“I told Christian I would never date a city boy like him, and he just railed one off on me.”
“Maizie!” Christian all but yelled when her uncle Cody joined Dan to trap him in the corner.
“Fine. I was teaching him to drive the tractor, and the clutch stuck,” she said, more deflated. It wasn’t nearly as fun to tell the truth and let him off the hook.
“Shame on you, Maizie.” Aunt Cherie shook her head and stalked off.
Uncle Dan laughed and slapped Christian on the shoulder. “I didn’t believe her for a second, but it was fun to make you squirm.”
“How did you know?” Maizie complained.
“Because I’ve known you since you used to run around the farm with your toy hammer screaming ‘hammo hammo hammo.’ You still can’t lie, but at least you can say your r’s now.”
Maizie bit back a groan. “Why are you such a good cop?”
“I got good at it after years of putting up with your dad,” Dan said with a smile. “Like father, like daughter.”
“Come on, let’s play a game,” Maizie said to Hugh. Maybe they should play BS again so she could work on her lying.
Hugh followed her to the dining room table, and so did Christian.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” Christian said as soon as they were out of sight of the rest of the family.
“Maybe you should stop giving me black eyes.”
Christian leaned closer. “Come on Maiz, you know I’d never hurt you.”
At the use of her nickname, flutters picked up in her stomach. He left her standing in a daze and took a seat across the table by Hugh.
“Hey, I thought I might find you in here.” Rob’s boisterous voice dragged Maizie from her daze and he engulfed her in a hug.
“Hey. Glad you could come.” Maizie returned his embrace. “Did you say hi to Grandma?”
“Yes. And she made me promise to take beans home.”
“Good luck with that.” Maizie pulled back with a laugh.
Rob dropped his arms then immediately gaped at her face. “Whoa, did you get kicked by a cow or something?”
“It’s just a little black eye,” Christian grumbled from the table.
“It’s huge.” Rob’s gaze never left her face.
“It was just an accident.” Maizie took a seat by Christian without realizing it, and Rob fell in beside her.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“Not anymore.” Maizie reached for the deck of cards. Could this conversation be over now?
“Hey, guys, long time no see.” Lindsay bounced into the room with Jayce in tow. The two seated themselves in the last open chairs and Lindsay’s eyes went wide when she looked at Maizie. Maizie mouthed the wordlater, and thankfully, her best friend kept her mouth shut.
“Why aren’t we playing in the family room?” Rob asked as Maizie started shuffling cards.
“Because Maizie kept using the mirrors on the ceiling to cheat.” Hugh said.
“Hey.” Maizie cut in. “Everyone used those mirrors to cheat. Not just me.” She smiled remembering the fun she and Mack had using Grandma and Grandpa’s one of a kind ceiling feature to win every game against their cousins. Until the cousins found out, of course.
“Way to ruin it for everyone, Maiz.” Jayce said and she stuck out her tongue at him.
