“It does,” Myles answered. “I read an article—”

“Enough!” Angie shouted and turned back to me. “My only other option is to let you keep working on the farm, hustling my parents into selling it to you.”

“How ’bout we all calm down and share a glass of iced tea?” Myles held his hands out as if he stood in front of two live bombs.

“Shut up, Myles,” Angie and I said in unison.

“Fine.” Myles slunk back in his chair. “I’m only trying to help.”

“Let this play out.” Lili touched Myles’ shoulder. “It’s getting good.” She took another bite of her muffin, settling back into her chair.

My hackles had risen at the mention of Tony and Nora. I cared for them and wanted only what was best. Selling the land would prevent bankruptcy. At this point, it was already lost. It’d be much better for someone who had their best interest at heart to ease them into the idea of off-loading rather than allowing some East Coast, faceless shark of a company take advantage of them.

I went on as if our friends hadn’t spoken. “I haven’t misled your parents at all.”

“No?” She leaned toward me until we were nose to nose. “You’re just weaseling your way into their good graces, biding your time like a snake in the grass, waiting for the perfect time to strike.” She threaded her hands through her hair at her temples. “Ugh! Why won’t you Cockrells leave us alone?”

And with her statement, she exposed her greatest weakness. I lowered my voice. “You can fire me. Tell your parents about me. Break it off with Smoot. But I’ll never leave you alone. I’m not going anywhere. You won’t have any peace until you, one,” I held my pointer finger in front of her face, “sell me your farm. Or two,” I lifted my second finger, “I die trying to buy it.”

Sudden silence reverberated in my ears. The heat pump clicked on, and the sound of air rushing through the vents filled the void. Our eyes battled each other until she backed up a step.

“If I let you do real work, option two will come quicker than you think. ‘Don’t take it too hard on me.’” She air-quoted, imitating a whiny toddler.

I folded my arms and glared at her. “I can take whatever you throw at me.” Wait … What did I just say? If only I could shove my words back down my gullet.

She straightened. “Oh really? How about we amend our deal then?”

Not able to back out now without walking away with my testicles in my palm, I pressed forward. “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

“No work restrictions. I can make you do whatever I want. If you don’t last until the harvest, you and your company leave us alone forever.”

Gauntlet thrown, she stared me down, making a hornet look cuddly. My father should have offered Angie my job, and yet I was still better at it. I pretended to mull over her offer. She’d given me the window I’d been waiting for.

“Fine. But you can’t tell your parents. And if I do make it to harvest, you sell to me without a fight.” I stuck out my hand to her.

“Hold on, Ang,” Lili broke in. “This has gone too far.”

Angie glanced at her friend then locked onto me with her steely irises. “Do you think I’m stupid? My name isn’t even on the deed.”

“We both know your parents will do whatever you ask—”

“Papa will never sell—”

“Fine.” I flicked my hands apart, slicing through the air and cutting her off. “How about this? If I make it to harvest, you talk to Tony in support of selling to the CD … I mean Cockrell Development Company.”

“What were you going to say?” Angie took a step toward me. “The CD what?”

I could ignore her, yet once she wanted to know something, she latched onto it, like a lion to its prey, until she was satisfied. Case in point: her, standing in my living room, dressed like a ninja.

I rolled my head, slinking it to the side before I answered. She was going to give me hell for this. “The CDC.”

Angie broke into laughter, though I would call it more of a cackle.

“You nicknamed your company the CDC?” She hooted some more before continuing. “I bet you have all sorts of communicable diseases in yourbusiness.” She inclined her head toward my crotch with a smirk.

She had to go there. And I was supposed to be the immature one in this relationship. Both Myles and Lili tittered in the background, but I remained focused on Angie.

“Do we have a deal?” I shoved my hand out to her.