Winston bounds up the steps, happily wagging his tail as he weaves between Papa and Mama, earning smiles and pats from both.
“So,” Papa says, slipping his hands into his pockets as he lifts his chin, settling into his typical stance when he talks business. “What’s the moisture management plan for this field?”
My pulse jumps as my gaze darts across the farm. We have our irrigation plan for each zone, and I know it’s a good one to manage levels in the way each zone needs.
But I completely forgot it rained last night. I scan the ground, but as I see everything has already dried up overnight, some of my worry eases, knowing that this means the stress zone likely didn’t absorb too much.
“We’re using a zone-based irrigation and moisture control strategy to adjust irrigation timing and volume per zone to keep soil moisture consistent across the entire field,” Levi says easily, and I look back at him as those words slowly pull together in my mind to make sense of what we’ve talked about.
Then I pull in a breath and slowly release it, fully trusting that Levi has this all figured out.
Papa smiles with an approving nod, looking between us. “Good stuff.”
I shift towards the steps, looking back at Papa. “You coming?”
But he just looks at me like I have three heads as he lowers himself back into his chair. “I’m retired, Silas. Why would I do such a thing?”
For fuck’s sake.
He’s fully dressed.
Levi smiles at me, and I roll my eyes, nudging him towards the steps.
“Have a good day!” Mama says as we head down them, and Winston takes off ahead of us, once again sniffing everything in his path.
“Thanks, Mama.” I smile back at her over my shoulder.
But as we head down the driveway towards the farm, I can’t help but cast another nervous glance back at them.
“What?” Levi asks.
I meet his eyes, and he gives me nothing but his relaxed, easy expression.
“You’re not worried about what they think of you staying the night in my cabin?” Then my eyes widen at another thought. “Do your parents know where you were?”
Levi just laughs. Fuckinglaughs.
“It’s funny how this entire thing is making me feel like a teenager again,” Levi says easily. “Just with dick. My first time sucking a dick, staying over at said dick’s house and telling my parents he’s just a friend…”
“Levi.” I stop where the driveway splits, one path heading to the farm, the other to the road. I stare right at him and wait for him to take this seriously.
His smile softens, and he nods. “My parents know where I was.”
My heart thrashes.
“And they don’t think anything of it. Just like your grandparents don’t.” He shrugs. “How many times have we slept at each other’s houses before, unplanned?”
I nod slowly. “A lot…”
He nods as well. “So, we’re just… hanging out, like we always have.”
The corner of my lips twitch and he smiles widely.
“I like this version of hanging out quite a bit better, though, I must say,” he says as his eyes fall down my body, then back up to meet mine.
A quiet chuckle escapes me. “Can’t argue that.”
Levi runs his fingers through his hair and glances at the rising sun. “Alright, it’s way too fucking early for me to still be awake. Winston, come on,” he calls to his dog, who simply lifts his head from where he was sniffing the grass, almost halfway to the farm.
