Page 27 of While the Sun Shines

“I’m actually happy to work, whatever you guys need,” Abelardo says.

“Are you saying we’re more fun than your real job?” Cooper asks. “C’mon, you’re gonna make us all blush.”

“I’m between jobs, actually,” Abelardo says. “Just enjoying life as it comes for now.”

Drew takes another drink of his beer. Huh. Between jobs. Unemployed? Laid off? Fired? “What did you do?” he asks.

“I just sold some software to a tech firm, so I’ve got some free time on my hands. But I won’t bore you with the details. It wasn’t anything nearly as fun as running a dairy.”

Drew sets his bottle down a little too hard. Oh. Cool. So he’s rich, then. And successful. And apparently a genius. How good for him.

“Now, okay, tell me everything. You own this entire place?” Abelardo asks.

“Yeah, but it’s been in my family,” Drew says.

Because no, he could never, ever afford this land otherwise. Abelardo apparently could. Hell, maybe he’ll buy Caroline’s place and they can be neighbors and Drew can spend the rest of his life watching Abelardo and Penny laugh at each other’s jokes while he tows muddy tractors around.

“And you make all this cheese yourself? It’s so good. I can see why Penny’s been raving about it.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks.”

Abelardo raises his beer for another sip and grins around it. “And you’re marrying her in twenty years?”

Drew feels himself flush to the tips of his ears. “I’m not—we aren’t—” Oh God, everyone’s looking at him. Cooper’s laughing, Whit’s shaking his head and elbowing Cooper, and Penny covers her face. “No, Cooper’s only—”

“Oh, I’m just teasing,” Abelardo says.

Of course. Of course, he is. Drew forces out a chuckle.

“So come on, what else about you?” Abelardo asks. “The farm, the cheese—you seeing anyone?”

“He sure isn’t,” Cooper says.

“Coop,” Drew sighs.

“If you don’t count the cows, at least,” Cooper says. “I’m thinking of making them all dating profiles that you can swipe right on just for some diversity around here.”

“Thanks,” Drew says. “Really.”

“See? Maybe you did go to prom,” Cooper says. “Just with cows as your date.”

“Oh my God, your prom,” Abelardo says. “Where’re those pictures? Let me see Whit all cleaned up again.”

“No,” Penny says. “We’re not revisiting that night. There’s nothing worse than my cousin having to come back so I didn’t go alone.”

“Thank you, you mean,” Whit says.

“Shut up. You just wanted to hang out with Bobby Jacobson.”

“Um,” Cooper says. “Who is Bobby Jacobson?”

“The real reason Whit came to my prom,” Penny says.

Whit touches a hand to his chest. “I was gallantly and nobly keeping you company.”

“You literally made us change tables so we could sit closer to him,” Penny says.

“Why didn’t you go to prom, Drew?” Abelardo asks.