Page 49 of Apple of My Eye
Two hours later:
Lily: Hello???
Me: Hi!!! What are you talking about LOL
Me: Also, miss you too.
Lily: Lily Shared a TikTok!
I click on the group chat with Evan and Shari:
Evan: .?.?. ELOISE ARE YOU THERE *sent with slam effect*
Shari: What am I, chopped liver?
Evan: *Pâté
Evan: I can’t be bothered to care as much about you while you’re in Italy. I’m too jealous.
Shari: Jealousy is the best compliment!
Evan: That isn’t a saying.
Me: Evan stop texting me from the bathroom when you’re IN my house. Shari, we miss you.
Evan: Thank GOD. I was waiting for you to be active in this chat to send.
Evan: Shared a TikTok.
Shari: OMG IS THAT Nick?
Evan: Shouldn’t you be sleeping?
Shari: SHUTUP
Me: Evan, if I have to see this video again I will claw my own eyes out.
I am frozen with reluctance at the kitchen table when I press play. A glass of iced tea sweats on the counter in front of me. Mom is stirring at something on the stove. Dad is in his office. We’re supposed to be heading back out for the Fall Festival Carnival in two hours. It’s the first break I’ve had all day. We’re all beat.
Sure enough, when I click on the video Lily sent me, Nick’s face fills the screen. And he looks .?.?. incredible. His jaw seems even stronger, the light is hitting himjustright, and he’s wearing a plaid button-down I’ve never seen, but one that hugs his arms perfectly.
The only thing out of place is the piece of wheat he’s stuck between his teeth.
Anger roils in the pit of my stomach. He can’t be serious. Is this about to be a video caricature of farmers?I hate men.
I press play.
‘Howdy, y’all!’
Dread blooms in my gut.No no no no no no. This can’t be happening. I cannot have fallen for this .?.?. I move my finger to navigate away from the page to text Evan and sayI told you so! Why do you think I hate this guy now? Nobody takes f*cking farmers seriously!!!but before I can, Nick’s laughter fills the room.
He takes the piece of wheat away from his lips. ‘I’m kidding!’ he exclaims. ‘I’ve been here two weeks and haven’t seen one person chewing on wheat. I think I’ve been lied to my whole life.’ Nick laughs again. It’s different from how he laughs when we’re together. On video it’s louder, less charismatic.
‘Thanks for all the love you’ve sent the Parkers this past week. They love you too! While you’ve been doting on our favorite grandparents, I’ve been prepping something special for you guys. The big announcement .?.?.’ Nick trails off, and a picture of Buttercup the pig fills the screen.
Mom stops stirring and turns around. ‘What are you watching?’
I motion for her to come over and she does so, wrapping an arm around my shoulder for balance and leaning even closer to the phone.
