Emerson was losing it.
And if he wanted to secure a paycheck he was relying on, he had to get it back together.
He refilled their basket of chips, and with a long, shallow breath, returned to the table, and the side of Luca’s thigh, waiting for his.
ten
Despite his bestintentions to forget it, Emerson could still feel the track of Luca’s fingers along his shoulder blade an hour later, like the ghost of a burn, as he drove his truck back into the familiar territory of Short King Farms.
Julie jumped out of Ben’s car as soon as they parked.
“I love it already,” she pronounced.
“Wait until you see the wildflower field,” Luca said through his open window, before he’d even cut his engine.
Emerson opened his mouth to object, to warn them that the tarp he’d finally gotten laid down this week made it look kind of a mess, but then he caught Luca giving him a look as he stepped out of his car.
Ayou better keep your mouth shutlook.
Emerson’s jaw snapped shut.
He looked away. It had been a look Emerson needed, clearly. He was the worst salesman of all time. The rational, business-minded side of his brain was more grateful than ever that he’d invited Luca tonight.
It had also been an intimate look. Like he and Luca weresuddenly a true team. People who exchanged looks, silent messages.
But as Emerson studied the horizon, he acknowledged, with a small easing in the back of his throat, that maybe Luca had been right. Now, and back at the bar. The sun had just barely set, the sky full of peach haze and baby blue blankets.When the world’s all golden.
Maybe this first part, at least, would be all right.
“It’s up here.” With a nod of his head, Emerson turned and led the way up the road. Just as he had last week with Luca. Behind his house, past the barn.
“Oh my god, hi, Cow,” Julie said behind him.
“That’s Sally,” Luca said, before Emerson could. “I don’t have a lot of experience with other cows, but I’m pretty sure she’s the best one.”
“Can Sally be the ring bearer? Or one of those goats back there?”
“Definitely not the goats,” Emerson piped in. “If you seriously want Sally, something could possibly be arranged, but I can’t guarantee how it would go.”
“This is…” Ben’s voice trailed off before he continued, in delighted wonder, “This is something we’ll have to think about.”
And then they crested the hill.
A small sound escaped Julie’s throat, somewhere in the hiccup-gasp family. She slapped a palm over her mouth.
“Are you—” Ben looked at her once they were all standing in a row at the edge of the field. His lips parted in amazement before curling into a smile. “Crying?”
“Shut up.” Julie wiped at her face. “I’ve become soft recently. Leave me alone.”
Ben slung an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in tight against his side. He kissed her temple. “Never.”
Emerson cleared his throat.
“So this tarp here is where the aisle will be, if it looks all right with you.” He walked down its length toward the center of the field. Ben followed close behind, trailed by Julie and then Luca. “We’ll cover it with bark chips, something that won’t get too messy even if it rains. And then this?—”
Emerson stopped where the aisle ended, where the tarp expanded, covering the heart of the field.
“This will be for the ceremony. You said you’re bringing chairs?”
