“Oh no. I think helikesyou.”
“Seriously?” I let out a long sigh. “I’m taken.”
“Mmhmm.” She sounds sarcastic. “Does he know that?”
“He will.”
I wish you luck
Oliver
Getting the chance totouch her again kept me up all that night tossing and turning.
Every possible scenario is going through my head on how to finally reveal the truth.
My patience is wearing thin. But she’s worth it.
I think there’s been a shift though.
She looks longer, her eyes lingering on my arms, my chest.
Like there’s a part of her that might recognize me.
Or should I feel jealous that she’s staring at another man, even if it’s me?
This whole thing is getting muddy.
But I get to catch a glimpse of her daily.
Even now, as Mason and I walk towards the new house site, I can watch her moving Misty in slow circles in the corral.
“So when I bring the excavator in tomorrow, I can leave the trailer over there?” I point to the clearing between two fence lines.
“Yep, that’ll work.” He squints against the afternoon sun and nods. “Can’t believe it’s happening. Sawyer said he’d be here to watch.”
“He’ll get bored quickly,” I chuckle. “There’s a lot of overburden to strip off. I’ll have my guys coming in here with the end-dumps, and then they can turn around—” I pivot in time to see Sophia standing with her forehead pressed to Misty’s in a tender moment silhouetted against the crimson flare washing the sky.
I can’t look away. It could be a painting from the Renaissance.
Mason clears his throat behind me. “Oliver? Everything okay?”
No, it’s not.
My gaze is still locked on her. “I’m gonna marry her, Mason.”
His snort reminds me of Sophia’s.
“It’s not quite April first, but I gather this is some sort of joke, right?” He moves next to me and his arms cross his chest.
“Nope.” My voice may be low, but my conviction runs deep.
It feels good to say it out loud to someone other than my brother.
His laugh echoes across the field making Sophia glance in our direction, then she leads her mare towards the barn.
“You know, she kinda has tolikeyou for that to happen.” He claps me on the shoulder. “But I wish you luck.”
“Does that mean I have your blessing?” I finally turn towards him after she disappears.
