Page 54 of If It's You

“Just getting ice cream with Rob.”

“Okay, but I need your help baling hay tomorrow morning.” Her dad gave her a stern look.

“You mean tonight?” She asked with a groan.

“Yep,” he said, patting her on the head. “Set your alarm for two.”

“In the afternoon?” She smiled mischievously.

“You wish, darling.”

“Fine. But I’m not going to be happy when I wake up.”

“Are you ever?”

“Rude.” Maizie stuck out her tongue at him.

“Aw, you know you’re my favorite daughter.”

“I know.” She gave her dad a kiss on the cheek, the only clean spot on him at the moment, and ran out the door when Rob’s truck pulled up.

“Hey.” Rob opened the door for her. Maizie was vaguely reminded that Turner had never done that for her. It should have been a clue that he was a jerk.

“Hey.” Maizie high fived him. “I’m so glad you got me out of chores.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” His smile went slack, and he shut the door behind her.

“Seriously though, thanks,” she said when he climbed in. “I needed a distraction.”

“Anytime.” He looked at her for a long moment, then headed for town.

* * *

Maizie satdown across from Rob at the creamery. He placed a cup of superman ice cream in front of her and took a bite of his own raspberry ice cream. No matter what anyone said, the creamery in Baxter was the best. Probably because the milk came directly from farms such as theirs and was then churned into ice cream and cheese right in this building.

“How are you after everything with Turner?” Rob asked, already halfway done with his ice cream.

“I’m fine. You were right. He was a jerk.”

He gave her a compassionate look. “I’m sorry you had to find out the hard way.”

“It’s okay. It just made it easier to let go.” She took another bite of her ice cream. If she was being honest with herself, she never had a hard time letting go of her previous boyfriends. Keeping them was the hard part. Maybe there was something wrong with her.

“Oh good. That’s yeah. . . good.” Rob tripped over his words before sticking another bite of ice cream in his mouth.

“You were wrong.” Maizie said with a grin.

His eyebrows furrowed behind the rim of his glasses. “About what?”

“About me not being available. I’m free as a bird.” She threw her arms out to the side, and he chuckled.

“What about the kid from the dance?”

Her smile fell. “Don’t remind me. I still have to survive the rest of the summer with him.”

“He kind of looked like he was into you.” Rob said and studied his ice cream like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“The only thing he’s interested in is himself,” Maizie said. Did she sound bitter? Because she wasn’t.