“It’s got the classic dented crown,” Joey said, and Adam had no idea what that meant. She grinned at him and picked up another hat. “This one is more pinched in the front. See? It makes a triangle.”
“Yeah, that’s a V-shaped crown,” Randall said. “This one is just your traditional dent, curled brim.”
To his great relief, Adam could see the difference. He looked down the row and found one that looked square, and that was different still.
“We’ve got some curled brims with our standard dented crown,” Randall said. “We’ve got some square brims as well.” He moved down to another rack and picked up a different hat. Adam didn’t like it nearly as much as the one in his hand. Could he really buy the first hat that was presented to him?
Adam had spent years choosing the things he liked most, and he rarely went with the first thing. He was very good at research and comparison, but he kept coming back to the Cowboy Gentleman hat in the color that Joey had chosen.
He took it from Randall and stepped over to a mirror. He told himself he’d worn hats before, and he settled it on his head. He transformed right before his own eyes, and Adam smiled.
“I think I just like this one,” he said, moving it ever-so-slightly on his head, and met Joey’s bright blue eyes in the mirror. If he wore plaid, he could definitely pull off the cowboy vibe, and maybe he’d finally fit in somewhere.
He checked out, saying goodbye to almost two thousand dollars for this single article of clothing. He told himself he’d spent that much before on something he wore to make himself into something he wanted to be, and he did want to be a cowboy.
He and Joey exited the small-town hattery to Main Street, and he looked across the road and found Beck’sBooks sitting there. Something hammered through his body, and he suddenly understood why Joey had asked him what they were going to tell her dad.
“You didn’t tell your folks about this date, did you?” he asked.
“Absolutely not,” Joey said.
“Why?” he asked.
Joey flicked a look over to him, and then headed around the car to the passenger side. She got in while Adam put his hat in the back seat, and then he joined her up front.
“How old do you think I am?” she asked.
Adam wasn’t into playing guessing games, but he said, “Mid-twenties.”
She gave a half snort, half scoff. “I’m twenty-two, Adam. I’ll be twenty-three in February.”
“Great,” he said. “I just turned thirty-one.”
“And that right there is why I didn’t tell my daddy about us,” she said. “I wouldn’t have anyway, to be clear. I usually wait until I’ve been out with someone several times and we decide that he’s my boyfriend before I tell anyone.”
“Oh, what does that take?” Adam asked, suddenly interested.
Joey gave him a severe look. “A lot more than a to-go coffee and a cowboy hat shopping spree,” she said dryly.
She may only be twenty-two, but she could definitely hold her own, and Adam really liked that. He pulled away from the curb and drove past the bookstore. Joey didn’t even look at it.
He gripped the wheel, the things he wanted to ask her storming through him. “I would like to take guitar lessons,” he said. “Do you know anyone who does that?”
“Yeah,” she said. “My dad.”
“Besides him,” Adam said with a laugh.
“Bryce,” Joey said.
That actually sat really well with Adam, and he nodded. “I’ll ask him if maybe he can teach me, but I fear he’s going to be real busy with his ranch and his baby.”
“That’s true,” Joey said. “But I would ask him for a reference. I never learned.”
“Weren’t interested in following your daddy’s footsteps?” he asked.
Joey shook her head. “I’m not really the kind of person who likes the spotlight.”
Adam looked over to her, the connection between them real and strong and fiery. “Me either.”
