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Rhett reached into his pocket, grumbling, “You know, you used to be fun.”

“Oh, I still am.” I took his phone, turning on the camera. I pointed it at him and Fletcher, putting on an announcer’s voice. “Now, these two bad boys are going into the station to catch a pig on the loose.”

Fletcher groaned. “I’m a doctor.”

I zoomed the camera in on his face. “How do you feel, Cottonwood Falls, about your local medical practitioner now?”

Fletcher pushed the camera away as I laughed.

“Night’s not getting any younger, boys.”

Rhett shook his head and Fletcher said, “I told you a greased pig was a bad idea.”

My mouth fell open. “Yougreasedit?”

Fletcher cringed. “Seemed like a good prank at the time.”

I nodded toward the door. “Go catch it.”

They gave each other a resolute look and went into the station.

Thirty-two minutes later, they had a squealing pig in their arms and grease stains on their shirt. And I had a video sent to my phone that would make me laugh for years to come.

23

MAGGIE

On Sunday afternoon,I wrapped foil around the pan of cheesy potatoes I prepped for dinner with Dad. He offered to cook everything, but it felt good to use my kitchen. Since I’d been so busy with work, I’d mainly been picking up to-go orders from the diner on my way home. I put the potatoes in the fridge for later.

From the living room, Cam said, “I’m heading out!”

I glanced over my shoulder, seeing her in an adorable blue dress. “You look amazing!”

She fluffed out the A-line skirt. “Cooper said blue’s his favorite color. Is it pathetic I picked that color for him?”

I shook my head, smiling. “That’s adorable. Have fun at the movies.”

“Thanks, girl, tell Daddy G and Eileen that I said hi.”

“Will do. I’ll walk out with you.”

We both went outside and saw Cooper’s freshly washed truck waiting behind Camryn’s in the driveway.

Cam let out a happy little sigh, and I smiled over at her. It was like watching a romance movie slowly unfold.

We gave each other a wave, and then went our separate ways.

Dad’s house was about a mile away, so I loaded the pan of potatoes in the passenger seat of my car and made the short drive. When I got there, I could already smell smoke from the grill out back.

My mouth watered. Dad made the best food on the grill.

I skipped going through the house and went through the chain link gate at the side of the house, walking to the backyard. I rounded the corner, seeing Dad grilling on the deck that Rhett helped him build out of reclaimed wood the summer after our junior year.

“Hey, kiddo!” Dad waved his spatula at me and then turned his body so I could see the apron he was wearing. I bought it for him last Christmas, and it was a muscled man in a Speedo.

“You’re wearing it!” I said, laughing.

“Easier than working out,” he retorted as I walked up the steps to the deck. “Between the apron and the hat, you’ve bought most of my outfit today.” He tipped his Gibson Trucking hat.