“You have a big family, right? Kind of like Archie’s?” She looks up at me.
I nod. “I have seven siblings. I’m lucky number eight.”
“All boys?”
“Nope. I have two sisters, who are like bonus moms.” I chuckle, thinking of my bossy sisters.
“So, you’re close with just them or all of them?”
“Well, we’re all pretty close in age. One of my brothers and my older sister are Irish twins.” I lift a shoulder. “I guess I’m closer to a few of them than others. My older two brothers are married with kids already. I also have a brother in the Navy, but the rest are near home and work on the farm.”
“And your family has a produce farm? I’m sorry. I can’t remember what it is.”
“We harvest wheat mostly, but we also grow rye. All for commercial use, like breads, cereals, that kind of stuff. I’m not really involved, but I’ve done my time, working on the farm.” I laugh.
“I would imagine it’s a lot of work.”
“Yeah, it is. I hated it when I was a kid, but as I got older and started training, I used it as an extension of my conditioning. It definitely helped with my upper body strength. We have machines that handle the really heavy lifting and, of course, separating the seeds out, but I’ve spent many hours in the barn, moving bales after the seeds are removed.”
“That’s really interesting. In one of my classes this semester, we had to write about weather patterns and how they affect agriculture in our region.” She looks at me and smiles.
“Weather is a gift and a curse in that world. It can determine whether or not you’ll make good money in a year.”
A guy on an electric scooter comes out of nowhere, cutting far too close. I barely have time to register it before instinct takes over.
I grab her around the waist and pull her back against me, turning us just enough to get her out of the way. Her body fits easily into the space I make for her—soft curves under my hands, warm and very real. My fingers sink in for half a second longer than necessary, reluctant to let go.
She exhales sharply, one hand braced against my chest. I can feel the rise and fall of her breath, the subtle press of her hip against mine as the world rights itself again.
“Hey, asshole! Watch where you’re going,” I yell out to him.
“You okay?” I ask her, keeping my arm around her.
“I’m fine. Thanks for saving me from a scooter disaster.” She leans into me slightly.
“Happy to be your knight in shining armor anytime.”
I wink at her, and she shoves me away, making my arm fall.
“You’re too much, Silas.”
I don’t want to be too much. I want to be her everything.
“Here’s where we part ways. I guess I’ll see you in Houston.” She leans forward and slides her arm around my waist, surprising me. “Good luck and be safe out there, okay?”
Before I can react to her half hug, she draws her arm back and jogs across the street. She turns around when she reaches the other side and waves.
I hold up my hand in response and then wait for her to get farther down the pathway toward her dorm. Then I cross the street and stay a decent distance behind so she won’t necessarily see me if she turns around, but I’m close enough that I can make sure she gets to her dorm safely.
Once I see her walk in the door, I turn and start to make my way home.
I’m not even ten steps in when I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I pull it out and see a message from her on Instagram.
Brooke: Thanks for making sure I got to my dorm safely.
I can’t help the laugh that slips out.
This girl. I think she might like me too. She just doesn’t want to admit it. Yet.
