Page 50 of Apple of My Eye
‘Is that .?.?.’
‘Yep.’
I press play again.
‘I’ll be at the Carnation Fall Festival farmers’ market this weekend! Come and see us, we’ll be ringing in fall in this beautiful weather.’ Footage of the rolling hills around Carnation fill the screen. I’m pretty sure the footage was taken from a spot on our property, the dip in the hills between the Parkers’ farm and ours. Anger pulses in my veins.
The video continues. ‘This fall, I have the pleasure of working on the Parker family’s farm .?.?. and the pleasure of meeting this cutie.’ The frame switches to a video of Nick and Buttercup together. She’s a soft pale pink with a perfectly cute snout. She’s adorable. I’ve always loved Buttercup. Nick’s done a good job, I have to give him that.
He reaches a muscled arm around Buttercup. ‘This little lady is going to be at our farmers’ market stand this weekend,’ Nick narrates. ‘And if you come see us, you can get a picture with her. She loves people, isn’t that right?’ He turns to Buttercup who snorts right on cue.
‘Is this why they had so many people at their stand?’ Mom asks.
I press on the screen to see how many people viewed the video, a knot forming in my stomach. The video was posted two days ago and already has over six hundredthousandviews.
My jaw drops open.
Evan and I make it back to the carnival in just enough time to check the results of the apple pie contest before settling on a picnic blanket. Mom was awarded first place, and the huge smile on her face took some sting out of the day. We wave goodbye to her, ducking out of the gaggle of bakers wanting to know her secret, heading to grab barbecue sandwiches before the fireworks start.
‘I’ll get us beers,’ Evan says, while I lay out a picnic blanket.
I press a twenty into his hand. ‘Please let me pay,’ I say. ‘I’m so happy you’re here. I don’t know what I would have done without you today.’
‘I’ll listen to you complain about a hot farm boy any day.’ Evan winks, before walking towards the alcohol tent. Fireflies are flickering and the field smells like freshly mowed grass. I sit down on the blanket, sinking into the soft earth, and let out a long sigh.
I get everything set up on the blanket—our sandwiches, napkins, and the apple pie Mom packed us for dessert—but Evan still hasn’t returned. I scan the crowd, looking for his mop of blond-tinged hair by the alcohol tent. My body goes rigid when I spot Evan and recognize the head he’s leaning towards—Nick. As if he can see me, just then he whips around and gives me a cheery wave, instantly heading in my direction. Nick disappears the other way, fading into the crowd.
‘What were you talking about?’ I ask Evan suspiciously when he reaches earshot.
‘Nothing!’ Evan chirps. ‘I know you’re mad at him. And, like, I get it. But he’s really hot. And nice.’
I glower at Evan. ‘I’m not thinking about that anymore. He does not exist to me except to ruin.’
Evan laughs so hard he snorts into his beer. ‘Except to ruin? What are you—a heroine of a romantasy series?’
‘It’s not funny. Hecannotsucceed.’
Evan softens. ‘I know. I’ll help you plan.’
‘Good, I need it.’
‘Eloise, your petty ass probably does not need help planning. But I think it’s fun, so I’ll do it anyways.’ He grins, and we tuck into our food. A full belly and an hour of fireworks later and I’m feeling a little better. I can outsmart Nick with Evan at my back .?.?. I think.
I dream about Nick. We’re sitting together at a picnic table out back. His profile is lit by the setting sun, showcasing his Cupid’s bow just so. His eyelashes flutter when he looks at me. I’m thinking about how smart and thoughtful he is, and how much my parents like him. He’s ambitious. He’s sexy and interesting. I can’t help but think about how much I want to sleep with him. Just as I’m thinking it, as if he can read my mind, he leans in to kiss me. I’m so eager for it to happen again, I lean forward, closing my eyes. And right in that moment I wake up with a start.
Nick.Nick.Stupid motherfucking Nick.What if his plan works. And what if he’s the reason my plan doesn’t.
I toss and turn the whole night through.
When I wake up in the morning, my sheets are twisted but my thoughts are clear. I will not let Nick take my family farm down.
‘Evan?’ I call down the hallway as soon as I hear his door creak open. ‘We have some planning to do.’
Thirty minutes and two full cups of hot and strong coffee later and I’m pacing back and forth in my room, walking through the puddle of light that pools through the stained-glass window and back again. Every time my shadow crosses it I get more and more annoyed. I’m practically stomping.
‘Eloise,’ Evan demands from his spot on my bed. ‘Can youpleasestop doing that. It’s driving me insane. You’re walking around like an elephant.’ He pauses, smirking at his phone. ‘Also, you need to stop doing that because I’m ready to show youmyplan.’
Evan’s Plan
