Page 25 of If It's You

“Why do people keep saying that? If I were to say it’s just a little human poop, would it make a difference?”

Maizie wrinkled her nose. “Ew, that’s disgusting.”

“Exactly.” Christian deadpanned.

Maizie bit back her smile. She couldn’t be vulnerable with the enemy.

“You’ll get used to it,” Maizie said, making her way down the line.

“I’ll take your word for it.” Christian scrunched his face as he moved onto the next cow that looked like it had rolled around in the manure before coming inside. Maizie had now done ten cows in the time it had taken him to do three. At this rate, they would finish milking in six hours instead of the usual four.

“I thought you said your boyfriend was coming?” Christian said after Maizie brought in the next batch. They had been working together in warring silence for the last fifteen minutes. Turner only lived ten minutes away.

“He is,” Maizie said, undeterred. She put the last few milkers on the new batch while Christian again worked on his three.

“Hey, babe.” Turner’s deep voice startled her, and she turned to find him leaning against the doorway.

She sashayed over to him and planted a kiss on his lips. Kissing was only unacceptable in public. Christian might not even be human.

“Hey.” Maizie pulled back with a smile. She caught Christian’s pinched expression and bit the inside of her cheek. Would she be a terrible person for kissing Turner again just to annoy Christian?

She shook her head and returned to the last cows in the section. But Turner came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She laughed, high and annoying like when he kissed her cheek. Was she overdoing it?

“Mmm-hmm,” Christian made a noise behind them.

“Oh, sorry man. Am I in your way?” Turner pulled away.

“Yep.” Christian pulled the hose between them, breaking them up. Maizie narrowed her eyes at him.

“Who’s that?” Turner asked.

“He’s my cousin’s annoying friend. He’s helping for the summer.” Maizie exaggerated an eye roll when Christian looked at her. But instead of glaring right back, he nodded, as if to say he knew exactly what game she was playing.

Grrr!

Maizie brought in the next batch of cows but barely had time to clean off her boots before Christian had finished getting all the milkers on. Her eyes almost fell out of her head. What happened to the boy who was afraid of a little cow poop? He was much more fun to tease.

For the rest of the first shift, Turner found every opportunity to wrap her up in his arms and distract her from working.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said, brushing the hair out of her face.

Maizie’s cheeks burned with his lie. She was not beautiful right now. “Thanks.”

“Hey, you know what I was thinking?” Turner said, placing his giant hands on her small hips.

“What?”

“We should go swimming in that pond out back.”

Maizie’s face flushed at the idea of swimming with him in the moonlight. All alone. It could be romantic.

“We could invite everyone, just like old times.”

“E-everyone?”

“Yeah,” he said and released his tight hold around her. “You know, the whole gang.”

The whole gang? In a small town like this that literally meant everyone in their school. She hadn’t invited that many people over since her and Mack’s last birthday party.