“All right, I’m a master of four meals.”
He smiles. “It’s a good start.”
“What do you mean? It’s awesome. I can rotate between three meals.”
“Four.”
“Nah. This is a treat breakfast. Never dinner.”
“Well, thank you for treating me.”
“You’re welcome.”
He blows out a breath. “I’m doing it again.”
“Talking?”
He meets my gaze. “Giving you mixed signals.”
“I promise, you’re not.”
He pushes a piece of sausage into the baked beans and shovels them onto his fork. “What are you going to do with your first day of freedom?”
“Contemplate my future?”
He raises his eyebrows. “Is that a question or a statement?”
I chuckle. “I was joking. I’ll go to the gym on campus,” he carries on. I get cheap access while I’m a student, but that’ll end soon, so I might as well make the most of it.”
“To lift weights?”
“If I can find someone to spot me. If not, I’ll use some of the other equipment.”
“You’ll keep working out?”
“Damn right. The gym is my happy place. Working out gives me a hit of endorphins and makes me feel good about myself. Plus, I’ve met a bunch of great friends because of it.”
“Like Angus?”
“Yes.”
He smiles. “I’m glad you’ve got something like that.”
“So do you. Working on farms is your happy place, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” And yet his voice istinged with sadness.
Is that because of my jerk of a brother made him feel guilty about it for who knows how long?
“Do you want your own farm someday?” I ask.
“I’d never be able to afford it.”
“I don’t see why not. A bank would give you a business loan, as long as you were taking on a profitable farm, and you had a clear plan of how to keep it successful.”
“Maybe…”
“They would. What type of farm would you want? Dairy, like Angus’ dad’s farm? Sheep? Crops? You could own a rhubarb farm!”
