Page 14 of Apple of My Eye
After a quiet minute of enjoying the view, Nick continues explaining. ‘I provide marketing and branding expertise. I’m in my last semester of graduate school at Stanford. I’ll graduate early—in January. I’m getting a degree in Marketing and Brand Strategy.’
‘So you won’t actually be farming?’
‘No.’ Nick laughs in a self-deprecating way. ‘But I’ll have to learn about it to market it well. I’m not contracted hourly to the Parkers or anything. All I’m obligated to do is give them a business and marketing plan. The rest of my time I’m free to do what I want.’
‘And this business plan is like a school test for you?’
‘We call it a capstone, but I guess you could view it as a test.’
‘So, if the Parkers’ farm doesn’t come back from bankruptcy, you’ll fail your course?’
‘Well, no.’
He’s got to be kidding me. He’s out here for nothing? ‘So then what’s your incentive?’
He hesitates. I can see it in the set of his shoulders, a little more tense, higher than usual, closer to his earlobes.
‘I mean—’ he shrugs ‘—I want to help them. Figured I would use what I’ve been learning to make a difference .
.?. I suppose I could fail. But it’s unlikely.
’ When I don’t say anything right away, he takes a deep breath. ‘I appreciate a job well done.’
‘Ah, so it’s less about altruism and more about being a perfectionist.’
Nick tilts his head back, staring at the evening sky. The stars have just started to wink to life. ‘Hmm, I’m not really a perfectionist. More like a successionist.’
‘That sounds like the name for a person who loves the show Succession .’
Nick laughs. ‘I like success. I like to succeed.’ He smiles again, but this time it doesn’t reach his eyes. ‘I was that kid growing up who really wanted a gold star,’ he admits.
‘Ah, so a teacher’s pet. I will note down gold stars as your love language.’
‘It’s a good thing I also like you busting my balls.’
‘Well then, it’s a great thing that’s one of my love languages.
So, this little stint on the Parkers’ farm is just to practice charity before you go into the world and make a ton of money convincing people to buy things they don’t need?
’ As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know they’re too harsh, but my frustration is starting to feel like a living, breathing thing within me.
Nick recoils. ‘Well, we can’t all make a living the old-fashioned way. Even if we want to. Anyway, enough about me,’ he says, his voice tight. ‘How did you know they were bankrupt?’ He swings his gaze to meet mine. His eyes are so intensely brown that my heart flutters.
‘Everyone knows,’ I say, trying to keep my cool. The truth is everyone kind of knows, but it’s supposed to be unspoken. The tension in the air feels heavy. ‘It’s getting dark,’ I say before turning on a heel and heading towards the house.
With every step I feel my frustration grow.
Why did he have to pick this town? His capstone project doesn’t even matter!
He already has a job! How dare he be so cute while doing it!
Didn’t he stop to think who he would be affecting?
He can just leave afterwards, but some people have to stay.
Some people have to look out for their family.
I’m breathing hard when we get to the house, frustration simmering in my gut.
‘Eloise.’ Nick lays a hand on my arm as I reach out for the handle to the back door.
I spin around.
‘I feel like I keep offending you,’ he says. He glances at the ground, and I watch the way his long eyelashes flutter.
I feel his charm worming its way through my defenses.
‘You’re not,’ I say. I duck inside, motioning for him to follow me through the mudroom to the kitchen.
I’m embarrassed at the way I’m acting, knowing I probably seem like a child, and exhausted that I have to explain my feelings to someone I don’t know.
‘I did in the grocery store,’ he murmurs.
‘First of all, it’s a general store. Second of all, you said something offensive.’
‘I asked how you liked your apples!’ Nick cries in exasperation. ‘You sniffed, like, every single one.’
‘No!’ I exclaim, not ready to let him off the hook so easily. ‘You asked me how I liked my .?.?.’ I gesture at my chest. Nick pales. ‘My boobs!’ I finish loudly.
Nick’s jaw goes slack with surprise. ‘It’s a movie quote!’
Fuck. Mom was definitely right. Why didn’t I google it before he came over? ‘I think “how do you like them apples” is slang for tits,’ I say, doubling down as frankly as I can manage.
He chuckles, and his grin gets even wider. ‘Clearly you need to watch Good Will Hunting . And you do realize what you were wearing, right?’
‘Not the point,’ I huff.
‘You picked up and smelled every single apple. You were wearing bright red shoes and an apple-emblazoned T-shirt. I am here to learn about apple farming. I thought it was the perfect reference. I’m a nice guy, I swear.’ He holds his hands up.
I raise an eyebrow at him.
‘You just tell me when you want to come over and watch Good Will Hunting , OK? It’s the least I can do to repay you for taking me for a walk.’
‘You don’t need to repay me,’ I manage to say despite my insides screaming GO WATCH THE DAMN MOVIE, ELOISE .
Nick’s smile gets bigger and bigger, like he can’t contain his grin anymore. He bursts into laughter, his entire body shaking with it.
I can’t help but start to laugh too. I laugh so hard I start to cry. Nick is wheezing next to me, slapping his hand on the kitchen counter. ‘You thought I asked about your boobs,’ he says, in between breaths. ‘Me!’