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“You have to tell him the truth,” she says, as though it’s obvious. “He’s asked for you to open up to him, but you just keep trying to flirt with him or buy his help with goats. Just tell him the truth, show him how much this means to you, and I bet he’ll give in and help you.”
I’ve told Lila the barest minimum about my con-artist past, but I didn’t tell her about the persuasions I tried on Mac or that I broke into his house like a criminal. I just told her I flirted, and he didn’t like it. I trust Lila with my secrets, but I doubt she’ll want to be my friend anymore if she knows too much.
“I don’t think so,” I say. “He seemed pretty set on his decision.”
“I’d offer to help, but I’ve got a paper to write and an exam coming up in a couple weeks. Maybe after?”
“Maybe. Thank you.”
She steps away from Marigold and pulls me in for a quick hug. “Stop looking so sad. You’ll figure it out.”
I hold on tight to her hug. I haven’t had many real friends in my life and I appreciate her more than I can say.
She tilts her head to the side and gives me a long, thoughtful look. “Have you considered you’re trying to recapture a past that can’t be reclaimed? You and your sisters have all changed. Maybe you can’t have them all hanging out in the house like it would have been if they hadn’t moved out when you were a kid, but maybe you can have something better as adults.”
For the first time, I wish I’d never told her about my dream of a house filled with my sisters, all of us laughing together like one big, year-long slumber party. I can’t explain to her why I’m so certain I have to resort to schemes to get us all together and keep us all together. Schemes and elaborate plots are the only way I know to hold onto anyone.
Not that it’s worked out so far. I just don’t have any better ideas.
They weren’t supposed to fall in love. My plan to bring us all together again would have panned out if they hadn’t gotten distracted by good men.
Instead of explaining that to Lila, which I know would make me seem like a whiner, I smile brightly. “You’re probably right.”
She smiles back. “Like maybe you could have one-on-one time with each of them, get to know them better more slowly.”
That’s actually not a horrible idea. “You give the best advice.”
“It’s four years of psych classes.” She glances at her watch. “Speaking of which, I have to get going. I’ve got a discussion section in an hour.”
I wave her off and saunter to the barn to get back to work.
I’m halfway through mucking out a stall when Dani calls out to me.
“I’m in here,” I holler.
She steps into the barn, backlit by the setting sun. “There you are. I’m here to help.”
“Lila was here. I just have to finish this and two more stalls and we’re done for the night.”
She sighs heavily. “That’s good. I’m exhausted.”
I pause and lean on the pitchfork. “In that case, want to order in dinner and watch a movie?”
She stretches and yawns. “That sounds amazing, but I’m going to Grant’s parents’ house for dinner. It’s his sister’s birthday.”
Disappointment makes me lightheaded. Grant’s sister Hailey has helped us a lot with the farm, and I can’t begrudge Dani wanting to be there for her birthday, but I also can’t help being disappointed. “That should be fun. Go on and get ready. I’ve got this.”
Her shoulders drop with relief. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. There’s no point getting dirty for just a couple of stalls.”
“I’ll get ‘em next time.” She looks back over her shoulder as she walks away. “Rain check on the movie?”
“Of course.” I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look fake, but she’s not paying attention.
By the time I finish cleaning the stalls, the sun is setting, painting the sky in oranges and pinks and casting shadows. I shiver as I hurry to the house. I hate the dark.
I’m passing the barn closest to the house when someone grabs me and pulls me into the shadows cast by the building.
