“I have no idea what you’re feeling guilty about, but guilt is a stupid thing. You needed help. You still need help. I’m trying to help you and I’m telling you to just fucking relax. Nothing is going to happen to youhere.”
“You know what?” I take a deep breath and look at the ceiling. If anyone is looking at us now, my body language is giving me all away. I resist the urge to suck my teeth and look back at Silas. “Let’s not talk about thateither.”
“Okay. What do you want to talkabout?”
“Since we’re all playing along, what would you want to tell your new girlfriend her first time visiting yourcafe?”
“Hmm, that’s a good question. I’d tell you that I’m exhausted. I’d tell you that I was afraid our peach crop was going to go to shit this year, but it looks like it’s turning outfine.”
“You guys have peaches heretoo?”
“You partial topeaches?”
“Watch it,” Isay.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. We have a variety of fruits that we harvest six to seven months of the year. They are also available for our patrons to pick. Our peaches and blueberries are good to go now, and a few varieties of apples should be ready in a fewdays.”
“Interesting,” I say. “Do you have afavorite?”
“Fruit?”
“Yeah.”
“I am partial to peaches,” he says, running his tongue along the inside of his upperlip.
I roll my eyes. “I can tell why you’resingle.”
“Why?” he says,laughing.
“’Cause you’re corny as fuck.” And I hate to admit how much I likeit.
Seven
Mason delivers on lunch.The bacon tomato melt is exactly what I need. The peach pie Silas and I split is the icing on the cake, so to speak. I am completely satisfied and full by the time Silas takes care of thecheck.
“You pay at your own restaurant?” I ask as he stands and holds his hand out for me. Surprisingly I take it without hesitating. I try to ignore how easy accepting his touch has become in just a few shorthours.
“Uh yeah? Don’t you usually pay when you dine out?” he asks. We say goodbye to Shelby before we walk back out into the heat. We climb into the truck and Silas is suddenly quiet. He talked all through lunch, so I’m taken aback by his sudden silence as soon as he’s behind the wheel. And then I remember, this is just forpretend.
“I’ll give you the driving tour and then I gotta drop you off. I have some shit to take careof.”
“You don’t have to give me atour.”
“Yes, I do. This isn’t for you. It’s for my guys. If Shelby knows, the whole farm knows. It’s better if I bring you around and introduce you to everyone now. It’ll make it easier on the both of us and we can go back to our regularjobs.”
“Jesus,” I say under my breath. Even though I appreciate the help, thetheatrics…
“Hey—”
“I know!” I shout at him. “This wasn’t your idea. Just fucking drive.” I clam up and turn toward the window. Silas backs out, then points the truck toward the entrance, in the opposite direction of his house. He drives out to the main road and takes a right a little faster than I appreciate. Then he makes a dramatic show of making a u-turn right in the middle of the road. He pulls over on the side, then I feel him jam the truck into park. I stare at the white fences, ignoring the feeling of his staring at the back of my head. “What?” I mutter after a longminute.
“Welcome to McInroy’s Farm!” he announces in a sing-songy way. I think about smacking him, but I restrain myself. Finally, I turn to him. I can feel my right eye starting to twitch. “Here’s thedeal.”
“Oh, there’s a deal?” Isay.
“I—”
“No. For real. Shut the fuck up for oneminute.”
