Page 23 of Break My Heart
I step closer to her and put my arm out. She holds onto it and we continue up the hill.
‘You could’ve just asked,’ I say.
‘I did,’ she insists.
‘You know you’re not allowed to climb the trees. There’s even a sign.’ I point to it.
‘Yeah, well, I’ve never been great at following rules.’
I smile, because I’m not good at that either. I see a rule, I break it. It always drove my parents crazy, especially when it cost them money. As a kid, I was the reason stores had signs saying not to touch stuff, and that if you do and break it, you pay for it.
When we get in the barn, my mom sees us and races up to Gina. ‘You’re limping. What happened?’
‘She fell out of a tree,’ I say. ‘Hurt her ankle.’
Gina glares at me. Guess she didn’t want me sharing that.
‘Are you okay?’ Mom asks.
Gina smiles. ‘I’m fine, Mrs. Kanfield, but thank you for asking.’
‘You want some ice for it?’ Nick asks, walking up to us.
‘Really, I’m fine,’ Gina says, her cheeks blushing from all the attention.
‘I’m Nick,’ he says, smiling at her. ‘Sawyer’s older brother.’
‘Nice to meet you.’ She glances at the basket I’m holding. ‘I should probably pay for those and get going.’
‘Go ahead and take them,’ Mom says. ‘Consider it a welcome to town gift.’
‘You’re new here?’ Nick asks Gina.
‘Yeah. I moved here from Green Bay.’
‘She opened the new brewery,’ Dad says, coming over to us. He was doing something with the cash register when we came in. He smiles at Gina. ‘You find some good ones?’
‘They all look good, but I think I found what I need.’
‘For what?’ I hold up the basket. ‘I thought you got these to eat.’
‘No, they’re for the hard cider. I’m making a new batch today.’
‘For the competition?’ Nick asks, glancing at me.
‘Yes.’ Gina takes the basket from me. ‘I really should pay for these. Where do I check out?’
I stare at her. ‘You seriously came here, to my family’s orchard, to buy apples for the cider competition?’
‘What’s wrong with that?’ Dad asks.
I look at him. ‘Are you kidding me?’
‘Sawyer, there is nothing wrong with her using our apples for the competition,’ Mom says in her scolding tone. ‘Now go get a bag for the apples and help her take them to her car.’
‘She can do it herself,’ I scoff. ‘I have my own apples to pick.’ I storm out the door and back to the orchard.
I can’t believe Gina had the nerve to show up here, at Kanfield Orchard, to get the apples she needs to make the hard cider she’ll be using to compete against me. And I helped her do it!
