“I’ll nominate you for president.”
Ben nearly choked on his coffee. That was the last job he wanted. It was way too much responsibility. Maybe in a few years but not now. And not when he was distracted with an alpaca that was about to give birth, let alone that Raven kept coming to mind.
Jason laughed. “Thought you’d appreciate that.”
“I bloody hope this baby is born by then. Otherwise, I’m going to be in trouble.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”
“Not if you nominate me for president.”
“Ahh, you’ll be all right at it.”
Ben shook his head. “I better go so I can nominate you.”
Jason grinned. “I reckon she’s not far off. But either way, you’re going to be stuck here and missing the meeting. You’re at my mercy.”
“How about a wager then? I reckon she’s at least four hours away.”
“More like three.” Jason held out his hand, and they shook on the bet.
“Just to make it clear, if I win, you’ll be nominated for president.”
“Good thing I’m going to win, then.” Ben leaned back on the bale of straw behind him and took a bite of his pie.Come on, Evie, don’t let me down on this one.Sitting here waiting for another alpaca made him realize this was going to be the first alpaca born that was the result of the breeding program he set up and not his dad’s. He took a deep breath settling the grief that threatened to spill out. Things were changing in his life. Quickly. And he was holding on for dear life hoping it would work out. Like being able not just to see Raven again, but to have a chance of a relationship with her. While he waited, in his mind, he crossed his fingers hoping that it would come to fruition.
Raven walked through the showgrounds’ entrance.Where the fuck are the alpacas?She didn’t usually go to the Royal Show and wasn’t that familiar with where everything was located. Spying a poster-size map on the wall of the Goyder Pavilion, she moved through the crowd of mostly kids and tired-looking adults. She stared at the map trying to make sense of it. A quick trip home, shower, breakfast, and she was feeling much better. The phone call to work calling in sick went off without a hitch. Sarina seemed to be empathetic for a change. The lie hadn’t sat well with Raven, but neither would’ve walking in so late. She put on clean jeans with her favorite blue t-shirt with golden stars embroidered on the front, and with sneakers, the only flats she owned, she considered her wearing attire suitable for being around animals. At least that’s what she hoped. She couldn’t help feeling that, in a way, she wanted to impress Ben and show that she wasn’t completely clueless as a city girl to the sort of life he led on the farm. Even though, of course, she had no idea what farm life would be like.
There. The alpacas were on the opposite side of the showgrounds.Of course. Raven took note of where she needed to go and set off, dodging a pram that was loaded up with show bags and not a baby.
She made her way along the food court. It was midday, and a lot of people were gathering to get food, hot chips, burgers, hot dogs, and baked potatoes. The greasy food smelled oddly appetizing to her even though it wasn’t that long ago since she’d technically had breakfast.
Raven pushed through the crowd trying to keep her bearings. Her mind kept whirling through the same thoughts.Was this really a good idea? What message was she really telling him by showing up like this?And why now did she want something more than just a yearly meet-up with him.They didn’t even live close to each other. And the biggest question that kept coming to mind was would he be there and what would she do if he wasn’t?
If only I had his phone number. Then she would’ve messaged him to set a proper time and place to meet him. The last few days felt like a blur that somehow, since meeting Ben, this time her life was changing in so many ways. Not just with him but with work as well. She wasn’t sure if she was really ready, but everything seemed to have taken on a momentum of its own. Like last night, sleeping together like they’d been in a relationship for years. And then this morning, him leaving quickly, the way he kissed her with such a lasting familiarity that spoke of a definite future together, for the second time in as many days.
I’m getting carried away. I’m imagining all of this.That was partly why she wanted to see him now. She needed to talk to Ben and see if he felt the same. Plus, she wanted to see a baby alpaca.
Raven turned right at the end of the Taste SA Pavilion, past the very crowded area where there was pig racing, and with relief, spied a sign on a big shed to her right saying ‘Alpacas.’
Thank goodness. She had half been expecting that she was going to get lost. The grounds were much bigger than she’d remembered, though the last time she’d been at the show was probably when she was ten. She’d not even been to the show to see Ben since there had been no need to. They were only meeting for sex, and the last two years that was all that filled her mind about Ben. This year, it was more than just sex.
She stepped into the shed, and the smell of animal waste hit her senses. She wrinkled her nose, but that did nothing. She breathed through her mouth looking around hoping to see Ben. There were rows of pens, some with alpacas and others with goats. She walked hesitantly toward the alpacas. She didn’t think there was any going back now, but when she reached the end of the row and hadn’t found Ben, she was thinking about simply giving up and going home.I don’t want to make a fool of myself.Coming here she was beginning to think she might have just done that.
I’m sure he’s busy. She couldn’t go any further on account of some rope that was strung in the way. She turned, disappointed she hadn’t seen him.
“Raven?”
She stopped. Her hair prickled at the sound of his voice. She couldn’t believe she knew straight away that it was Ben, and he hadn’t yelled out her name. Her heart picked up speed as she turned around. He was coming toward her from the other side of the rope motioning for her to come to him. Her legs felt like jelly as she went toward him. How was he going to react to seeing her here?
Ben’s smile was warm, reaching his eyes, and lighting up his face in a way that melted her heart. “I’m glad you came.”
Ben couldn’t believe Raven was here. At first, he wasn’t sure it was her. The chance to see her during the day, to hopefully get to know her more, motivated him to call out to her. He was expecting it to be a mistaken-identity incident. Thank goodness it hadn’t been.
She grinned at him. “How’s the mom-to-be doing?”
“Doing well so far.”
“That’s good to hear.”
