turkey sandwich, expression serious. “Okay…”
“Don’t look so freaked out. It’s good news.”
Mostlygood news, at least. It’s still strange to think someone else will be living on Matthews Farm. People born in Landry rarely leave. Until Caleb, there was never a thought I might end up somewhere else. I pictured getting married in the white church in town. Walking my own kids to Landry Elementary in the mornings the same way Gramps walked me. Growing old in the rocking chairs on the front porch of the farmhouse.
I didn’t ask the realtor for any details about the buyer when I signed all the paperwork. I’d rather picture it the way it was when I left for Colt’s birthday party. Not empty, the way it was the last time I saw it. And not bulldozed to make room for a larger house, maybe lots of larger houses, which is probably what’s happening right now.
“What?” Caleb raises one brow, waiting impatiently.
“I’m rich.” I smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, maybe not compared to you. But compared to most people, I am.”
Caleb’s expression doesn’t change. “You sold the farm.”
His seriousness punctures the happiness I was trying to project. “Yeah. The closing was last week.”
He exhales heavily. “Okay.”
“Okay? That’sit?” I wasn’t sure how he’d react to the news. But I thought he’d say something more than a two-syllable word with no inflection.
He picks up his sandwich. “What do you want me to say, Lennon? It was your decision to make.”
“I wanted you to be happy about it, Caleb. I talked to Louis yesterday to check in on the horses. He said Winters Stables is interested in buying them all to add to the breeding program. Once that’s done, I won’t have any responsibilities in Landry. After graduation, I can move anywhere.”
“Because that’s what you want or because you think that’s what I want?”
“Caleb! Hey!” A female voice cuts through the tense moment. But Caleb doesn’t look away from me. Not right away.
Finally, he leans back and glances to the right. I follow his gaze. Sophie is walking this way, with a few girls behind her. They’re all in soccer jerseys, clearly having just come from a practice. Even sweaty and tired, they all look gorgeous. I think one of them was with Sophie at the party, but I can’t remember her name.
“Oh. Hi, Lennon.” My greeting is substantially less enthusiastic than Caleb’s was.
I muster a smile. “Hi, Sophie.”
She turns back to Caleb. “I should have known you’d be here. Remember sophomore year? You had lunch at this place almost every day.”
I take a bite of my egg salad. I know exactly what game she’s playing, and I’m not interested in engaging. So what if they ate lunch together while I was back in Landry, probably mucking out stalls? I’d bet it was with the whole friend group they seem to share.
And even if it wasn’t, I don’t really care. I’m more annoyed she interrupted our conversation, although I don’t know how I would have answered Caleb’s question. I don’t know where I want to live after graduation. So, I’m trying to open up all the possible options. I thought he’d appreciate that, not act like I’m making mistakes.
I keep eating my lunch, tuning out Sophie’s chatter. To his credit, Caleb isn’t really engaging. He mostly nods in answer to what she’s saying, leaving Sophie and her friends to carry the conversation.
By the time they finally turn to leave, I’ve finished my lunch.
Sophie spins back around instead of following the other girls over to the counter to order.
“Oh, I forgot. I was texting with Brian earlier. He said to say hi to you, Caleb.”
I glance at Caleb. I’ve only heard him mention one Brian…one of his roommates at Mayfair. It’s a common name. Entirely possibly Sophie is talking about someone else. But based on the tight clench of Caleb’s jaw, I don’t think she is.
“Okay,” Caleb answers, then finishes his sandwich in a few bites. He balls up the wrapper and tosses it at the trash can sitting about ten feet away. Makes it, of course. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah.” I nod and quickly stand. Between his reaction to the news about the farm and Sophie showing up, this hasn’t been the most enjoyable meal. I’d rather be outside, enjoying the fall weather.
As soon as we’re out on the sidewalk, I speak. “I thought Mayfair was a baseball camp.”
Caleb sighs. “They host soccer and football clinics too. Sophie was there with a few other girls on Clarkson’s team.”
