Page 75 of Love Off-Limits
Was she mad at me for distracting her when she should have been working?
I tripped on that last thought the most. She’d told me she needed to focus on her family this summer. Over and over again, she’d expressed her determination to work hard, to build trust with her dad.
And then when she’d told me she ought to head back to the farmhouse, I’d selfishly encouraged her to do the exact opposite.
Please just tell me you’re okay,I finally texted.I’m sorry about earlier. It’s impossible to regret a single second of it, but I should have encouraged you to go back to work.
I’m here if you need me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Olivia
It probably wasn’t the most mature move to just ignore Tyler.
I hadn’t seen him since I’d fled the barn the afternoon before, and since that made my life a lot easier, I wasn’t about to initiate contact. At least, not yet. Eventually, I would have to.
I wasn’t cruel enough to end things over the phone.
Still. By late Sunday afternoon, his texts had progressed from patient and chagrined to a little panicked, maybe even a little pissed. He didn’t deserve the distance, I just had bigger things to worry about.
“Texting your boyfriend?” Perry asked.
I startled and dropped my phone.Whydid he keep sneaking up on me like that? I’d thought I was alone at the farmhouse offices.
“Can you please just knock?” I said, retrieving the phone from my desk. “And no. I’m texting Glenda to see if she can come in tomorrow morning to cover the store. Bridget has a sick kid and can’t come in, and since the co-op boxes are being picked up, it’s likely to be busy.”
“I can cover things up here if you want to go help out,” he said.
“Why don’tyougo help out at the store?” I said. “Or is retail work beneath your high and mighty self?”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry, what is it that makes me high and mighty? Is it that Idon’tfool around with the farmhands in the barn? I just want to make sure I understand.”
“Everything worked out,” I said, unable to keep my tone from sounding defensive. “The wedding was great, the bride was happy—”
“Calista didn’t quit, even though she had more than enough justification,” Perry added.
That part was actually true. Calista had handled the worst of things on Saturday; she had every right to be pissed. I’d already apologized once, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to provide her more of an explanation.
I sighed. “I’ll talk to Calista again.”
“I just don’t get it, Liv,” Perry said. “With everything that’s going on with Dad, with how much I know you want to take over things, how could you behave so irresponsibly?”
“Please don’t scold me, all right? I get it. I screwed up.” I wasn’t sure why Dad had decided to put Perry in charge over me. But whatever his reason, my behavior yesterday had likely only enforced it.
Perry dropped into the chair across from my desk and his expression softened. “Do you really like this guy, Liv?”
A knock sounded on the door behind us before I could respond.
Tyler stood there looking sheepish. “Sorry to interrupt. The front door was open. I just...” He glanced from me to Perry. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I stood up, happiness swelling in my traitorous heart at the sight of him.
Perry eyed me warily. “I only came by to tell you Mom wants you to come for Sunday dinner this afternoon. She says you aren’t responding to her texts.”
I hadn’t responded on purpose. I wasn’t sure I was up for a family dinner. At least not before I talked to my dad about what had happened. I still had no idea how that conversation was supposed to go.Of course I’m serious about running the farm. I promise I won’t change anything at all. I’ll be too busy with the farmhands to make any REAL changes.
“I’ll respond to her,” I said. Surely I could come up withsomeexcuse that would appease her.
