Page 59 of Good Directions

Fuck me, she really is Milo’s other half…

“Bren,” Milo says, giving her a look that silently communicates something only they understand.

“I mean it.”

She sighs hastily, looking between us, like we’re a pair of the biggest dumbasses she’s ever met. Pushing past Milo, she walks toward me and leans down, resting her forearms on the bar. Her eyes meet mine, holding on for a long moment, like she’s trying to read my thoughts. I really hope not, since those are secrets I’d rather be kept locked up tight right now.

“You really like her, huh? This isn’t just about the bet…” Brenna whispers.

So much for keeping it a secret…

I nod, still not ready verbally to put it out there.

“She has her reasons. Just like I had mine. She’ll let you in when she’s ready and⁠—”

“I know some.”

Brenna tilts her head to the side, as if to say there you go. “And if you want to be the one who changes it for her…”

I reel back, Brenna’s words hitting me like a wrecking ball. She stops, standing up straight, just as caught off guard by my sudden move as I am. Only she has no idea what she said.

If you want to be the one who changes it…

Because I don’t want to change it. I don’t want to change her.

But, I do want her.

For the first time in I don’t know how long, maybe ever, I think I want a relationship.

“I need to get back to the lab.”

I slap my hand against my pocket to make sure I have my keys then turn on my heel and head straight for the door. The sound of Milo’s laughter fills the air, barely covering Brenna’s confusion in asking what happened. I don’t have time to explain though. Because I need to get to Sawyer. Need to tell her what I should have told her earlier.

Need to do what I should have done after she took off from the grove.

I can hear Sawyer and Cary’s discussion the second I walk into the greenhouse. Deep in the data, and both incredibly passionate about their respective areas, there are a lot of ways this could go.

“But if you look at the declining pH levels over time, you’ll see that the soil is responding well to the treatment. And that’s after only a week So, I think we could actually split the study, and try half of it with an increased amount, to see what happens,” Sawyer says.

Her voice is strong, steady, and unwavering. She knows her shit, and she isn’t afraid to put it out there. I have ten bucks too that if—no, when—Cary pushes back on her suggestion, being the risk-averse individual that he is, that she’s not going to be afraid to fight him on it either. Because she also has to be right.

“Ehhhh,” Cary wavers, right on time. “Do we really want to risk that? When we know it’s going so well?”

“Yes.”

Called it.

I burst through the door to the lab, letting it slam behind me. Both my best friend and the beautiful brunette next to him look up, sporting shared perplexed looks. Although one of them is a lot cuter than the other.

“Thought you were meeting with Alex at the packing plant this afternoon?” Cary greets.

Hello to you too, buddy…

“Change of plans. Need to talk to Sawyer real quick.”

Sawyer’s cheeks tinge ever so slightly. It’s hard to see in the shadows from the solar windows, but I catch a peek of it as she shifts, trying not to look directly at me.

“We’re in the middle of something,” she scolds.