CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Nansom Farms is an autumn lover’s dream come true.
An indoor-outdoor market near the entrance of the huge gravel driveway sits on several acres of farmland that boast a variety of fruit-bearing trees and bushes, fields of corn, and seemingly endless rows of other vegetables. My mom and I used to come here twice a year—once in the summer for strawberry picking, and again in the fall for the corn maze, hay ride, and pick-your-own apples and pumpkins. That yearly fall excursion, where we’d spend an entire day here just the two of us, is likely the reason autumn is my favorite season.
I climb out of the back of Hugh and Ivy’s car and tilt my face up toward the sun, filling my lungs with fresh country air. It’s been years since I’ve been to the farm, and I couldn’t be happier Gwen chose it as one of her group outings.
“How cute is this place?” Ivy says as she shuts the passenger door of the car. She moves to stand beside me, slinging her arm around my shoulders and turning her face toward the sun too. She’s fully embodied the autumn spirit with her burnt-orange tunic sweater, black leggings, and bright orange rubber boots. When she and Hugh picked me up at my apartment, she got out of the car and struck several poses to show off her boots, which made me break out in delighted laughter.
“I’m so glad we could all come today,” I tell her, tightening my grip around her waist and laying my head briefly on her shoulder. “Things have been so hectic with work and moving back to Bellevue. A little outdoor fun on a crisp October day feels like something that’s good for the soul.”
“I completely agree.” She gives me a squeeze and then releases me to wave at Evan, who has just pulled into the parking lot with Gwen in the passenger seat and Jasper in the back. “A little birdie told me you have a special mission to win over a certain tall, dark, and handsome Perry brother.”
I swallow a groan. I love my friends so freaking much, but I could do without them discussing my life behind my back. Although, to be fair, it’s not like me actually being there stops them, as evidenced by the conversation Marisol and Gwen had at the café yesterday.
“I am,” I say slowly. “Although I’m still not entirely sure how to go about it. Jasper seems like the type of person who would be impervious to flirting, and it’s not like I’m a master flirter anyway. Part of me wonders if I should just come out and tell him I’m interested or ask him on a date, but I’m not sure how that would go over either.”
“Yeah, I somehow don’t think subtlety would work on Jasper.” Ivy glances in Hugh’s direction; he’s waiting on the other side of the car, hands tucked into the pockets of his windbreaker as he rocks back and forth on his heels. Ivy holds up a finger in a ‘one minute’ gesture, and he nods and wanders off toward the market. I grin when I spot his blue-and-green plaid rubber boots.
“How much convincing did it take to get him to wear those?” I ask Ivy.
She gives a little snort. “Considering my initial idea was for us to wear matching ones, he gave in pretty quickly when I found the plaid ones.”
“Smart man.”
“Indeed.” Her eyes follow Hugh for a moment before she turns back to me. “Anyway. From what I know about Jasper, I think simply being there is a good start. Let him see you as a safe space, someone he can talk to, rely on. If it doesn’t naturally progress from there, maybe you could try a less subtle approach.”
“Such as?”
“Such as…you could do the whole cavewoman thing and club him over the head before dragging him back to your cave.”
“Hmm. My apartmentisrather cave like…”
We’re both laughing as Gwen, Evan, and Jasper approach. There are hugs all around, including a quick one from Jasper, complete with back patting.
“Beautiful day for an excursion,” he says as he shifts to stand beside me so he can survey the farm and market. He’s standing so close the sleeve of his dark-blue pullover brushes the sleeve of my lightweight denim jacket. “I bet this kind of thing is right up your alley.”
The fact he knows that about me makes me think Ivy is right about continuing to gain Jasper’s trust. I’ve always longed for a relationship that has a solid foundation of friendship, so maybe strengthening my friendship with Jasper first is the key. For whatever reason, he’s found it easy to open up to me from the beginning. I’m happy to continue being a safe space for him and, if I can muster up the courage, I could add a little flirting in and see where it leads.
Hopefully it leads to things like hand holding and kissing.
We join the others, who are slowly making their way across the parking lot. I veer off slightly, gravitating toward the market and all the colorful produce. Baking may be my specialty, but I love cooking too and with my recent lack of finances, it’s been ages since I was able to make anything elaborate. I’m headed for a display of blue potatoes—blue potatoes!—when Gwen puts her arm around me and gently redirects me.
“We’ll hit the market last,” she says. “That way anything you buy will stay fresh, especially if you venture into the perishables. If we end up running out of time after all the activities, I’ll come back with you some afternoon next week and we can take our time, okay?”
“Sounds good.” I look longingly at the produce as Gwen steers me away. Despite my recent chat with Marisol and knowing I need to loosen the purse strings a bit, I still have to be careful. Even with Mom’s willingness to help and Marisol’s abuela wanting to invest in Cravings, all my savings are gone, which is scary. I figure it’s better to live a bit lean now, get to a place where I’ve built up some savings, andthenI can indulge once in a while.
As we join the others, Evan points to where a tractor is pulling a hay wagon to a stop. There are only a few people in line for the next hayride, so we decide we’ll start there since that activity takes the longest and includes apple and pumpkin picking. We’re greeted by Mr. Nansom—I recognize him from when Mom and I used to come here, although it was his father who ran the place back then—who accepts payment from Evan and invites us to hop into the wagon.
Jasper and I are the last two in line after everyone else has clambered into the wagon. He offers me his hand, which I grip as I step onto a strategically-placed rectangular hay bale and then into the wagon. He climbs in behind me and settles next to me on a blanket-lined bale of hay.
“I haven’t been on a hay ride since I was a boy,” he says, brushing dust off his hands. He’s sitting close, his shoulder and thigh pressed against mine. “I know it’s perfectly safe and yet I always feel like I’m going to tumble out.”
I shift away from him a couple of inches and loop my arm through his. “There.”
“So if Idofall, I’ll take you with me?”
“I mean, the idea was more that youwon’tfall now, but thanks for the image.”
