Page 19 of All For You
Chuckling, I asked her to repeat what she said, and she responded with a strangely powerful shove before walking over to my vehicle. By the time I arrived, her hand was outstretched for the keys, but she hesitated before getting inside.
“You didn’t do anything to the car, did you? Like, cut the brake line or something like that?”
“Why would I do that, cricket?”
“So I’m framed for your murder. The ultimate prank.”
“Wow, you are paranoid. Just get in the car and find a place for us to talk.”
“I don’t fully trust you.”
“Well, I’m trusting you to drive me somewhere safely…”
I let my confession linger, opening the door for her, and I smiled as she nodded subtly and slunk down into the driver seat. After shutting her inside, I moved around the car and got into the passenger seat. Without a word, she turned on the car and pulled us out onto Main Street. Soon, we were headed toward a path I was very familiar with.
As if she could read my mind, Aspen informed me that we were going to Sunny Book Farms.
“You’re welcome to stay at the bed-and-breakfast with your mom, if you’d like, but I figured you could stay at one of the ranch houses. We have a few vacant.”
“Thanks, that’s really nice of you.”
“Don’t get too excited. It’s not long-term, but I may be able to get a place for you while your home. I just need to ask my sister Rory.”
“You don’t have to do any of this, Aspen.”
“I know.”
It was refreshing that she didn’t offer an explanation or use it as a one-up on me. Maybe she felt a bit bad about everything that transpired earlier today with my mother and my childhood home, but none of that was her fault.
“I owe you.”
Chuckling, she added, “You definitely don’t.” There was a pregnant pause before she said, “So…,” then glanced over at me. Our eyes locked, and we both burst out in laughter. “Tell me about baseball.”
“You really want to talk about that?” I asked with a snicker.
“I know nothing about what you do. I don’t follow sports. But you’re a shortstop, right? I think I remember that from high school.”
“Yeah. I play for the Coyotes. I just signed another five-year contract.”
“Word about that got around town. A lot of people are proud of you.”
“What about you?”
“Whataboutme?” she asked as we took the ninety-degree blind turn in the road that I always hated. “I told you everything about me. I’m a farm girl, remember?”
“You never wanted to do anything else?”
“I didn’t really have a choice, Owen. Some of us aren’t talented enough to do more than what we’re handed.”
Turning in my seat, I leaned toward the center console. In the confined space, her clean scent filled my lungs. “If you could do anything, money was no object, what would you do?”
“Why do you want to know?” she asked incredulously.
“Humor me.”
She puffed out a breath, before replying, “Travel.”
Her answer surprised me, and I made it known in my response.
