Page 41 of Make it Real
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Nope. But you are.”
THIRTEEN
callie
I followedthe directions Harper had given me to Jed’s family farm, squinting so I wouldn’t miss the sign she’d mentioned even though my GPS gave me constant progress updates. A little whirl of nervous excitement skimmed around in my stomach, but that made sense since I was on my way to ambush a guy at his house with baked goods.
Actually, not his house—his dad’s. By all rights, I was about to ambush Jed at his work, which wasn’t any better than turning up to his house uninvited. But I hadn’t been able to get this idea out of my head, so I’d followed through, figuring I could deal with the fallout later.
According to the GPS, that fallout would come in approximately one thousand feet.
I turned onto the property and found a short drive leading to a pretty farmhouse. Peach trees in neat rows came right up to the yard, and a big storage barn sat a little farther in the distance. I’d passed the Evans Orchards farm store on my way here, thinking the personal visit more casual.
My gut didn’t feel all that casual when I parked in front of the farmhouse, churning away like it could turn my nerves into butter.
Callie: Are you close to your dad’s house? I brought you a treat
A truck sat in the shade of an ash tree, but not Jed’s. I didn’t even know for sure he’d be out here today, I’d just assumed. The longer I sat in front of his dad’s house peering out at the orchards like I was waiting for a glimpse of a Sasquatch between the trees, the more ridiculous I felt.
Jed: My head is spinning with ideas. Be there in five
Right as I exhaled my relief, Jed’s father walked out onto his front porch. Kind of a relief-terror one-two punch.
He hunched down until he could see me where I still sat in my car like a creep. This was his house, after all—of course he’d want to know who had turned up and then didn’t bother knocking at the door. When recognition dawned, a huge smile popped onto his face, reassuring me my sudden presence out here wasn’t totally unwelcome.
Finally kicking my brain into gear, I climbed out of my car.
“Well, Callie, it’s good to see you again.”
His apparent delight at my visit wrapped me up like a warm, cozy blanket. I’d only ever known him from a bit of a distance so far, but he sounded as though he’d been waiting all morning for me to arrive.
“Hi, Mr. Evans. I just stopped by to bring something to Jed. I texted him, and he’s on his way here.”
“What’d you bring for him?”
I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him smile so wide, like this conversation already made his whole week.
I opened up the back door of my car and grabbed the glass dish where I’d nestled it in a bed of fluffy towels behind the driver’s seat. It would have spoiled the visit pretty quick to find a couple of pounds of cobbler all over the floor.
Nudging the door closed again, I held the casserole dish up as evidence. “Just a little treat.”
“You know the way to a man’s heart. Come in, no sense in you waiting out here in the heat. And please, call me Clint.”
He opened his front door and beckoned me inside. Chill air conditioning cooled the sticky sweat that had pooled at my lower back while I’d sat in the car, and I said a silent prayer of thanks to whoever had invented that wonderful machine.
“Why don’t you set it here on the table.” He knocked his knuckles against the dining room table, peering at the dish I put down. “It smells delicious.”
I lifted the lid to show off the still-warm cobbler, and berry-scented steam wafted up in a little cloud. “Seemed like a good day to bake.”
“That’s awfully sweet of you.”
Hopefully, Jed would be equally as pleased with my gift, because his dad positively glowed.
“Well, I have the time.”
The long summer breaks took some getting used to. I worked dang hard during the school year, but summer idleness could set me a little adrift. Owning up to my free time—especially to someone who worked so hard all summer—I felt a bit like the grasshopper talking to the ant. Like I played all day while they got so much done.
“How’s your break treating you?” he asked.
