Page 26 of Lessons in Love

“I’m impressed, I must admit. Didn’t take you as a cooking guy.” She takes the cutlery out of my hands and takes a bite, smiling. “These are really good. You should sell them.”

I snort. “Yeah, I’m sure my dad would be happy with that. Pays all this money for a Literature degree just for me to make pancakes.”

“Why do they hate you so much? You always joke about it but I want to know why.” Eden’s abruptness catches me off-guard. These certainly aren’t the type of conversations I like to have.

“Dad and Jason want me to come work for the family business and—“

“And you don’t want to?”

“Well, not entirely.”

“I hardly see that as a reason to hate your own son.” Eden keeps eating her pancakes, oblivious to my discomfort. She chews, and swallows. “I’m grateful my family understands that I don’t want their life.”

“What do your family do?” If she notices my attempt at deflection, she doesn’t mention it. I like that about her.

“We’re farmers,” she laughs. “Well, not us specifically. Dad works for someone else’s dairy farm and Mum works at the local primary school. It’s a small town, so everyone knows everyone.”

“Is that why you came here?” I’ve finished cooking the next lot of pancakes, so I take a seat at the stool next to her. “Get away from all the cows?” I nudge her with my shoulder, making her face light up.

“Literally or figuratively?”

“You decide.” That makes her smile even wider.

“I wanted to go to university. Which is a rare dream for someone where I’m from. I’m lucky I’ve got enough scholarships to help pay for everything.” She pauses, taking a bite. “You know, I’m the first person in my family to go to university. Mum became a teacher when you only needed a Diploma.”

“Lot of pressure on you then?”

Her smile falters. “Yeah, you could say that.” We eat in silence for a few moments before her phone starts buzzing. And by buzzing, I mean blasting a super loud song. That being a One Direction song that I can’t put my finger on.

“Oh my God is that–“

“It’s nothing!” Eden says hurriedly, trying desperately to press the ‘hang-up’ button. Which she misses. Her screen reveals a full-sized face of some guy. He’s good-looking, in a country boy sort of way. He has a cowboy hat on and everything. All that’s missing is a stalk of wheat sticking out of his mouth.

My stomach drops. Is this when she tells me she has a boyfriend? Someone from home she gave her heart away to and I’ve been just a bit of entertainment while she’s in the city?

“Jake, not the best time right now,” she spits out through gritted teeth. The guy on the other end of the video call seems unphased by the tone of her voice. He must know her well.

“Oh, come on, Edes. It’s a Sunday morning. What could you possibly be up to?”

“Edes?” The question comes out of my mouth before I can stop it and she gives me the dirtiest look.

“That didn’t sound like Gemma.” A shit-eating grin spreads across his face. “Oh my God. That sounded like a man. Eden has a boyfriend! Just wait until I tell Mum.”

That’s when it clicks. This is her younger brother. Jake, I think it was.

“He’s not my— “

“Aha! So, you are with a boy! You know, I wasn’t too sure at first but now…”

“I’ll kill you, Jake.”

“Can’t kill me when you’re a few hundred kilometres away.”

“Believe me. I can try.” Eden’s brother doesn’t seem to notice her rage—or he chooses to ignore it.

“What’s his name?”

“I’m Oliver,” I pipe in, and immediately regret it. Eden’s stare could burn a hole through my skull.