Whereas Dirk thought of me as a sister, I had been secretly in love with him for as long as I could remember. Mom had always allowed me and Dirk the first walk-though in the strawberry field before she opened it to the public. She had worked long and hard on growing that field. It had been our thing for as long as I could remember. I had known senior year would be our last chance to pick strawberries together. I had planned on telling Dirk my true feelings for him that day. He was leaving to go on the PBR circuit full time, and I was heading off to college. I had been so nervous, yet so excited to finally get it off of my chest.
When he’d shown up with Kaci that morning and asked if I cared if she helped pick berries, I didn’t dare let him see the disappointment on my face. What I had thought was something only the two of us shared, he obviously didn’t care as much about. The entire time he focused on Kaci. Joked with her, flirted with her, and acted like she was the greatest thing since apple pie. I had been a third wheel. Neither of them even realized when I turned and left to head back to the barn.
That, I think, hurt the most. It wasn’t until they’d both walked up with their baskets full of berries that they had noticed I’d left.
I never could understand why Dirk fawned all over her. Brock had already asked her to prom, and Kaci had made it clear Brock was her pick.
“Hey, are you okay?”
My brother’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Yeah. I’m tired, that’s all.”
He took my hand in his and squeezed. “Merit, I swear to you, I’m not gambling. And now that I know you’ve dropped every penny you had back into the farm, I won’t even make a purchase without us talking about it. Or, at least, reminding you that we talked about it,” he added with a wink.
I smiled. “I’m sorry I lashed out at you. I’m just mentally exhausted.”
“I’m sorry I told you to fuck off.”
We both laughed.
“I do have some good news, though,” I said.
He lifted his brows. “Yeah? What is it?”
“My loft sold and closed yesterday. The money was wired to my account this morning. I’ve been looking for a little house to buy, something of my own.”
Michael smiled. “I’m sure living with Mom and Dad for the last six months nearly drove you mad.”
I rolled my eyes. “Mom is treating me like a child! She even asked me if I wanted her to make me a PB&J! I haven’t eaten one of those since I was like six!”
He threw his head back and let out a roar of laughter before he placed his cowboy hat back on. “She means well,” he finally said.
I nodded. “I know she does. But I’ve been looking, and I found a place. Off of Harmony Way.”
“Closer into town?” he asked, a slight frown on his face.
“Yeah. I’m still close enough to the farm, and I figured maybe we could take that old tack room and convert it into an office for me. I figured you’d get Dad’s office in the house.”
“Wait, Merit, you’re staying in Hamilton? I thought you always said you would never live here.”
Smiling, I looked up at my little brother and exhaled. “I forgot how much I love it here. The mountains, the peacefulness. I don’t miss New York at all. Not one bit.”
“Have you told Mom?”
“No, I haven’t officially told her I was staying full time. I will, though.”
“And this is a good house you want to buy?”
“Yeah. When I got the contract on my condo for forty thousand over asking, I knew I’d be making a good profit off it. I bought in a neighborhood that was up and coming, and now everyone wants to be there. And houses here in Hamilton are far less than they are in New York, obviously.”
I was so excited about this new house in Hamilton. It was on twenty acres and had four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It was huge compared to my condo. Plus, the price tag is nice since the couple who owned the house were divorcing and looking to dump the house as quickly as possible. It also helped I was paying cash.
“Mom’s gonna freak you’re moving out.”
“Mom will have to get over it. Besides, I was asked out the other day, and what if I want to bring a guy home? That would be awkward.”
He snarled his lip. “Don’t say shit like that to me, sis. Please.”
With a chuckle, I nodded. “Fine, I won’t.”
“Who asked you out?”
“Channing Harrell. We’re going to the street dance tomorrow night.”
“The fire chief, huh?”
I smiled and wiggled my brows, which made Michael laugh then roll his eyes. “He’s a nice guy,” he said.