Page 68 of Buy Back My Love

“Yes, Leona. Some of us like our food from the dirt up.”

“You sound like somebody granddaddy.”

Van laughed. “Keep talking shit. You gone be asking me for another piece when we make it.”

“Highly doubt it.”

We had made it back to my cottage, and Van stopped near the bottom of the steps while Snoop wandered into the grass beside the walkway. I leaned against the porch post, thinking about Saturday. JB had just told me he probably wouldn’t be home until Sunday night, maybe Monday morning, and I didn’t have anything else planned.

Besides, it was a pumpkin patch.

“Okay.”

Van’s eyebrows lifted. “Okay?”

“Yes, nigga. Damn. Before I change my mind.”

“Aight.” He smiled and gave Snoop’s leash a tug when the dog started nosing around my flower bed. “I’ll text you Saturday morning.”

“What time?”

“I don’t know yet. That’s why I said I’ll text you.”

“Don’t be waking me up at seven in the morning talking about no damn pumpkin.”

“See, you already putting rules on shit.”

“Because I know how y’all outdoorsy people operate.”

“Who the fuck is y’all?”

“You and White Boy Rick.”

Van stared at me before busting out laughing. “Man, goodnight, Lee.”

“Goodnight.”

He headed toward his place with Snoop, then turned around long enough to call, “And don’t eat no sweet potato pie before Saturday. Cleanse your palate.”

“Boy, fuck you!”

His laugh carried down the sidewalk as I went inside.

I locked the door, dropped my keys on the counter, and headed toward my bedroom. Me and Van walked together all the time. We talked shit. We laughed. Saturday was just us doing something different instead of circling the same few blocks with Snoop.

Still, when I passed the hallway mirror, I caught sight of myself and stopped. I was smiling again. Not the big, exaggerated smile I’d given Van when he came to the door, just a regular one I hadn’t even realized was there.

I looked down at my hoodie and leggings, then back at myself. A pumpkin patch probably meant being outside for a while. Dirt too. I’d need some cute boots, but not anything I cared about messing up. Maybe jeans or leggings with-

I frowned at my reflection. Why the hell was I planning an outfit three days early?

I walked away from the mirror before I could answer my own damn question.

Lee

Saturday morning, I had Anika all up in my closet, pushing hangers from one side to the other like I was getting dressed for a damn date instead of going to a pumpkin patch with my neighbor.

“So, are you starting to like him?” she asked.