Page 87 of The Apple Tree

“I’m draining the rest of the blood. I plan on taking him down later today. What are you doing in the barn?”

Her hands slowly dropped to her side. “Snooping,” she whispered, wrinkling her nose.

I closed the door.

“Snooping for what?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. Just snooping. Haven’t you ever just snooped?”

I couldn’t help my grin. She was stubborn and childish, yet sexy as hell, and I ate up her attitude like a bowl of hot buttered popcorn.

“Do you feel bad when you kill animals?” she asked.

I closed the door and leaned against it, sliding my hand into my pockets. “No. I feel grateful for the sacrifice.”

“Do you think I could kill a deer?”

I chuckled. “Baby, I think you can do anything you put your mind to.”

“Will you take me hunting with you?” Eve was full of surprises.

I shrugged. “Eventually.”

Her face lit up. “Really?”

“Really.”

She squealed and threw herself at me, arms around my neck, mouth fused to mine. Opposites were supposed to attract, but I had the female version of myself and felt damn happy about it.

“Did Eve say yes?”

“Coach interrupted,” Drew said, warming up on the field the next day with Terrell, his wide receiver.

I turned. Drew’s back was to me, but Terrell saw me.

“I’ll see if she wants to go to a movie tomorrow night. Remind her what she’s missing.” He threw the ball to Terrell and made a dick-stroking gesture. “She’ll say yes by the end of the night.”

Terrell cleared his throat, eyeing me over Drew’s shoulder. Drew turned.

I widened my stance and crossed my arms. “What’sthe preacher’sdaughter missing, Drew?”

Did I see the hypocrisy in my question? Of course. I’d self-reflect later.

“Nothing. I was asking her to homecoming yesterday, but you interrupted. Totally cool, though, Coach. She seems to like your kid. Think he can put in a good word for me?” He caught the ball when Terrell threw it back to him.

“Why would someone who’s graduated want to return to a high school dance?” I asked.

“Can ya keep a secret, Coach?” Drew asked as though we were friends.

I didn’t have to answer because he was dying to tell me anyway.

“Eve and I were a thing last year, but only a few people knew. We kept it private because she didn’t want to deal with her dad?—”

“Pastor Jacobson,” I corrected.

“Yeah, Pastor Jacobson finding out. She was really into me. And I’ve heard she’s not with anyone at the moment.”

“She’s a runner, Drew. You’ll stand a better chance of her saying yes if you can prove you’re a runner too. Everyone to the track!” I hollered.

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