I walk inside to find Ace dead asleep in the kitchen sink. I laugh and shake my head. “You silly cat,” I say as I walk through the kitchen and down the hall to my bedroom. I tug off my dress and put my comfy sweats back on, more than happy to lose the heels. It takes me another fifteen minutes just to get all the crap off my face, but finally, I’m ready for bed.

The alcohol and all the excitement of the night has sucked the energy right out of me. It only takes me minutes to fall into a deep sleep.

I wake up to my phone ringing. I groan as I stretch and open my eyes to the blinding morning light that’s streaming in through my windows.

“Ow,” I cry out, closing my eyes and feeling for my phone on the bedside table. I feel it beneath my palm, so I quickly grab it and answer it, to stop the high-pitched ring that is makings my head throb.

“Good morning, beautiful!” Amy says on the other side of the line.

“Grrr,” I growl.

“What’s the matter, sunshine? Drank a little too much with that sexy cowboy?” She’s using her overly cheerful, annoying voice just to piss me off.

“No, I’m just tired,” I lie.

“Excuse me, but Ms. Vesper Lawrence never sleeps past seven a.m., and my calculations say that it’s going on ten!”

“Ten?” I ask, forcing one eye to open enough to see the clock next to my bed. “Wow. Maybe I did drink a little too much. I don’t know how you do this. I’d be sick and tired all the time.”

“Meh, practice,” she replies. “So, are we going down to your dad’s shop to help out with the anniversary sale?”

I groan and kick my feet. “I don’t want to. I feel like vomit.”

“Then get up and get it out.” She laughs.

“No, I don’t have to vomit. I feel like vomit that’s on the toe of some drunk girl’s shoe,” I explain.

“Gross. A little too much information there, Ves. Get up, shower, eat something greasy, and I’ll be over in an hour to pick you up. Got it?”

“No,” I flatly state.

“Too bad,” she laughs out, hanging up the phone.

Damn it. Note to self: never drink again.

About an hour later, I’m dressed in my John Deere t-shirt and standing over the stove, trying not to gag as I fry an egg. Why does it have to be greasy? Will this really make me feel better or is Amy just trying to mess with me?

I hear the door open behind me and I turn around to see Amy. She places her purse on the table, then pulls out a bottle of Tylenol and a red sports drink. “The magic cure to a hangover.” She holds them both out.

I take both items, opening the bottle of Tylenol and washing them back with a swig of the sports drink. I flip my egg out of the pan and onto a plate, then take my seat at the table across from her.

“How’d the date go? You never called me, you know?”

I shrug as I poke at my egg. “It went really well. Tyler is sweet and fun. And there was nothing to call you about. You pretty much watched the whole date like you watch a reality tv show. He brought me home and walked me to my door. Then, he left.”

Her mouth is hanging open. “You mean, you didn’t invite him in or give him a goodnight kiss or anything?”

“Nope.” I press my lips tightly together. I know Amy doesn’t mean any harm, but it’s slightly annoying that she’s butting in as much as she is, especially today.

I manage to choke down my egg and we hop in her car to head down to the shop. Dad is making the rounds, greeting all the guests and trying to sell tractors, while mom is manning the refreshment table.

“Vesper, how was the date?” she asks, holding out her arms and pulling me in for a hug.

“It was fun,” I say, pulling away and picking up a homemade cupcake from the table.

“She had a blast, Mrs. Lawrence. Look at these pictures,” Amy says, pulling her phone from her back pocket.

I spin around quickly. “You took pictures like some kind of creepy paparazzi!?”

She looks at me with her eyes wide. “I’m your biggest fan, Ves,” she says in a monotone, stalker voice.

I laugh and smack her arm. “Shut up, weirdo.”

“Oh, look how beautiful you looked, Vesper,” my mom coos as she flips through the pictures Amy took on her phone.

“Yeah, yeah. I hope you’re happy. That dress and those heels had me in pain by the end of the night.” I take a big bite on the cupcake in my hand.

Mom rolls her eyes and scoffs. “You’re lucky you weren’t born back in my day. Dresses every day for school.”

“Hi, kitten,” Dad says, walking up and pulling me against his side, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

“Hi, Daddy. Sold any tractors today?”

He grins wide. “I just sold one. We’re heading back now to start the paperwork.”

“Congrats!” I say, smiling up at him.

“I’ll talk to you ladies later.” He steps away with a man following close behind.

“Oh, Amy, would you mind helping me carry the drinks inside. I left them in the car until your father,” she looks at me, “had time to get them, but it seems he has forgotten.”

“Sure, Mrs. L. Lead the way.”

They both walk off, leaving me to stand alone, looking like a weirdo as I chew down on my cupcake.

I shove the last bit into my mouth, licking the green icing from my fingers, when I hear someone say my name.

“Hey, Ves.”

I turn around to see one of my dad’s employees standing in front of me.

“Oh, hey, Jason,” I mumble around my mouth full.

He lets out a soft laugh. “How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you around in a while.” He runs his hand through his dark hair, causing it to stand in all directions.

I swallow down the cupcake, my throat so dry that I feel like it’s still lodged in my throat. “I’ve been around. Usually on Sundays. It’s all I have time for, you know?” I cross my arms and shrug.

“Ah, that’s it. I’m never here on Sundays.” He looks around quickly before his green eyes land on mine. “Except today that is. Your dad needed help with the anniversary party. I can’t believe it’s been twenty years.”

I smile and nod. “I know. Seems like yesterday. I was only six when he started this place, and my mom almost had a fit when he quit his nine to five job. She was so sure we were going to go bankrupt.”

He slides his hands into his pockets, eyes downcast. “Listen, Ves…”

I take a deep breath. Nothing good ever starts with a deep breath and the words listen, Ves.

“I was just wondering if maybe you’d like to go out sometime? We’ve known one another since kindergarten, and I just thought we’d make a good match.”

I force a smile but shake my head slightly. “I’m sorry, Jason. I’m just not open to dating anyone at the moment. I’m really trying to keep my attention on the new animal hospital I started a few months ago. I just don’t have time for dating and relationships right now.”

I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows down the rejection. “Oh, yeah. Of course. Don’t worry about it.” He quickly looks around, looking for an escape to avoid further embarrassment. “Oh, I need to go help that customer. See you around, Ves.” He waves goodbye just before he rushes off.

“What was that about?” Mom asks as she sets the drinks down on the table.

I turn to face her. “He asked me out.”

She sticks out her bottom lip and pulls her brows together while nodding. “Well, look at you. You just have men interested everywhere.”

“Just what I need in my life right now,” I say sarcastically.