The most vexing conversations are the ones when two girls are whispering to each other while having a conversation about you. Just like the one before my eyes. Arizona and Clover are sitting together on the sofa, acting as if they're having a discreet conversation. I would have not minded it but they whisper to each other, then look over at me and then giggle to who knows what. 

"Really?" Clover said softly.

"Yes!" Arizona responded with a loud whisper. 

They are both over to the kitchen where I am at. I know what they are talking about, I wasn't trying to be a creep, but I was still caught watching Clover sleep by my younger sister Amabel. And as a gentleman, I plead guilty but as guilty as I can be of watching clover slumber, I about had it with the provocating whispers. 

"Alright! that enough," I get off my seat to walk over to where they are at. I could continue to play dumb but I just about had it. 

"You know Clover, Austin has become a bit full of himself," Arizona informs Clover as she looks at me for a reaction. It's like my own sister is selling my secrets to the devil. 

"Really? So you did grow out of your comfort zone?" Clover seems to be intrigued by Arizona's information. 

When I was younger, I was very shy not very outspoken. Of course that my shyness didn't last when I met Clover. Clover has been outgoing ever since I met her. I on the other hand was the opposite of her 

 A bit annoyed, I turn to Arizona, "Really, Arizona?" Don't care if Clover is entertained, I do not want to look weak in front of her. 

"Well, I am not the one being a creep by looking at someone sleep," Arizona playback counter backs. 

"The audacity," Clover sarcastically claims. Both girls start to giggle. 

I give my sister a warning stare. 

"Alright, I'll stop. Either way, I have to go. I'll see you later Clove," Arizona heads out to work. "Austin, hold your horses." 

Once Arizona leaves for her part-time job, Clover moves to the seat next to me on the couch. 

"You know we were just teasing," As hard as she is trying to hide her smile of amusement, I can see it clearly.

"I know." I plainly state. I look around the room to see where I can stare at or find something at least something to entertain myself. 

"Are you still mad?"

I rethink whether I should continue to pout or think of something worth my time. I think of a challenge or a question to rebound. "Not if tell me what you've been up to?" is all I can think of. 

"I could've told you that if you just asked." She rests her head on the couch. 

I am not the most interesting person when it comes to conversations, but I am not sure if I was to ask her the question I am dying to ask. Instead, I go, with something I may regret later. "Where do you live now?"

She furrows her eyebrows while giving me a very curious look, "New York."

"You still live there?"

"Yes." She sits up but doesn't look my way," New York is great." 

She's still in New York? All this time she stayed there? Was she expecting me to go to her? I could have... I try to shake my head and clear my head. I don't want to overthink every little word that comes out of her mouth. I know for her there are just words. 

I have a girlfriend, someone who is real. Even though she isn't here at the moment, once clover leaves Bonnie will be back and everything will be just the way it should be. Clover will go back to her city and I will stay here in my land. 

Clover shifts around to lay down her head on my lap. "Do you remember old ruby?"

I stiffen at her closeness. I should remove her from my lap, but I am not sure if I want that. The fact that she's here, close to me, I don't think I hate it. 

"Yeah, we dreamed of the day to be able to ride it." My eyes land on her hair desiring to stroke her hair. 

"Yes! We wanted to be old enough to get a license. How desperate we were to ride the old ruby." 

Every little thing reminded me of her. When she was gone, I wanted to save so many moments, just so I could share them with her. Little things like clovers themselves reminded me of her. I guess now is my chance to make more memories with the person I wanted to. 

"Come on, let's go." I tap her should for her to get up.

"Where to?" 

"Just follow me."

****

"What am I looking at?" She furrows her eyebrows while asking me. 

"This is Grace. Grace meet Clover. Clover meet Grace." I gesture from my ranch truck to Clover and vice versa. Clover mentioning old ruby, reminded me of when I got my truck. I wanted to show it to her but she was living life in New York. 

"You named her Grace?" With the sound of disbelief, Clover inspects Grace.  "Why not clove, or lucky? She looks like she can be a clove."

Originally, her name was Lady, but Bonnie didn't like that idea. She's very picky when it comes to tedious things like that. I got my truck as soon as I got my license. I was ready to own my own truck. It's the way of the ranch.

"If it makes it any better, her name was going to be lady," I inform her, as I open the door for her to climb into the driver seat. 

"Lady? I prefer that to Grace. What made you change your mind?" 

"I don't know," I shrug. "Come on."

Confused, clover raises an eyebrow, "Why the driver's seat?"

"Because you're driving." I let out a smirk. 

She crosses her arms before getting in to say, "Look, cowboy, I don't have a license."

"You don't? How?"

"I live in the city. I don't need one."

"It doesn't matter. You don't need one where we're driving. 

I lead Clover to the plains of the back of the ranch where there is no one.  The only thing about the plains is that it has tall grass and a whole load of hills everywhere. 

"You surprise me, cowboy. Where have you taken us?" Clover eyes me suspiciously.

"This is what we call the plains."

"Oh, right the plains." She sarcastically reasons.

I chuckle, "We didn't get to driving old ruby but you can practice driving Grace. So, give it a go."

She stares at me very surprised. "You trust me to ride Grace?"

The fact that Clover addresses my truck by her name reminds me that Bonnie thinks its ridiculous to name vehicles and use them to address them. 

"Shouldn't I?" Sure I don't even trust my own girlfriend to touch Grace, but I don't see what can happen to Grace in the plains. Clover herself can't cause any accidents where there is no civilization present. And this was a dream of ours, we can't ride old ruby, but we can ride Grace for now. 

"No, just checking for approve," She starts the engine before I can change my mind. "Alright, everyone buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the ride. Hold on, tight cowboy."

With that she steps on the gas like no tomorrow. 

After a few hectic bumps, I try to make Clover slow down through the hills. "Too late cowboy," She continues to drive on. Until, the last hill bump, some type of sticky water splashes all over the truck, leaving both Clover and me soaking wet. She hits the brakes. Our bodies scramble all over. While huffing and puffing we look at each other and burst out laughing.

"Woah, Cowboy. That last bump was mighty. It spilled what every that was, everywhere," She speaks in her southern accent. 

"Even I'm not sure what that was." I recall the last day I took Bonnie to date, she must have left that drink here. I shake her out of my thoughts and look over at clover. "You look like you took a dip at the lake."

"Throwing insults now. Find be like that." She takes her wet hand to reach toward my hair to dirty it when the stranger solute. 

"Come on, clover. " I try to detain her hand away from my hair. 

Unsuccessful, she lands on me. 

As our laughter starts to fade, our eyes land on each other. Without hesitation, Clover smiles. 

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. 

I could kiss her. I could. I know I want to.