AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ah.”
My hand releases his and it falls to his side.
“Almost twenty-one though.”
He rubs at his wrist, and I run a hand through my hair. “You have a birthday coming up soon?”
“Maybe.”
He peers up at me, and I resist the urge to stare at those lips. They’re nice, pouty lips. Would look real nice if they moved into a smile every once in a while. Maybe Braxton needs a little happy in his life.
“You know, if you want…” I let my words trail off, wondering what the hell I’m doing, but decide that maybe my mom’s right. Maybe Braxton just needs a friend. “…if you want to come hang out tonight, a few guys and I are going out to watch the meteor shower.”
He scoffs and glances away from me. “Yeah, no. Thanks.”
“Alright, well, you know, if you change your mind, you can come hang out. We’re going to be at the small bend in the road near the old Thompson farm.”
He nods and then glances away. “Yeah, well, I won’t be there, so don’t expect me.”
I bob my head and then turn around, walking away without looking back. I want to, trust me, but I don’t. I let my feet carry me all the way to my tractor, and I set my iced coffee in the cupholder and then turn the key in the ignition. It sputters and shakes and then starts, and I glance back at the store once more, wondering what the hell that was.
And why I can’t stop thinking about it?
“Ryan, stop farting on me,” I murmur when Ryan lets one loose on me. We’re sitting in the bed of my truck out in the middle of an abandoned cornfield, waiting for the meteor shower to start.
He snorts a laugh and then holds his belly. “Ate a burrito at that Mexican place in town, and I swear it gave me all the gas. A bit painful, but so worth it.”
I bob my head, trying to breathe through my mouth. “Yeah, those are good burritos. But next time, aim away from me.”
“Will do, bro.” He leans back on his hands and gazes up at the night sky as we wait patiently. We’re out here with Hayes, one of the sheriffs in town, and another friend from high school, Beck. The three of us have known each other for quite some time. Ryan is the interloper, but, like usual, he makes himself at home. He entered our friend group almost seamlessly. I’m not actually sure what Ryan does for work, something online, but I do see him out in the fields a lot, dancing and making TikTok videos with the cows.
“Did anyone bring snacks?” Ryan asks even as his stomach gurgles.
“Maybe you should lay off the food,” I say as Beck pulls out a cooler. He sets it between us and opens it. Ryan glances inside and pulls out a block of cheese.
“You make this, Beck?” he asks.
Beck shrugs as Ryan peels the plastic wrap off and takes a bite right from the block.
“Ryan, have some manners,” I say, and he rolls his eyes, chewing.
“Beck makes the best damn cheese. I swear to all that is holy, this is divine.”
I glance at my friend and see him glance away, clearing his throat as he shuffles on his feet.
“I mean, it’s like orgasmic. Creamy and rich. God.” Ryan is having a full-blown sexual experience right now and that’s something I don’t wanna see.
“Oh my fuck,” he says as he licks at his lips. He sounds like he’s giving the cheese a blow job and it’s making me uncomfortable. My ears are on fire.
Ryan is a noisy fucker though. When he first moved in, I thought he was cute in a weird way, but it never morphed intoanything more than that for me. It was always platonic. And by the way Ryan farts on me, I think it’s the same for him.
Unless his farts are a way for him to call to a mate.
Could be. I just don’t know.
“You should sell this shit,” Ryan says, grabbing a drink and guzzling it. A small burp escapes his mouth and Beck smirks at him.
“I do. At the farmer’s market.”
