Page 33 of Playing it Country

HAYDEN: And I appreciated your abs last night so calm down

OTTO: Can we focus?

HAYDEN: We’re super focused

WAYLON: Dude is a damn thirst trap

HANK: What the fuck is a thirst trap

OTTO: Hot guy on the internet

CASE: Bet he’d go viral

WAYLON: He’d hate that

WAYLON: But also he totally would

CASE: Care to make a wager?

EVERETT: Like you did on whether Hayden or I would propose first?

OTTO: I can’t believe Sorren won

HANK: I still think it was rigged

HAYDEN: I didn’t! Unless Ev told him

EVERETT: Yeah you know how chatty I am

OTTO: You’ve come a long way

CASE: That’s a true story

WAYLON: So you’re okay with us betting on Sorren going viral but not about you hooking up with your roommate/girlfriend?

HAYDEN: Oh yeah like that’s not a done deal

CASE: I remember you being nicer

HAYDEN: Was it recent?

I snortas I pocket my phone and lead Hannah through the orchard of Darling Farms. Rows of apple trees stand proudly, each stronger than the year before.

“You grew up running through here?”

“We did. Sorren and Marlee’s grandparents owned the land—everything, really. Their mother was estranged from Gran and Pop, and they sold the majority of the land to Harry Aubergine before Sorren and Marlee came to live with them.”

Hannah giggles and I raise an eyebrow.

“Harry Aubergine?” she says and pauses like that should mean something to me.

“What? He was a nice old guy—never gave us any grief for playing here.” She rolls her lips in and presses them into a thin line even though her eyes are dancing with amusement.

“Go on.”

“Anyway,” I say for effect, “Harry was looking to retire right around the time Isla’s father moved down here following some health issues. He bought the orchard and has been making improvements slowly. He’s asked Otto and me to do the landscaping.”

Hannah stops and grabs my forearm. “Case, that’s amazing! Aunt Holly said you guys did the front entrance to the Tap and Table.”

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