Page 97 of One More Made Up Love Song
Then Dad showed up and asked if Freddie would like to see the irrigation system he uses to water his redbud trees, and we took a walk to the edge of the field to study the setup Dad designed himself and really,reallylikes to show off.
Freddie glances at me over his shoulder and smiles, then looks back at the pump my dad is pointing out. “Very cool,” Freddie says, and I gotta say, his tone isconvincing.
Surely he knows that I love him too.
I didn’tsayit. But only because I didn’t have time. It’s a lot to process, learning that someone is in love with you.
Especially when that someone is your boss.
Who is also a wildly famous rockstar.
Whom you have loved,desperately,for almost as many years as you have known him.
“Anyway, that’s how it works,” Dad says. “The upgrade to the pump really made all the difference.”
“Yeah, I bet,” Freddie says. “It’s amazing you can reach the entire field with just one system.”
Dad claps him on the back. “If you have time before y’all leave tomorrow, I’ll take you out to see the junipers. It’s a little too far for walking, but we can take the four-wheelers.” He holds up a finger. “You have to wear a helmet though.”
“Um, that sounds amazing,” Freddie says. “I would love to see the junipers.”
I’m betting he’ll really just love the four-wheeling, but I’m not about to burst Dad’s bubble if Freddie isn’t.
Dad finally turns to me. “Your mother sent me out to see if y’all want any peach pie for dessert. It’s fresh out of the oven, and you know your mother thinks it’s best when it’s hot enough to melt the ice cream.” He looks from me, then over to Freddie. “Are you coming in soon? Or should I tell her not to wait?”
I exchange a glance with Freddie, and he shrugs, offering me the tiniest of nods. “I like the sound of peach pie.”
“We’re coming in right now,” I say to Dad. “We’ll be right behind you.”
Dad moves toward the house, and Freddie and I follow, but I slow my steps, hoping for a few more moments of privacy before we get to the house.
I reach over and take Freddie’s hand, and he looks at me,his expression warm and sincere. “I’m sorry we were interrupted,” I say.
“Nah, it’s fine. I like your dad a lot.”
“Me too. But his timing was terrible.”
Freddie chuckles, then he stops walking altogether and turns to face me, a new vulnerability in his eyes. “What would you have said if your dad hadn’t interrupted?”
I look into the green eyes I’ve grown to know so well. “I would have said I’m really,reallyin love with you too.”
After dessertand a shower to wash off the river, I find Freddie in the kitchen doing dishes with my mom. He’s also managed to sneak in a shower, and he looks perfect, wearing dark jeans and a plain black henley, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, and my mom’s bright pink rubber gloves.
He’s elbow deep in suds when I walk over, so I duck into the space between him and the sink and turn to face him, arms wrapped around his torso.
“Hi,” I say, and he grins.
“Hi.”
“You smell good.”
“I showered. Carina let me use her bathroom. She said I’d have to wait forever if I planned to use yours.”
I scowl. “Carina is judgy and mean.”
“I heard that,” Carina yells from the living room.
Mom chuckles from where she’s unloading the dishwasher. “Your father was looking for you earlier, Ivy. He’s got something he wants to show you.”
