Page 15 of Love and Pumpkins
“Yes, at first, but then I went back and told him it would be fun to ride out there together.”
“Could have told me.” I need time to prepare for these encounters.
I don’t know if I can do all this togetherness with Hunter. Before seeing him on Friday, I thought I knew him. I mean, I’ve known him since kindergarten and thought I had a clear handle on the person he was—hardheaded, competitive, arrogant, and a jerk.
That’s not the guy who showed up on Friday. This Hunter seems more reserved, more careful, more considerate.
More handsome. Funnier. Sweeter.
And I don’t know what to do with this new information.
Three tractors pulling hayracks line the street by the waiting area. Hayracks are flatbed trailers, about fifteen feet long, with bales of hay to sit on.
We’re ushered onto the middle trailer and lined up like crayons in a crayon box. Somehow, Chloe finagled our way onto the ride so that Raymond was the first one on. She followed him and dragged me behind her; Hunter followed. So, I’m sitting between Chloe and Hunter.
Across from us is a family with three kids. Each of the kids has a small bag of popcorn, and the smell makes my stomach growl. I should have eaten dinner. There will be food options at the farm, but…
“Is that your stomach again, Slugger?” Hunter asks, leaning towards me. “Do you ever eat?”
“I wanted to wait until we got to the farm. My cousin Annie sells the most amazing caramel apples.”
He chuckles. “A caramel apple doesn’t make for a well-rounded dinner.”
The tractor starts up with a sputter and a shake, and the little girl across from me nearly drops her popcorn bag. Her father secures it and pulls her close. He obviously chose that side because the tall rail would preventthe kids from falling off. There’s no rail on our side, and I remind myself to be careful.
“There will be other things,” I protest.
I could make a dinner out of caramel apples. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Chloe asks if we’re all game for doing the corn maze after the sun sets, when it’s dark. Hunter and Ray quickly agree, and she gives me a look that says, “I won’t talk to you for weeks if you say no.”
“Sure,” I agree. Tomorrow is the last day of the craft fair, and I need to be firing on all cylinders. A late night might put a damper on that, but I can’t say no to Chloe.
We near the lane to Four Seasons Farm and take a hard right turn. The hayrack rocks wildly when it hits a pothole on the small incline. Even sitting, I lose my balance and tilt backwards.
Hunter’s arm goes around my shoulders to keep me from rolling off the wagon.
“Whoa!” I shriek, tightening my stomach muscles to stay in my seat.
“Easy,” Hunter says, pulling me to his side.
The hayrack straightens, and everyone remains sitting. No one is ejected. Hurrah!
Now that we’ve straightened, I expect Hunter to remove his arm. He doesn’t and it feels nice, comforting. I wish I had waited to put on my flannel jacket, so there would be fewer layers between me and his arm.
Too soon, the tractor pulls to a stop and everyone disembarks. Hunter gets off first and extends his hand for me while I climb down the short stepladder used for getting on and off the ride.
I’m tempted to pull his hand to me and tuck it under my arm to keep him close.
But I let go. I’m cool. Everything’s cool. We are not an item. Hunter then helps Chloe down, and Ray follows her.
“What should we do first?” Chloe asks, ready to take charge, as usual. (And they say the older sibling is the bossy one!)
“I think Slugger needs to eat,” Hunter replies. “I’ve heard her stomach growl three times.”
“Hey!” I reply to Hunter’s comment. My cheeks flush, but his teasing makes me smile. He’s not wrong. “I’m not in a hurry. Whatever everyone else wants to do is fine by me.”
“I’m hungry,” Ray says, and he’s suddenly my hero.
