Page 36 of Campfires & Canines
"Let me know if you have any questions," Cedar offers before heading to his supply shed.
The air hums with bees. A vibrant patchwork of garden beds spreads out in front of us. The midday sun lights up fiery tomatoes and glossy zucchini hiding under plate-sized fuzzy leaves.
Trees dotted with peaches and plums line the far side. To the left stands what I thought was a shed, but I realize now it's the chicken coop. Marigold directs a group of kids as they scoop out dirty litter into trash bags. I can smell the manure now that it’s being stirred up, but I don’t mind.
To the right, another shed opens to a pen with a couple of goats standing atop a log. They're almost hidden by the bramble of blackberries growing along their fence.
I spin in a circle. "I can't believe your brother grows all this."
Onyx smiles, and it's the most genuine one I've seen from him. He's proud of Cedar. "We all help and Tansy is really in charge. She's been the gardener for years, but Cedar's so good with plants, she's been handing more and more over to him."
"I think that's the most you've ever said without teasing someone," I observe.
He rolls with it. "Then I'd better get a joke in right away."
I smack his arm.
"Shit, I can't think of any," he says in mock horror.
A real laugh escapes me. I'm enjoying his company. Maybe the rude comments are just hurt stemming from his broken friendshipwith Slate, and he’s kindhearted on his own. As I study the set of his shoulders and the curve of his mouth, I know I’m right.
We stroll along the stone-lined path. Barrels cut in half serve as containers for basil, rosemary, and mint. I breathe in the herbal perfume.
"Have you seen these suckers?" Onyx crows, yanking a massive, misshapen carrot out of the ground.
Cedar appears at his shoulder. "Oh good, you can harvest those for me." He shoves a basket into my hands and disappears again.
Onyx slings the carrot into the basket and takes it from me. Without complaint, he squats down and starts picking through the carrot greens to find the biggest ones.
I join him, relishing the feel of the crumbling dirt and the smooth carrots.
"So." Onyx breaks the silence. "You and Slate?" He leaves it hanging.
"Nope." That's all I'm going to say. I tug another particularly huge carrot out of the ground and toss it into the basket
"Oh?" He cocks his head, frowning.
"Why? Are you planning to make a move?" I tease.
He throws his head back and laughs. "As much as I would love to, I'm pretty sure he would skin me alive if I tried that," he admits.
"Cheese and rice! Are you kidding me?" I grumble. Slate doesn't have some sort of claim on me.
"Sorry, babe," he apologizes.
Irritation prickles. "He and I aren't a thing, and we aren't going to be. He's made that really clear."
“Geez, if you want me to make a move on you that badly-“ he jokes.
"I don't need to be looking for a date right now. I literally broke off an engagement a few weeks ago." Tears threaten to fall, damn it!
"I'm sorry, Hazel. I didn't mean–" He grabs my hand, clasping both my fingers and the carrot I'm holding.
“This is ridiculous!” It’s all I can manage. The first few tears escape.
"It's fine. Everything is fine." His voice is gentle. I've never heard him use this tone before. His eyes are so dark blue, they could be navy. The sea at night. "We all adore you. Slate is being his normal asshole self. Don't worry about it for a minute."
He makes me giggle as a few more tears manage to drip down my face. I wipe them on my sleeve. “He’s trying to make sure no one is disrespecting you or whatever. Even if he’s too much of a douche canoe to realize.” He stands, brushing the dirt off his pants.
