His eyes held mine. "Really."
"Huh. I wonder why that is."
Softly, he said, "I've been wondering the same thing."
I looked heavenward, almost wishing I could see the stars instead of the vehicle's roof above. With a sheepish smile, I looked to Ryder and said, "I'm talking way too serious, aren't I?"
"You?" he laughed. "You should've seenmelast night."
"Why last night?"
"Because I didn't plan to call you." His voice grew quiet. "And I wasn't happy."
I just had to know. "So why'd you change your mind – about calling me, I mean?"
"Other than the fridge?"
"Yes," I said, feeling my lips twitch at the corners. "You can't blame the appliance."
"Alright. The truth?"
I nodded.
"Because I knew I messed up. And I wanted to make it right."
I glanced around. "Is that why you didthis?"
"Nah," he said. "This was for me."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yup. I love to see you laugh."
As my heart swelled, I turned and looked toward the movie screen. "You know what we should do?"
"What?"
I turned and looked in the opposite direction, toward the rear of the truck. As my idea took hold, I felt that same goofy grin spread across my face. "We should watch from the truck bed."
He looked intrigued. "Yeah?"
I nodded. "I saw it in a movie once, and the couple looked so comfy, cuddled up, watching a drive-in movie under the stars."
He grinned. "So you caught the holes in the barn's roof, huh?"
I blinked. "Actually, I didn't. The roof has holes?"
"Just a few. It'll be getting a new roof next Tuesday."
"How do you know?"
"Because I bought it."
"You mean the barn? Seriously?"
"Yup. It's been sitting empty for years. So I took it off the seller's hands, along with the ten acres surrounding it."
I was thunderstruck. "So you bought it just forthis?"
