“Let’s take the backhoe, and we’ll take care of a spot where the irrigation isn’t flowing down the way it should.” He climbed up first, and then hesitated as he looked at the one seat – basically an invitation for her to sit on top of him.
She scrambled up after him before he changed his mind and sat on half his lap, leaning to one side so he could see and reach the gears. “Will I kill your leg?” she asked.
“Not at all. Besides, we’ll make it quick.” He turned on the machine, which was as loud as she imagined it would be. They’d have to shout to hear each other.
He started backing up, and she grabbed one of the upper bars before she fell over. Dillon wrapped his arm around her waist and eased her back against him into a more secure position. The more relaxed he was about it, the faster her heart began to beat. Yes, it was loud, and dusty, and it smelled like motor oil, but he was this solid, calm presence, holding her in place next to his heart. Up here was where Dillon felt the most comfortable. She could tell. And she loved being a part of it.
They drove over to the edge of one of the fields where corn stalks had been cut. The field looked like the top of a blond buzz cut. Dillon scraped up dirt from one of the rows and moved it to the dirt lined up along the edge. Dillon had called it a berm. At least, that’s what she thought he’d said. And something about gophers. Apparently, the gophers’ underground tunnels had messed with the flow of the water.
“Do you want to try?” he asked after a few minutes.
If the gears were part of an arcade game, absolutely, but this was an expensive machine, not a toy. “Nah, I’m good. Maybe another time.” She rested her head back on his shoulder and sighed. It was the tryptophan in the turkey making her sleepy and satisfied. That was all.
***
“I’ll call your dentist office first thing Monday morning,” Mom called from the front door.
Dillon glanced back at her, and then at Lina. “Please tell me she’s teasing us again.”
Lina tugged on his hand. “We’ll talk in the truck.”
They were holding hands for appearances, of course. The fact that it was quickly becoming his favorite thing was irrelevant.
He opened the passenger door for her before going around to his side. Lina was already in the middle seat, buckled in. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the wind and cold, and the dry air had her hair sticking up in places from the static. He reached out and smoothed it down. The strands were silky soft and cold. She looked at him curiously, and he cleared his throat. “There was some static.”
“Oh.” She flipped down the mirror in the sun visor and smoothed it out herself, giving him a chance to get his thoughts under wraps and stop imagining himself kissing her.
“What was my mom talking about?” he asked. “Why is she planning to call your dental office?”
Lina rested her head back and sighed. “She needs to see a dentist. It doesn’t have to be one from my office. By all means, talk her out of it. Just don’t talk her out of going to the dentist altogether.”
“She does hate the dentist. I’d forgotten about that.” He started the truck up, considering what he should do. As stubborn as his mom was, there had been no talking her into going to the dentist, and there likely would be no talking her out of it now. But that meant Mom seeing more of Lina, who was still not his girlfriend. If Lina gave him another high-five at her door, he’d know for sure that wouldn’t change anytime soon.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Lina asked him.
“Oh, it would cost you a lot more than that,” he murmured, not really thinking how she might take his words.
“Oh, ho. Now I have to know more. What’s her name?”
He stared at the road ahead, summoning some bravery. “Her name is Lina. She gave me a high-five at the end of our non-date last time. I’m just wondering what I get for a second non-date.”
Lina was unexpectedly quiet in response. She rubbed his knee, which only sent his nerves into a higher state of disarray. “I’ve always thought it best to be surprised by life.”
“True words.” And words meant to keep him on his toes, keep him guessing. Which was only what he deserved. He hoped his attempt at flirtatious honesty hadn’t sounded like he was expecting or demanding more. In fact, the more he thought about it, the worse it sounded in his head.
“I was totally joking before. I hope you know that.”
Lina rested her head against his arm. “I know, cowboy. I know.” She almost sounded disappointed, which made him feel worse.
They were quiet the rest of the drive. It wasn’t late enough for him to really need to walk her to her door this time, but as soon as she hopped out, she took his hand and dragged him toward the sidewalk in the direction of her apartment, ensuring he came with her. Great, was he so predictable that she could read him this easily?
Once they reached her apartment door, she stopped and turned to him, looking expectant.
He wasn’t sure if she was daring him to try something or making sure he wouldn’t. He put his hand up for a high-five instead, which he got. Then she reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “See you for tomorrow’s workout?”
“Of course.”
***
