She lined up to throw another as he stood behind her with one hand around her waist. The first one missed, but the next one popped a blue balloon, splattering paint down the canvas. They went back and forth, Gavin hitting more and more with practice. When the last balloon burst, and they were covered in paint despite the ponchos, he took the canvas and leaned it against the wall to dry.
“That was really fun,” Lila said as he hit the garage door button to let in some air.
The rain had started sometime while inside the closed-off garage. Water gathered in the driveway, and they watched as the tiny ripples spread across the puddles. He walked over to stand beside Lila where she stared at it coming down in buckets. She took off her poncho, and he quickly followed suit, glad to be rid of the sticky plastic.
She turned off the music, and they stood in comfortable silence, listening to the pattering surrounding them. When he looked down at Lila, he saw her smile falter. She crossed her arms. He gently grabbed her forearm to uncross them before pulling her close. As he held her against his chest and her hands went to his back, he swore their hearts beat in sync.
After a couple minutes, she let go and stepped away. Light had returned to her gaze. She looked from him to his driveway. Before he could protest, she tugged on his hand, dragging him into the pouring rain. She laughed and twirled around with her hands in the air.
That girl was going to break his heart.
16
Thursday
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Lila said again. “How did you even find out about this place?”
“How do you think?” Gavin turned down a gravel road, slowing to minimize the amount of rocks kicking up behind his mom’s car. They’d dropped her off at the Scoop before heading out.
“Dylan.”
He tapped the side of his nose. Dylan had a particular skill set that basically involved finding information. When he’d declared that he would be studying criminal justice, it surprised no one. Although, they did find it amusing since he was also one to frequently bend the rules and get in trouble.
The bright red barn came into view, and Lila jumped up and down in her seat like a little kid. It was adorable. If he’d known that’s all it took to make her so happy, Gavin would’ve done it much earlier. It was only a twenty-minute drive. That was easily something they could continue doing.
That thought sent an ache through his chest. They could continue doing it if she remembered.
He shook his head. As he pulled up in front of the barn, Lila clasped her hands together under her chin, the biggest smile lighting up her face. Gavin turned off the car, got out, and moved to her door, but she was already opening it and jumping out.
An older woman walked out of the white house on the other side of the wide circle drive. When she reached them, she stuck her hand out. “You must be Gavin and Lila. I’m Paula.”
They each shook her hand before she led them around the far side of the barn. She pointed out different animals and historical facts about the farm, waving to a couple workers as they went, but Gavin was too focused on the girl walking ahead of him with a bounce in her step he hadn’t seen in years.
As they neared the enclosed shed, he could practically feel Lila’s excitement radiating from her. She gasped as the baby goats came into view, and he laughed.
“They’re just a few months old,” Paula explained as she led them through the gate to the fenced-in area. “They’ve been pretty playful lately, so this was a good time to come.”
A few of the goats ran over, and Lila immediately dropped to her knees to pet them, not caring about the mud from the rain the day before. The bright sun would dry it up soon, but the ground was still soft.
“Oh my gosh, you’re so cute!” Lila held one of the goats close and kissed its head.
“Stay as long as you want,” Paula said quietly to Gavin. By the look she gave him, he knew Dylan had likely told her at least part of the reason they were there.
“Thank you.”
“I will be out in the main barn if you need anything, and my son will come by a few times to check on things,” she said before leaving back through the gate.
“Look how cute they are,” Lila repeated.
He had to agree; they were pretty adorable. He sat beside her, lifting his hand as a pure white goat came to sniff him. Lila giggled next to him, and he looked over to find one climbing onto her lap while another put its front hooves on her shoulder.
They stayed for hours, playing with the goats, watching them run around and climb on things. Paula’s son, who looked a few years older than Gavin and Lila, eventually wandered over to feed the small animals. They helped before walking around the farm with him to see the others.
“Come back soon!” he said after their goodbyes.
They headed back toward the car, and Gavin saw Paula nudge him with her elbow at the same time Lila stilled. Returning soon wasn’t possible, but hopefully they could make their way back someday.
Gavin laced his fingers through hers as they sat in the car on the way home. She didn’t talk, but she didn’t pull away either. They parted ways at their houses to clean up and change, and he wished he knew what to say to make it better.
Lila’s empty house was a rarity. Her parents had gone to dinner with a client of her dad’s, then they were going to see a movie. She’d had to practically beg them to take the extended night out. They worried about leaving
