Page 10 of If It's You

Christian’s eyes hardened on her. Dummy. City boy. He wasn’t a fan of the names he’d been given by her thus far. He’d considered apologizing to her the next time he saw her. But it looked like thatwas no longer happening.

He would have to buy some “pasteurized crap” at the store when he went into town next time. If they even sold it at the store in this backwoods town.

“Come on,” Maizie said to Jayce while grabbing another doughnut from the pile.

Seriously, how did these people eat like this?

“Dad needs us in the field.” Maizie walked away and Jayce followed.

“Come on, Christian,” Jayce called over his shoulder.

Christian scrambled up from his chair and followed them to the porch.

“You’re going to want boots.” Maizie folded her arms in front of her chest and stared him down, even though she was at least six inches shorter than him.

“I didn’t bring any.” He matched her stare with one of his own.

“You can wear some of Grandpa’s.” Maizie led him to a closet at the back of the porch.

The closet was small and smelled like manure and ages of dust. The lingering smell of the farm.

She held up a pair of green boots. They were a little big, but they would work for now.

“Thanks.”

“Yup.” She was already out the door, leading both of them to the truck outside.

“So how was your party?” Jayce asked as she drove across the bumpy farm roads.

Maizie shifted to a higher gear and swerved around a fence post. Christian flew against the door and clung to it for his life. If the bulls didn’t kill him, Maizie’s driving would.

“Fine,” Maizie said, but Christian caught a hint of a smile creeping onto her lips.

“Spill it,” Jayce said.

“You are worse than a freshman girl,” Maizie said.

“Am not.”

They stopped before Maizie could fill them in on last night. They hopped out of the truck, and Jayce and Maizie pulled shovels from the back and went to work digging a random hole, but Christian was at a loss.

His phone buzzed, and he pulled it out, his heart automatically beating faster when he saw who the text was from.

Mom: Emi had another panic attack. Where are her meds?

She forgot to give Emi her medicine?

Me: Above the fridge. Top left. Is she okay?

Why had he left? This had been a terrible idea. His mom hadn’t been herself for the last year and a half. What if she couldn’t handle her anxiety as well as his little sister’s?

Mom: She’s fine. I’m taking care of her.

He took a deep breath and shoved his phone in his pocket before he lost what remained of his sanity.

“Come on, city boy. Grab a shovel,” Maizie said. “Or are you scared you’ll ruin your manicure?”

He ground his teeth together and grabbed a shovel. He wasn’t in the mood to play nice today. “Well, I can’t read minds,” Christian snapped back.