Page 26 of Till The Cows Come Home
“Please no donuts or burnouts. I’m trying to avoid adding any additional emotions into the repertoire I’ve accumulated on this fine Saturday.”
She complacently nodded, which only happened when she sensed I was too sensitive for banter, and as the car came to a stop, the locks clicked back in place before I could open the door.
“What’s going on, Sage? All joking aside, it seems like you really like him.”
“I’m fine,” I said, leaning my head back into the headrest. “It’s just a lot to process. A couple weeks ago, he was the shittiest person I could think of and now we're stealing kisses like teenagers, getting busted by my parents.”
“Technically, you got busted by your bestie,” Ruby joked before mustering a more serious tone. “You have all the time you need, Sage. Not to mention, you’re almost thirty years old.If you want to hook up with an attractive man with no strings attached, you can.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I’m just trying to figure it all out before it even happens.”
“You’re never going to have mistakes to learn from if you’re always doing damage control, dodging the thrill of the disaster.”
“Who the hellwantsdisasters?”
“No onewantsdisasters,but the majority of the world accepts they exist. You’re just out here attempting to defy the laws of life.”
“I’m starting to think I may be the problem.”
“No kidding, now get out.”
I chuckled as the doors unlocked, and I exited her car just to quickly slump into the driver’s seat of my own. Her words stuck with me, though. I spent all my time over thinking to the point that I didn’t allow myself to actually experience any of the possible outcomes of the actions I wasn’t taking.
Too lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t notice the man approaching my car, and the small knock delivered to my window practically stopped my heart.
Chapter Thirteen
Miles
Sage’s head conked the ceiling of her car and I couldn’t help but laugh. Surely she’d noticed me approaching her, but only after my knuckles were already rapping against the glass did I notice how deep in thought she actually was, completely missing my presence. I motioned for her to roll down the window, still chuckling as she clutched her chest, and as it descended, I was hit by the smell of what I assumed to be heaven. Coconut and vanilla invaded my senses, wafting from her wet curls.
“I’m sorry I scared you.”
“You realize men get pepper sprayed for that sort of thing?” she halfheartedly shouted.
“Truthfully, with a personality like yours, I thought you’d be a little more aware of your surroundings,” I joked, but she didn’t respond. “Everything okay?”
I’d been set on leaving her be when I saw her pull in to retrieve her car, but the way she sat, forehead resting on the steering wheel, compelled my feet to move towards her.
“Just trying to sort my life out,” she mumbled.
“All in a day's time?”
My comment seemed to grab her attention, diverting her gaze away from the troubles she’d been focused on, and I tried not to react as its full weight shifted to me.
“I forgot what a farmer looked like,” she whispered, and I leaned forward, resting my elbows on her window.
“Farming has nothing to do with looks and we both know it, Sage.”
Palpable turmoil seemed to still cloud her thoughts, and I let her sort them for a few more moments before shifting on my feet.
“Care to join me for the night milking?”
I could immediately see the indecisiveness in her eyes as she looked at me, then back to her own lap.
“I’m so clean.” She chuckled.
“You do smell delicious,” I added, smirking as her cheeks reddened.
