Page 43 of Fruit and Flash

Hayes stays facing forward, giving nothing away, but he grins and takes me by the hand, steering with the other. We don’t go far before turning right onto Lakeshore Drive. I think maybe I guessed right, but instead of a lake, I see a sign for Celestial Casks Meadery and Taphouse.

“Ooh, is this the place that makes the mead I had at Pints and Pool? Are we having our picnic here?”

“They are, and we are,” Hayes nods, moving us along the driveway with a view of low mountains and clear blue skies. “There is an alpaca and Christmas tree farm down this road as well. The lake is on the other side. I’ll take you there some time.”

“I’d like that.” I squeeze his hand as we come to a stop beside a couple other cars.

Hayes has me wait for him to walk around to open the door and help me out of the truck before retrieving the basket from the bed. It all feels very datey and I have to say I’m loving it.

“You should take some pictures,” Hayes suggests, handing me the basket. He points to a side area with green grass, oak trees, and wooden tables beside the large building. “I’m going to grab a couple bottles, but we’ll be sitting over in the shade where there are picnic tables.”

“Pictures can wait,” I tell him, surprising us both. I want to be present for this date. “Let’s get some mead!”

Hayes doesn’t drop my hand as we go inside to find two men behind the counter. “Pax, Tommy, good to see you both,” Hayes greets them, and they both look down at our joined hands.

Without missing a beat, the tall, brown-haired guy smiles and replies, “You too, Hayes. How’s the farm?”

“Going great this season, especially with Kai’s help,” Hayes lifts my hand to indicate who he’s talking about and I wave it without letting him go.

“Hi, I’m Kai. I love your mead!”

Everyone smiles at my enthusiasm and I’m glad no one is making Hayes feel awkward. They tell us about a few of their meads and we get two bottles to take outside along with a couple glasses.

Instead of picking a table, Hayes pulls a blanket from the large basket and lays it on the grass before setting everything up. As we sit and start to dig into his spread, I can’t help feeling like this date is a grand gesture from the man I’m falling for.

Snapping a picture of how cute Hayes is setting everything up, because I decide I need to memorialize this moment, I tuck my phone away and bite my lip to hold in my laugh. I want to laugh for joy, because I’m not just falling for Hayes.

I’ve already fallen.

Chapter thirty

Hayes

Sofar,myplanshave gone smoothly. I didn’t expect Kai to bring me flowers, and my body feels warm everytime I think about them, sticking out of the edge of my parents’ old picnic basket. It’s big enough that I remember my mom using it as a Moses basket for my sister, and I’m excited to add another memory to the worn wicker.

Running into Paxton and Tommy went well. I know them from school, since we’re the same age and grew up in Foggy Basin, but I heard from Kriten that he’s seeing a guy named Callum, so I was hoping it was a welcoming environment. I keep having to remind myself that there are queer people all over town.

“Are these the pickles I helped with?” Kai asks, pulling me back into the moment. Instead of sandwiches, I made us an assortment of fruits, vegetables, preserves, bread, cheese, and meat to graze from. “They’re so good!”

“Everything except the bread and cheeses are from my farm,” I admit, hoping it’s not too boring of a date for Kai.

He doesn’t look unimpressed when he gives me a giant smile and scoots to sit closer to me. “You’re amazing, do you know that?”

“I–” I don’t know how to reply to the compliment.

My first thought is to deny his assertion and say I’m just a farmer. But I remember reading something while researching my internalized biases. Your first thought is what society has trained you to think. Your second thought is how you really feel. I want to thank him for making me feel important and worthy of his time.

“Thank you. I think you’re pretty amazing too.”

“Me?” Kai asks with pretend shock, giving me a wink before finishing off his pickle. I love his confidence and how it makes me want to embrace my own strengths as well. I also think it comes from a place of Kai’s own internal fears he isn’t good enough. False bravado I want to turn into real confidence.

“Yeah, you. You’re smart, always thinking of new ideas,” I go on. “Plus you have an amazing eye for what will appeal to people from the clothing you wear to your online presence. I can see why you got a degree in marketing. And besides, I wouldn’t want just anyone to move into my house.”

Kai is quiet for a second, taking a sip of his mead as he looks off toward a field blowing in the light breeze. Thankfully, it’s not as hot today.

“Most people compliment my good looks first,” he finally says, and I know it’s an attempt at humor as deflection.

Leaning in to cup Kai’s face, I wait until he meets my eyes. “You are gorgeous. The most beautiful person I’ve ever met. But I like you for a whole lot more than your looks.”