Page 38 of Break My Heart
‘Not always, but they’re okay.’ I notice her black pickup parked next to my car. ‘Nice truck. Is it new?’
‘It’s a couple years old. It’s my dad’s, but he’s overseas. He lets me have it while he’s gone.’
‘How long is he gone for?’
‘Not sure. He’s in the Army and doesn’t get home much.’ She stops at her truck. ‘So tomorrow morning at eight.’
‘Yeah. Just text me if you need to change the time.’ I go around to my car, noticing how tiny it looks next to Gina’s truck. My car is a black BMW convertible. I got it used, but it still cost more than I wanted to spend. I love it, but sometimes I wish I had a truck like Gina’s that I could use when I need to pick up supplies for the brewery. I’m always having to borrow my dad’s truck, which is okay, but not very convenient.
‘Sawyer!’ Gina says, rolling her window down.
‘Yeah?’
‘What are you making for dinner?’
‘I don’t know. Why?’
‘If I’m coming over, I want to know what to expect.’
‘Why would you come over? You won.’
‘So I’m not invited?’
‘You are, but I thought you didn’t want to. Wasn’t that the whole point of winning? So you wouldn’t have to eat dinner with me?’
‘I won because I’m good at pool and because I like winning. But I still have to eat, and my fridge is empty and I won’t have time to go to the store.’
‘So this is out of desperation. You either come over or starve.’
‘Basically, yeah.’ She smiles.
I smile back. ‘Then I guess I could feed you. Any requests?’
‘Anything but seafood. I’m not a big fan of seafood.’
‘I was thinking steaks.’
‘I’m good with that. Should I bring some beer?’
‘Seriously?’
She laughs. ‘See you tonight.’ She backs up and drives off.
What’s going on with her? She wins at pool but still wants to have dinner with me? I don’t know what she’s up to, but I’m not sure I trust her. I’m really starting to like her, but I can’t let thatcloud my judgment. She’s still my competitor so I need to be careful around her.
As I’m driving out of the orchard, I pass a line of cars and minivans waiting to get in. The orchard opened at ten and Saturday is our busiest day. I don’t envy Nick for taking the place over. It’s way more work than my brewery. Growing the apples and maintaining the fields is a job in itself, but then you have all the other activities that take place there—the fall festival, the cider competition, school tours, busloads of tourists stopping by, hayrack rides, and soon weddings. My cousin, Nash, is getting married at the orchard in October and Nick plans to do more weddings there next year. It makes running the brewery seem easy when I think of all that Nick has to do.
My phone rings as I pull out onto the main road. I see Maci’s name on the screen and pick up.
‘Hey, how’s it going?’
‘Good,’ she says in her sexy voice. ‘What are you up to tonight?’
‘Gotta work. Why?’
‘I thought I’d come by your place tonight and keep you company after you close.’
Maci and I have been out a few times. It’s nothing serious and never will be. On our first date she told me she didn’t want to be exclusive with anyone because she wasn’t ready to settle down. I was fine with that. I don’t have time to be in a serious relationship. I’d like to settle down, but not until I’ve got the brewery successful enough that I don’t have to worry about it closing.
