Page 24 of Townshipped
Of course, I will leave. Eventually. At least I think I will. I don’t even know if I’ve left someone behind.
“Maybe I’ll be out of your hair sooner than later,” I say to Aiden from across the yard.
“You’re not in my hair,” he says as he turns to shovel another scoop of goat droppings into a bucket.
I wish I could see his face right now. His voice has a measured and controlled tone as he says the next sentence.
“I’ve actually enjoyed your company.”
I smile bigger than I probably should. When Aiden turns, I hide my mouth behind the scarf wrapped around my neck so he can’t see the impact of his words on me.
He finishes up with the goats and we walk back to the house, side by side.
“What should we have for dinner?” he asks as we take off our coats and boots in the breezeway.
“Well, we sure aren’t hurting for options.”
“It’s embarrassing. This town.”
“I think it’s amazing. You could live somewhere so crowded that your neighbors don’t even know your name. Or you could live somewhere like Bordeaux.”
“Where not only do they know your name, but every living thing about you, including what you ate for lunch,” Aiden jokes.
But I can hear the warmth in his tone.
We settle on reheating some slices off one of the roasts and making a salad on the side. We’re just taking our plates to the table when another knock carries through the house.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Aiden says, standing. “I’m going to start selling tickets. We could make some revenue off this sideshow.”
I laugh, remaining in my chair. I figure Aiden will either send our visitors away, or more than likely, if today is any indication, they’ll be joining us. When voices fill the entryway, I can tell from Aiden’s reaction, he’s at ease. The guarded tone from earlier today has been replaced by something welcoming and familiar.
Aiden returns to the dining room, followed by four people close to our age—two women and two men.
“Em,” Aiden says, waving his hand towards the guests. “These are some of my closest friends, Rob and Laura, and Lexi and Trevor, who is also my brother, the one I told you about.”
“You told her about me?” Trevor asks.
“Only how I always beat you in most of our contests growing up.”
“Because you’re two years older. Where’s the glory in that?”
“Fair enough.”
Aiden runs down the list of visitors we’ve had out at the farm today.
“Full day?” Laura asks me as she walks over and takes the empty seat next to mine at the dining table.
“You have no idea,” I tell her. “But I took a two-hour nap. It’s embarrassing how much sleep I require right now.”
“That’s totally understandable,” Lexi says, taking the seat across from Laura to my other side.
I feel my shoulders release a bit of tension I didn’t even know I was holding as the two of them start talking freely and including me in their conversation.
“Did you all eat?” Aiden asks his friends.
“No. We were counting on you to feed us,” Rob says.
“There’s enough food to host the town picnic in my fridge. Go help yourself.”
