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A ers wrapped around his hand and stopped hi on his ar with exciteer instantlyaway

“What are you doing?” she asked with a shake of her blonde head “Aren’t you co with?”

He held onto her hand, not quite able to release it yet “On the hayride?”

“Yes It’ll be fun You should come”

“But Garret”

She lifted her chin and her s without you Come on I’m in theit If you’re lucky, I’ll even let you have a piece Or two”

He chuckled and raked a hand through his short hair He’dno to her face was going to be impossible If she really needed him there, then he supposed he could make an exception

“Fine, I’ll come”

“Good”

She squeezed his hand and a thoughtful expression ca, his ar her hand in his She was so cute with the little thought line between her eyebrows, her mouth scrunched to one side He really couldn’t help but stare at her

“I can’t thank you enough,” she finally said, resting her index finger on her lips “Yesterday, I was ready to bury my head in the sand and hide out inbreak But you helped et over my fears Whatever comes out of this, I wanted to thank you now You’ve been a really great friend to me”

The war in his chest just a second ago were suddenly doused He tried his best to nod his head, to indicate he accepted her thanks, but he was pretty sure he’d lost all control over his muscular system Michelle didn’t seem to notice She pulled her hand away and sain

“Co us seats The hayrides are about to start”

His feether slowly toward the John Deer tractors waiting in the street to haul the citizens of Blessings to the Arts Festival in their hay-filled trailers All along the way, the wheels in his head turned Why was the thought of being Michelle’s friend so deflating? Why couldn’t he just get a grip? Had his time in the military really affected him so much that he couldn’t act like a normal person?

They ca, square hay bale He offered a hand and hauled Michelle up on the spot next to him Joseph hopped up after her and took the seat on her other side The trailer filled up fast with people of all ages A cute little curly-headed blonde sat next to him in a frilly blue dress She held a plastic pink wand in her hand and had glitter swirls all over her face Grinn