The words are still dying to come out. Not because I think I did anything wrong. Not in the way I used to apologize, but because I’m pretty sure I was asleep in Hunter’s lap, and I’m pretty sure he was asleep too. In the barn.
The sun is shining, and the air, while still crisp, is warmer than it was when I came out here last night. Birds are chirping, and Hunter is still staring at me, and—“Ouch!”
“Lila,” Hunter groans, picking her up and holding her directly in front of him until she’s all but forced to make eye contact with him. “We don’t headbutt people.”
A small laugh bursts from my chest. I can’t even help it. Watching him hold a baby goat in front of his face and try tocorrect her like she actually understands English or even cares about anything but food and baby goat stuff is hilarious.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, shooting me a wry grin.
“You,” I say, laughing a little harder.
He shakes his head with a chuckle, then puts Lila down. “Glad I can make you laugh, I suppose.” I bite my lip hard to keep myself from doing it again. He chuckles. “You can laugh, Theo. I’m not bothered by it.”
“Did you sleep?” I ask instead of laughing again.
He nods. “Some. Been years since I’ve slept in the hay.”
“Was sleeping in the hay normal for you?”
Lying back in said hay, Hunter stretches out, folding his arms under his head. “Used to be. Slept out here all the time as a kid.”
“Really?”
“Sure. We used to have pigs in here.”
My jaw drops. “Do you still have pigs?”
Hunter smiles. “No, not anymore. I was obsessed with the pigs, though. Used to be my favorite of all the animals we had. I don’t know why. I used to come out here and sleep in the barn with them.”
“That’s cute.”
Laughing, Hunter hums. “Wasn’t too cute for my mom and dad when they woke up in the morning and I was missing. They swore they were about to call a search party. Mom said I stumbled out of the barn, hay stuck in my hair, and dragging my blanket behind me. From then on, they’d always check the barns before freaking out if I wasn’t in bed.”
My heart warms. “That’s adorable.”
His cheeks turn pink, and that’s even more adorable.
“Can I ask you something?” I say softly.
“Course.”
“What was Luca talking about yesterday? With your dad…”
Hunter sits up, crossing his legs, then picks up a piece of hay. I watch as he ties it into a small knot, then tosses it to the side and picks up another. “He passed a few months ago. Three, actually. In January.”
Oh… “Fuck. I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”
I can’t see his face, but he sniffles, then wipes at his nose with the back of his hand before shrugging. “Thank you.”
Silence falls over us yet again. It never feels empty with him, though. Not in the way I’m used to. Not in the way silence feels when I’m alone.
After wiping at his face again, he raises his head, his eyes locking on mine. “What’s your percentage?”
I can’t help but smile. “I don’t know. Maybe close to fifty.” Which is about as good as I can hope for.
He smiles. “You feeling up for another ride?”
“On the horses?” I ask just to clarify. “Are we going to see the cows today?”
