Page 83 of Break My Heart
‘Wait—what? I thought we were going to keep our relationship a secret. You said you didn’t want everyone in town gossiping about us.’
‘Fuck that. I don’t give a shit. I’m tired of us having to spend all our time at each other’s places. I want to take you out, go on a real date.’ He glances at the people waiting in line to get on the hayrack ride. A few of them looked at us as we walked into the orchard and some are still watching us.
‘I think people already know.’
‘Yeah, so let’s stop hiding it. Tonight we make it official. People will see us together, and by tomorrow everyone will know we’re dating.’
‘I’m okay with that.’ I smile. ‘But I’m still going to compete with you.’
‘I wouldn’t have it any other way.’ He leans down and kisses me. ‘It’s why I fell for you in the first place.’
He’s told me that several times and I still find it hard to believe. He used to get so angry when I beat him back at camp. I never would’ve guessed that’s why he liked me. When he kissed me in the woods that day, I assumed he did it because someone dared him to, or to see how I’d react.
‘Want to go inside?’ he asks. ‘Get some cider?’
‘The cider!’ I pull away. ‘Shit, I forgot to try it.’
‘It’s not a big deal. You can try it right now.’
‘No, not that cider. I meant the hard cider, the one I’m working on for the competition. I haven’t been checking it. I’ve been so distracted lately that I almost forgot about the cider competition.’ I toss my hands up. ‘See what happens when you get distracted by romance?’
‘Yeah.’ He pulls me back into his arms. ‘You have great sex. You sleep better. You have someone to talk to.’
‘Okay, yeah, those are all good things, but I need to win that competition. I can’t be distracted by the great sex.’
‘But we’ll still have it, right?’ he asks, kissing my neck. ‘Like tonight?’
‘Yes.’ My eyes fall shut as he kisses his way back to my lips. ‘But tomorrow I’m working on my cider.’
‘Sawyer!’ someone yells. ‘Are you out here?’
Sawyer backs away, sighing. ‘That’s Jason. I told him I’d take over driving people to the orchard so he can go inside and get some food.’
‘Can I ride with you?’
‘You want to ride on the tractor?’
‘Yeah. I think it’s sexy watching you drive it.’ I look him up and down, smiling. ‘Especially when you’re dressed like that. It’s like I’m dating a sexy ranch hand.’
He laughs. ‘Not quite, but hey, whatever does it for ya.’
He takes my hand and we walk over to the tractor.
Jason is helping people into the wagon when he sees Sawyer. ‘Hey, can you cover for me? I’m starving. I need to eat.’
‘Yeah, go ahead,’ Sawyer says. ‘We got this.’
‘We?’ Jason smiles at me. ‘You’re helping?’
‘Yeah, it sounds fun!’
‘Must be serious,’ he says, smiling at Sawyer.
‘Shut up and get out of here,’ Sawyer says as he helps a little kid into the hay-lined wagon.
‘We get to pick apples!’ a little girl squeals, jumping up and down in front of me.
‘She’s a little excited,’ her mom says, smiling at me.
