“Fine,” Grant groaned as he opened the driver’s side door and let his left leg fall out of the truck. “But I should warn you…”
“Warn me of what?” Hailey smiled.
Grant waited until he was out of the truck, and he turned back to Hailey. “You’re trying to make me a better person, and, I’m just warning you it could backfire… because that’s just not the man you fell in love with.”
Hailey giggled as Grant wrapped her up in his arms. She rubbed her cheek lovingly against his arm, wishing he would never let go, but knowing she had to resist. “Nothing you say, no matter how charming, is going to make me forget how despicably you acted this morning,” she promised.
“I apologized,” Grant said sincerely.
“I know,” Hailey smiled, pressing her lips against his cheek, “and I was so proud of you for that.”
“Proud enough to reward me?” Grant grinned.
“I’ll open you a pack of Zingers if you help me study,” Hailey offered.
“You’ve studied enough,” Grant insisted. “When we take the ACT on Saturday, you’re gonna knock it out of the park.”
“Remind me why you’re taking it again?” Hailey grinned.
“Moral support,” Grant nodded. He shrugged, “And, secretly, I just think it could be fun to log another perfect score.”
“I wish you could donate it to me,” Hailey sighed.
Grant took Hailey’s hand and started walking toward the barn.
“We’re not going to the barn, Grant,” Hailey laughed as he drug her behind him. “Unlike you, I have to study.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Grant bargained. “Kiss me now, and I’ll help you study later.”
“No,” Hailey grinned as she turned around and started pulling Grant back the other direction. “I really have to study!” she insisted.
Grant pulled Hailey into his arms again, wrapping her up tightly with one arm. “Shhh,” he smiled as he put his finger over her lips. “Stop talking about the test; you’re psyching yourself out. There are only so many practice tests you can take.”
“I think I need more work on the math section,” Hailey frowned.
“Let’s practice then,” Grant nodded. “We’ll start with word problems.” He kissed Hailey’s neck. “How many kisses,” he kissed her again, “does it take,” another kiss, “to convince Hailey,” yet another kiss, “that cramming for the ACT is overrated?”
“I have no interest in your flattery right now,” Hailey shoved him away. “I’m going inside to study!”
Grant scooped her into his arms, and Hailey giggled as he carried her toward the barn. “Put me down!” Hailey laughed.
“Quiet,” Grant warned.
Hailey started to speak, but Grant shook his head insistently.
“I have to go study,” Hailey laughed as she pointed to the ground. “Put me down!”
“Quiet,” Grant groaned.
“I’m sorry, Einstein, this is just not how it works for most of us,” Hailey smiled. “I have to study because I’m dumb.”
“You are certainly far from that, Miss Nelson,” Grant replied as he lowered Hailey to her feet. “You are, however, rather good at fishing for compliments.”
“That is not what I was doing!” Hailey said defensively. “Do you want to hear how stupid I actually am?” she protested.
“Dumb enough to fall in love with me. That’s got to be strike one,” Grant winked.
“I am so stupid that last time I took the ACT, I forgot to answer one entire page of the reading portion!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t even realize it until I got to the end of the section, and it had completely gotten my answer sheet off track! Then, when I tried to erase those tiny bubbles, which I had tried so diligently to fill in completely with my number two pencil, I totally wore the eraser down and ripped the page…rendering it useless to computer scoring!”
“That is what I would call an unfortunate but understandable oversight,” Grant shrugged easily. “What else you got?”
“Did you see that show Jess was watching on TV? They were talking about how people shouldn’t get involved in a relationship with someone with whom they have a ten point IQ differential because it will never work out! Were you not standing there thinking about me and you?”
“No,” Grant shook his head, “I was thinking how I wished you would stop glancing at the TV and finish that grilled cheese you were making me.”
“It made me think,” Hailey declared.
“Have you ever taken an IQ test?” Grant shrugged.
“No,” Hailey sighed.
Grant smiled, holding Hailey close. “So I guess we don’t know if this is destined for failure or not. Looks like we’ll have to wait and find out.” He kissed Hailey’s forehead. “You’re going to do great on the ACT, Hails. You’ve studied really hard; you have exhausted the practice guide; I have taught you every trick in the book…you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Babe,” Hailey smiled. “I really do appreciate all your help.”
They shared a quick kiss as the sky darkened overhead.
