Page 90 of That One Night
“I’m going to tell her tonight. No ifs, ands, or buts. Mom spent most of the day fielding calls from people who’ve seen the for sale sign and didn’t realize we were planning on moving. And then the realtor sent over a bunch of home listings for her to look at, which she insisted on going through right away.”
The truth was, her mom was dealing with the for sale sign going up outside the farm better than Emery had hoped. And yeah, she was nervous as hell about telling her that her engagement was over. But tonight was the deadline. She was going to tell her mom everything.
She was so ready to get on with the rest of her life. And that life started today.
“How about the asshole? Have you heard from him?” Maisie asked her.
“No. But the ball is in his court. I’ve told him what I’m doing, how he reacts to that is up to him.”
“And how’s the hot farmer?” Maisie murmured, leaning in.
“Perfect.” She glanced up from her position in her mom’s front yard. “In fact, he’s just arriving home from work.”
“I want to talk to him,” Maisie said excitedly. “Take me over. Introduce me.”
“Hell no. That would be weird.”
Maisie gave her a pointed look. “You wouldn’t be with him if it wasn’t for me. I’m the one who gave you the list and made sure you went skinny dipping.”
“He lives about thirty yards away,” Emery said dryly. “I’m sure we would have talked eventually.”
“Oh come on. It’s daylight for almost twenty-four hours here. I can’t sleep. The least you could do is provide me with some entertainment.” She pressed her lips together. “I could add it to the list. What are we up to, number nine?”
“You’re not adding anything more to the list,” Emery said firmly. Then she looked back to check if there was any sign of her mom, but there wasn’t. “Okay, I’ll introduce you.”
“Yay!” Maisie beamed. “Ask him to take his top off. I need the full effect.”
Rolling her eyes at her friend, Emery walked through the gate and across the lane. Hendrix was climbing off of his motorcycle, and he smiled softly at her, making her heart thud.
“Hey.” He tipped his head to the side.
“Hi.” She felt stupidly breathless. Would it always feel like this? Like she couldn’t remember how to breathe around him? “My friend Maisie is on the phone. She wants to say hi.”
“Point me at him,” Maisie’s tinny voice shouted.
“Sorry,” Emery mouthed at Hendrix. He winked at her, then walked up to his house. She followed behind him, letting him usher her through the front door.
It was good thinking. If Maisie was going to embarrass them all, it was better to do it in private.
Once they were fully inside she lifted the phone up until the screen was facing Hendrix.
He looked stupidly amused. “Hi Maisie,” he said.
“Hi Hendrix.” Maisie sounded breathless. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“What did Emery tell you?” Maisie asked him. “It’s all lies. Unless it’s nice, in which case it’s all true. So… I hear you look good without a shirt.”
“Aaand that’s my cue to end the call,” Emery said, turning the phone back around. Hendrix was trying not to laugh.
“Bye Maisie. Go to bed, get some sleep.”
“I’ll see you in the flesh soon,” her friend shouted out, presumably to Hendrix as well, before Emery ended the call and rolled her eyes.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I like that you introduced me to your friend.”
