Page 44 of Apple of My Eye
Eloise tugs at her shirtsleeves. She’s wearing a long-sleeve flannel over her jean overalls and Anderson Farm T-shirt. We’re halfway across the road when she whirls around to look at me.
‘Did you really ask my dad how to fix potholes?’
That’s what’s on her mind?‘Yeah.’ I shrug. ‘Betsy hates them.’
Eloise murmurs an acknowledgment and keeps walking. She takes five steps before she turns around again. ‘And you’re really just trying to be successful to take care of your mom?’
‘Yes? Eloise, what’s this about?’I’m reaching out to grab her arm and ask her to tell me what’s wrong, to tell her that I’ve wanted to be alone with her every second of every day since Tuesday night, when she turns around for the third time, coming to a full stop about ten feet from the coffee stand. I shudder to a halt behind her, barely stopping from running into her. We’re inches from each other. Her eyes are so blue up close it’s like looking into ice. She looks away and I glance down.
‘I have to tell you something,’ she says softly, glancing at the line to make sure no one else can hear. She fidgets awkwardly. My stomach flips.
‘OK,’ I say, ‘I don’t know what you’ll have to tell me that has to do with those questions, but .?.?.’
Eloise wrings out her hands. ‘You’re just so .?.?. perfect,’ she says in a small voice.
Gently, I nudge the bottom of her chin up with my fingers so she looks me in the eye. ‘No, I’m not.’
She groans. ‘It’s Amie,’ she sighs, ‘she’s going to ask you out.’ She crosses her arms in front of her chest. ‘I just thought you should know.’
I laugh. ‘That’s what you have to tell me? What does that have to do with me being “perfect.” Amie’s nice but .?.?.’ I trail off, leaving what I’m thinking unsaid, that I like Eloisemore,that when I’m around her I’m not thinking of anyone else. Eloise is still standing still and looking somewhat pained. ‘I thought it was going to be bad,’ I say, realizing too late that maybe the fact that Amie is asking me outisbad. That could mean Eloise doesn’t want to go out with me. ‘Wait. Are you wanting us to go on a double date with you and Evan?’
‘God no.’ Eloise barks out a laugh before her expression shifts. She bites her bottom lip, her eyebrows drawing together. ‘Um.’
‘Wait .?.?. is there something else that is bad?’ My stomach flips again. What if something’s wrong with Hazel or Cal .?.?. or Eloise. I reach for her hand instinctively. ‘You can tell me,’ I say softly.
‘OK, so here’s the thing.’ She can’t meet my gaze and I notice her hand is trembling in mine. ‘I kind of need the Parkers’ farm to—’
I’m listening as closely as I can but she’s talking so softly I can’t hear the end of her sentence over the ‘your order is ready’ announcements.
‘The Parkers’ farm to what?’
‘The Parkers’ farm to fail.’ Eloise says glumly.
‘To fail?’ I repeat, wondering what I heard incorrectly because that doesn’t make any sense. But she nods, finally meeting my eyes. ‘I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. But then I got to know you and you’re well .?.?. you’re you .?.?. doing things for the good of other people and .?.?. and the Parkers don’t even know this,’ she whispers, ‘but we need to buy their farm if ours is going to survive.’
I stumble back from Eloise. ‘Surely that can’t be right .?.?. but you’ve been helping me this whole time. I thought I was helping you too. You know .?.?. driving business to the farm and stuff.’
‘I mean.’ Eloise grimaces.
‘You’re saying that if the Parkers don’t fail your family’s farm will?’
‘Well, not exactly, but I think in the future, yes. My parents will sell.’
She sounds so broken-hearted at the idea that my own heart aches. ‘Do Betsy and Joe know?’
Eloise shakes her head. ‘My own parents didn’t know until, like, four weeks ago.’
‘OK.’ I take a deep breath. My brain is struggling to put together the pieces of the girl I really like rooting for my failure and the worry that, based on my TikTok numbers, I may have already succeeded. What does that mean for her .?.?. for us? ‘I think need a cup of coffee.’
Chapter Nineteen
Eloise
[FOR EVAN] List of Must-Trys at the Fall Festival
–Mom’s apple pie (I guess you can get this at home, but yk what I mean)
–Apple cider donuts from DeeDee’s Donuts (we can go get these Sunday, but you will want to get them twice)
