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Just to rub more salt in her wound, I get up close to her again, making her flinch when she realizes I’m in her space. “What did you write about me that you have to do?”
She shakes her head and looks up, saying something under her breath that I can’t understand.
“What was that?” I ask in too chipper of a voice, which I know eats away at her.
“I wrote about you running,” she says.
I laugh out loud as the bell rings. “Well, at least you didn’t say football. Looks like I have a new running partner tonight. Meet you at the same time?”
Natalie huffs and turns to face forward as Miss Hernandez begins the class. It’s obvious Natalie’s day is ruined, yet I feel like mine just picked up immensely.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Natalie
I have a pounding headache that won’t go away, but I know it’s not from anything other than the stress this day has caused. Learning in first period that I was going to have to spend more time with Dalton pushed me over the edge of an already-shitty morning.
Getting up early to help my father is normally the highlight of my day, but when we have to do a job that’s suited for ten people and we only have four, things tend to get out of hand quickly. Getting all of the hogs back to where they needed to be proved how outmatched we were, and let’s just say the scoreboard is Hogs 1, Farmers 0.
George, our ranch hand, finally had to go create another portable fence around a bigger area because there was just no way we were going to win.
I had just enough time to shower and rush off toschool with my hair still wet, only to find out I’d have to work with Dalton again. After learning that, I officially just wanted to go back to bed and start the day new tomorrow.
No such luck though.
With school finally out, I’m heading toward my brother’s truck when I get a text from Dalton.
Don’t forget to meet me tonight.
I roll my eyes and don’t bother responding as I drop my head back in frustration.
“Who was that text from to cause that much of a reaction?” Thomas asks as he bumps into my side, almost knocking me over.
If there’s one person who hates Dalton more than I do, it’s my brother. I think he takes on hating the TimeLand crew as his family duty, and any chance he has to prove his point, he does.
I’m not in the mood to listen to him bitch about them or say I need to tell the teacher to fuck off again. If he were in my shoes, he’d take a zero instead of working with Dalton, no doubt.
So, instead, I say, “Just realized I have to do a project tonight that I really don’t want to do.”
He heads to his side of the truck. “Sucks to be you.”
“Gee, thanks.” I hop in once he unlocks the door.
“Church Bells” by Carrie Underwood comes on, and I imagine being able to slip something in Dalton’s whiskey that no one will ever find, like the song suggests.
I know I’m being ridiculous, but that’s what he does to me. He brings out this side that I only have with him.I can tolerate Eli, Ben, and Maya, but there’s always been something about Dalton that makes me not even able to stand the sight of him.
Now, I can’t seem to get away from him.
Once we’re home, I get some of my homework out of the way before I start my daily chores around the farm and head out to see Brandy. I know Dalton thinks we’ll be doing his hobby first, but there’s no way I’m running after the day I’ve had, so he’ll just have to do my hobby today.
As I walk through the barn doors, a calmness washes over me. This is my true home. Being with Brandy always soothes my soul, no matter what problems arose during the day.
“Hey, girl,” I say as I run my fingers down her mane. “You ready to go for a walk?”
She rubs her nose into my hand, like she always does.
I place my head against hers and whisper, “It’s good to see you too.”
