Page 98 of Keep My Heart
‘Dad invited you over while I help him fix the tractor.’ Nick chuckles. ‘Just what you want to do, watch a guy and his dad fix a tractor.’
I shrug. ‘I wouldn’t mind. I could bring something to read. Or maybe I could do something with your mom while you guys do your work.’
‘Are you serious? You really want to come over?’
‘Sure. I love it there. If I went home, I’d just be there by myself. My mom’s spending the afternoon at the church, getting stuff ready for the rummage sale. That’s why I made plans with Diane, but now I can’t go over there. It’s a beautiful day. It’d be nice to spend it at the orchard.’
‘If you’re really okay with this, I’ll tell my dad. I was going to see if Jason or Brody could help him out, but they’re not good at fixing shit. They can do minor stuff, but I’m better at fixing the equipment. I’ve been helping Dad with repairs for as long as I can remember.’
‘Go ahead and call him. Tell him we’ll be there in a few minutes.’
Nick smiles at me as he makes the call, like I’m doing him a huge favor. But I don’t see it that way. I wasn’t lying when I said I like spending time at the orchard. It’s beautiful and peaceful, and the perfect place to spend a warm summer day.
We get to the orchard and find Carl, Nick’s dad, in the barn, the old one that’s only used to store equipment. It’s what you’d typically think of when you think of a barn. The new one is more like a nice building that just happens to look like a barn on the outside.
‘How much did you have to pay her for this?’ Carl asks when he sees us walking in.
‘She volunteered,’ Nick says. ‘Don’t ask me why.’
‘Wait—I’m not actually helping, am I?’
They both laugh.
‘I was talking about you coming over,’ his dad says. ‘You’re welcome to be here. I just didn’t think you’d want to, especially here, in this old barn.’
‘Is Mom around?’ Nick asks.
‘She went to town to run some errands. She should be back soon.’
‘You could go hang out at the house if you want,’ Nick tells me.
‘I think I’ll just stay here until your mom gets home.’ I go over to a folding chair that’s next to the workbench and take a seat.
Nick looks back at his dad, who’s standing by the tractor. ‘So what do you think is the issue?’
‘I have some ideas, but I wanted to get your opinion first. I can get the engine going, but then it quits on me. I was going to take it in the fields today, but I didn’t want it breaking down on me out there.’
Nick asks him some more questions, then goes over to the engine and checks it out. How does he know this stuff? He’s a lawyer, not a mechanic.
He walks over to the workbench that’s behind me and takes off his shirt. It’s a nice shirt and I’m guessing he doesn’t want to get it dirty. But seeing him shirtless is making my thoughts turn dirty, something I don’t need when he’s only letting us be friends.
My thoughts get even dirtier as I watch Nick work on the engine, bending over it, shirtless, his jeans hanging low. His dad catches me staring and I quickly look away and pretend to swat at a fly.
‘He used to love this stuff as a kid,’ Carl says, walking over to me. ‘Helping me with the repairs.’
‘I didn’t know that. I always thought he was more into school work than working with his hands.’
‘He likes learning how things work. Doesn’t matter what it is.He was always that way. He’d follow me around the orchard, asking me about the trees and what makes them grow. He’d be four, five years old, wanting to know this stuff.’ Carl laughs. ‘Damn kid about drove me crazy with all his questions, but he just wanted to learn.’ He lowers his voice. ‘Between you and me, he’s better at fixing this stuff than I am. If I can’t figure out what’s wrong, I have to do some research or call someone in to fix it. But Nick just figures it out himself. He’s a smart kid.’
‘Hey!’ Nick says, noticing his dad talking to me. ‘What are you doing over there?’
‘Just talking to your girl—’ He stops himself. ‘Lyndsay.’
He almost called me Nick’s girlfriend. Is that what he thinks I am? Nick had to have told him we’re only friends. He wouldn’t tell his parents I’m his girlfriend when I’m not.
‘When you’re done,’ Nick says, ‘come over and try starting it. I think I might know what’s wrong.’
As Carl goes back over there, Martha appears.
