“Dad, this is Maya. She’s friends with the Figg sisters. She had a flat tire out on the highway.”

“You gonna get her fixed up?”

“Yes, sir.”

As Tyler and Maya approached him, his dad raised his eyebrows and tilted his head toward the store.

“What is it?” Tyler followed his dad’s gaze and caught the edge of something pink in aisle three. He said a word under his breath that made Dad clear his throat.

“Maya, have you ever seen a Silkie chicken?” his dad asked.

“A silky chicken? I don’t think so.”

“They’re the silliest things you’ve ever seen, but they’re pretty friendly. We have a few in the coop in the back. If you want, I can show you while Tyler gets your tire.”

Tyler sighed as they walked around the side of the building, relieved his dad understood the situation. Surprised too.

Steeling himself for what was to come, he squared his shoulders and walked inside. The familiar scent he loved so much—a mix of dusty hay, fertilizer, grass, and rubber—filled his senses and he closed his eyes for the briefest moment. Then she called to him. He followed the voice and found Cassie standing by a rack of wildflower seeds, her blonde hair pulled up into a high ponytail, her lips gleaming with gloss. She wore a short pink dress that showed off her tanned shoulders and a sizable expanse of her upper thighs.

“Where’s your truck? I didn’t see it out front.”

“I parked around the side.” A flirty smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you did that.”

“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting forever.”

He sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I’ve been out working. It’s what I do, Cass, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“I know that.” She rolled her eyes and walked toward him, coming close enough for him to smell her sweet, vanilla-scented perfume. “I meant, why didn’t you call me? I thought after that day at Soldiers Creek . . .”

Tyler shifted his jaw. He shouldn’t have done it—he’d gone off the rope swing with her several times that day at the creek, letting himself forget his frustration and yearning, drowning it all in Cassie’s laugh and the feel of her small hand in his. And yes, even her lips a time or two when she planted hers on his, but both times he’d stopped her. Cassie wasn’t the one he dreamed about. Cassie wasn’t the one who made him feel like his future wasn’t as small as he’d always thought.

Tyler glanced back toward the door where any minute, his dad could walk in with Maya.

“I thought maybe we could try it again.”

“What, the swing?” he asked, his eyes still directed toward the back door.

“No, us. Me and you. I don’t even remember why we stopped dating.” She reached out to take his hand, but he lifted his hand and resettled his cap on his head.