Page 121 of Strike Zone

“Yes, he’ll be here soon. I’ll get everything closed up and wait for him on the porch. Y’all get out of here.”

Dad has been allowed to drive the four wheeler from the main house to the store to pick up his woman. Sometimes they drive straight home but most nights you can find them taking a long drive around the property with Mama behind the wheel.

They claim they like the serenity that comes right before dusk. It’s just them, the crickets, and the summer breeze. I think they like admiring everything their children are accomplishing—everything they’ve accomplished.

Wyatt parks the truck beside our little trailer. We saved up enough money from the summer and fall harvest last year to buy ourselves a one bedroom trailer. Someday we’ll have our dream house built here. Until then, this is perfect for the two of us.

We’ve talked about getting married and having kids a few times. There’s no rush. I don’t need a ring on my finger to know this man is my forever. He completes me and fills me in places I didn’t know were empty.

Good thing that was an inside thought. Wyatt would definitely make a joke about it.

“What are you smiling about?”

I shake my head. “Nothing. I have a surprise for you. Follow me.” I grab his arm and drag him past the trailer into the open field. “Stand here and close your eyes.”

Once his eyes are closed, I turn him where he’s facing our future front yard. “What’s going on, birdie?”

“I got you something. I know we’re a long way off from getting our house built, but I wanted to give you this. Open your eyes.”

His eyes bounce from me to the giant oak tree in the front yard. It’s the only reason we chose to have our house face this direction. It’s the best tree to hang a tire swing on.

“When did you do this?” Holding hands, we walk to the swing.

“This morning after you went to work. Ford and Lenny helped me.”

“This was the important business meeting he had this morning?” Wyatt holds the swing and steps inside.

“I guess. I didn’t tell him to make up stories. Want me to push you?”

“Hop on.” He pats the other side of the swing.

“I don’t know if it will hold both of us.” I look skeptically at the ropes tied around the branch.

“Look how much fun it is.” Wyatt walks backward as far as he can before lifting his feet and flying into the air. “You know what else we could do on here?” He waggles his eyebrows.

“Absolutely not,” I say, laughing. “It’s not a sex swing, Wyatt.”

“Not with that attitude it isn’t.” He stops swinging and climbs out. “Get on. Let me push you, baby.”

He holds the swing still while I attempt to climb on. “Stop laughing at me.” I know I look ridiculous as I try to balance on one foot and climb over the edge of the tire. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Are you sure this can’t be a sex swing because you look hot as fuck right now.” He bites down on his lip as he circles around me. His forearms flex as he pulls me back towards his body. “Keep your legs up for me,” he whispers into my ear.

Damn him. He said the same thing to me last night and now it’s all I can think about as I fly back and forth through the air.

The swing begins to slow down and Wyatt helps me get down.

“Thank you for this. It’s exactly what I wanted.”

“We’ll get the house one day too.”

“Two out of three ain’t bad.” His hand grips the back of my head and he pulls me in for a kiss. My stomach does a little flip. Just like it did the first time I kissed him. “I’ve got the most important thing right here in my arms.”

I couldn’t agree with him more.

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