Chapter 7
COLTON
I’m humming along to the song on the radio as I pull into the long driveway leading to the Phillips’ family farm.
A large white farmhouse with a green tin roof sits at the bottom of the hill, and it looks out over a property that’s almost as pretty as the view from my house next door.
There’s more pumpkins lining the path than I’ve ever seen in my life, and I smile at the orange pickup truck sitting at the end of the drive that matches the color of the pumpkins and the fall leaves perfectly.
In the yard, there’s a pen where two rambunctious pigs play in the mud, causing me to pause.
Lulu told me that her mom fell trying to get the pigs in the pen last night, but surely it has to be a weird coincidence, right? I’m sure lots of people around here have farm pigs.
Shaking away the thought, I throw my truck in park and head up the walkway to knock on the large front door. A moment later, Hayes comes out on the porch, followed by an older lady on crutches.
Shit, there’s no fucking way. My mind races to piece together all the coincidences, just as Lulu walks out on the porch. I freeze, taking in how gorgeous she is in the late afternoon sun. Last night, I knew she was attractive in the glow of the stage lights. But now? She’s fucking radiant.
Shaking my head and forcing myself to keep my composure, I paste on a smile as Hayes comes over and slaps my back.
“Look who bothered to put clothes on this time,” he jokes, and I resist the urge to flip him off as he moves us closer to his mom and sister.
“Oh, you stop that,” his mother tells him, shooting him a look of disapproval before turning a smile toward me. “Colton, it’s lovely to finally meet you. Welcome to Cedar Creek Farms. I’m Hayes’s mom, Charleen. We’re so happy you’re here. This one never stops talking about you.”
“Thank y’all so much for having me,” I say with a genuine grin. “And is that right, Hayes? That’s so sweet.”
My best friend flips me off from behind his mom’s back, and I struggle to hold in my laughter before turning back to Mrs Phillips. “It looks like you took a bit of a tumble. Are you feeling okay?”
“Fine as wine,” she responds, brushing away my concern with a flick of her hand. “I’m just a clumsy old hag that lost my balance looking for those stinkers out there,” she says, pointing to the pigs.
I smile at her again before getting the courage to turn my attention to Lulu.
We stare at each other for a moment of awkward silence before she reaches out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Colton,” she says, adding extra emphasis to my real name before shooting me a small look of betrayal. “I’m Lucy.”
Hm, no more Lulu, I guess?
“It’s nice to meet you, Lucy. You know you’re much older than I was expecting. The way Hayes always talks about you, I was expecting someone fresh out of high school,” I say with an awkward chuckle.
Lucy rolls her eyes, and her mom chuckles at that comment.
“God, it’s so annoying when he does that.
I’m fucking twenty-seven, you asshole,” she says, pointing her attention to her brother.
“Apparently, time stood still for him after our dad died, and I’m permanently thirteen in his mind.
He’s a little overprotective, and it drives me nuts. ”
Everyone goes quiet for a second, and I inwardly cringe. Age doesn’t really mean shit to me, but I have a feeling the fact that there’s nine years between Lucy and me isn’t going to help my case if anyone finds out what almost happened last night.
And the worst part? I really want it to happen again.
“Well enough of that, now that we all know each other, let’s get inside. We’re letting all the bought air out,” Miss Phillips says, leading the way back inside on her crutches. “Hayes told me that poppy seed chicken is your favorite.”
I shoot my best friend a look as he smirks, following them inside. “You really didn’t have to do that, but it sounds wonderful. Thank you, ma’am.”
“Of course, it’s the least I could do for our new favorite neighbor. How’s it coming over there at your new place?”
I cringe before I can catch myself, causing all three of the Phillips to laugh. “Admittedly, Hayes might have been right when he told me I was biting off more than I could chew. But it’s gonna be great when everything’s finished.”
“I have no doubt. But in the meantime, I expect you to make yourself at home here, do you understand? There’s no way anyone in this town is gonna let it rest when it gets out that you’re sleeping in your truck, and you’d much rather have Lucy and Hayes as your roommates than Miss Audrey or Miss Earline.
You’ll never get a moment of peace with either of them.
We have several extra rooms in this place, and you won’t even have to put up with me.
This leg of mine is gonna have me staying with my sister for the next ten weeks. ”
I freeze, trying to figure out how to politely decline. Yes, sleeping in a squirrel-free bed sounds like heaven, but becoming roommates with the woman I can’t get out of my head and her brother, who also happens to be my best friend, doesn’t sound like the best decision I’ve ever made.
“Oh, I can’t do that. I really appreciate the offer, but I can’t impose on y’all like that,” I tell her, hoping she’ll drop it.
“Why not?” Hayes asks, exasperated.
“Yeah, why not?” Lucy interjects, and I don’t miss the challenge in her voice. Yeah, I was right last night, this girl is definitely trouble.
I continue to stare at her for a moment before deciding there’s no way out of this one. Do I even want out of it? I don’t know, but either way, I guess I might as well go with it.
“Okay, fine. Thanks, roomies,” I tell them, putting extra emphasis on the last word.
Hayes lets out a whoop, and Lucy winks, just before Miss Phillips interrupts. “Come on, y’all. Dinners ready.”
And as I watch Lucy lead the way to the old oak table in the middle of the kitchen, I can’t help but wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.