Page 104 of The Dating Pact

Brooke

No, but I’m not happy about not being able to be on the farm right in the middle of a big harvest.

I could help.

Brooke

Please don’t offer something you can’t follow through on.

I called her once again. This time at home in my bedroom so I was alone with the quiet and I could hear the waver in her voice when she picked up, saying, “I know this is hard. But, please… You’ll make it harder for me. You’ll come over and take care of me, and I won’t want you to go. I’ll say something and you’ll give in, and we’ll be back where we started. So, please, don’t come over.”

I took my frustration out on my pillows, punching and folding them behind my head. “Then at least talk to me.”

She sniffled, and my heart ached so much I had to turn on my side to relieve some of the pressure. “Who did this to you? Tell me what vegetable patch I need to take out.”

She laughed so sweetly my eyes burned with a need to see her for myself. Make sure she was okay. “It was the sweet potatoes. Tripped over a box and twisted my ankle in a ditch.”

“Send me a picture. I need to see what your ankle looks like.”

The photo came through a few seconds later, her ankle purple and angry.

“I’m gonna kill every last one of those sweet potatoes.”

“My hero.”

Two weeks later…

How’s the ankle feeling?

Brooke

Good. I’m actually going to go out on the farm today.

Brooke

I hope the kids have a good first day of school. Take pictures so I can see Amelia getting on the bus.

I will.

How about I come over? I can help you. Since the kids are gone all day.

Brooke

Please don’t. I have a lot of stuff I need to get done today.

Brooke

And please don’t call me right now. I won’t have the energy to refuse you. And I don’t want you unless I can have you.

Brooke

I love you.

I know. I love you too.

TWENTY-EIGHT

JUDE

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