I drove out to Granny’s Acre Farm, eager to see her reaction. She was going to flip when she saw me, looking rugged and ready to work. I wouldn’t be a joke again today.
As soon as I got out of Tyler’s truck at Shelby’s, she took one look at me and started laughing. “What the hell are you wearing, Carter?”
It stung. I looked down at myself, confused. “What?”
“Overalls?” She giggled even harder, covering her mouth.
“Yeah, what’s wrong with overalls?” I tugged on the straps. “These bad boys aren’t going anywhere. And I have a T-shirt on under.”
Shelby wiped at her eyes. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with them. I just never thought I’d see you in something like that.”
I shrugged. “Me neither, but if I’m being totally honest, these are the most comfortable goddamn things I’ve ever worn.”
She laughed again but I noticed her eyes studying me, like she was seeing a new side of me. “Yeah, overalls are super comfy,” she said.
I gave her a little spin to see the back, too. “They’re like if an apron grew pants at the bottom. I’m in love.”
“Looks like you’ve found yourself a new look,” Shelby said with a smile that stopped my heart.
Feeling suddenly vulnerable, I looked into her eyes. “Do I look silly?”
Her smile widened. “Yes.”
I grinned back at her. “I don’t care. I might never go back to wearing a suit.”
“Why not combine the two?” She shrugged. “Maybe you can have them make an overalls suit, to be worn with a jacket of course. You want it to look classy at the opera.”
I paused. “I know you’re joking, but I know some fashion people. We could make this happen. I can have Emma wearing one on the red carpet by next week.”
Shelby narrowed her eyes at me. “Which Emma?”
“Take your pick,” I said.
She rolled her eyes and walked away, not waiting to see if I was following. “I’ll leave that to you. Right now, you’re feeding the ducks.”
“Oh, that sounds fun.”
She grinned at me in an evil way I didn’t like. “We’ll see.”
I trailed behind her, watching the sway of her hips. Shelby was just in regular jeans but she filled them out nicely. She hadto own some overalls. Maybe if I asked nicely, she would put them on for me.
I doubted it. She would probably spray me down with a garden hose and call me an asshole. Weirdly, I kind of liked how mean she was to me. Too many people in my life were suck-ups who only wanted something from me. All Shelby wanted from me was to leave her the hell alone.
It made me want her even more.
Sadly, she led me to an open duck pen instead of her bedroom. On the plus side, though, ducks.
“Khaki Campbell,” Shelby said.
“Gesundheit.”
“No, that’s the breed,” she said. “Great egg layers.”
I nodded in their direction. “Ladies, can I interest you in breakfast?”
Some of them quacked, but they had been doing that the whole time. Still, no one could stop me from counting it as a response.
“Alright, lover boy. I need you to go in that barn over there.” She pointed to it. “Grab a sack of feed and bring it back out here.” She pointed down at her feet. “Do you think you can handle that?”
