I’d just finished wrapping up a string of lights when someone shoved me in my back. Though it hadn’t been particularly hard, I stumbled forward, caught off guard, and glanced behind me.
“You’re not going on a date with her.” Everly stood, hands on hips, her mouth set in a flat line. “I don’t care that she’s beautiful and her boobs are bigger than mine, and I don’t care that she’s older and more experienced and has probably already acted out Chapter Eight, not to mention Twenty-Two and Thirty and Ten, so she could show you a thing or two. Or that she probably remembers to eat all her meals and knows how to drive a stick and has an actual home and belongings and doesn’t wear borrowed leggings and her boyfriend’s old T-shirts. I don’t want you to go out on a date with her.”
My brows inched higher up my forehead with each impassioned word that left her lips, and holyshit, I wasn’t sure I’d ever wanted her more. I glanced around, noticing my sister paying way too much attention to us and a suspicious Mabel hovering far too close for my liking, so I tugged Everly behind a closed-up food cart to give us a modicum of privacy.
“There’s that word again,” I said.
“What?” she snapped.
“Boyfriend.”
Everly huffed and glared at me. “Did you hear anything else I said?”
“Yes.” I nodded, fighting the urge to push her up against the cart and show her exactly how much I didn’t care about another woman and exactly how much I loved when she claimed me as hers.
“Well, are you going to say anything about it?”
“I’d rather use my mouth for other things, but if you need the words, fine.” I leaned back against the cart, spreading my legs wide and tugging her to stand between them until her body was pressed against mine. “I’m going to have to take your word for it on her boobs because yours are the only tits I’m looking at. I don’t care how much experience she has, because I’d much rather explore Chapters Ten and Twenty-Two and especially Thirty withyou. I fucking love when you wear my clothes—especially where everyone can see it. Let everyone know you’re mine.” Something flared in her eyes, but I had one last sticking point I needed her very aware of. “And I’m not going out on a date. I just want to help clean up a bit before we head home.” My lips twitched at the word—something she’d been calling it for weeks. Now, I just needed to make it permanent.
“I know you’re not going on a datenow,” she said. “But that very nice woman who I wish was a bit more of a harpy so I could hate her just paid hundreds of dollars to go out with you, and I don’t care what I have to do. I don’t care if I have to scrimp and save, if I have to eat ramen every day for six months, or if I have to steal pennies from the wishing fountain to cover it. I’m buying her out, because you are not going out on a date with her.”
“You’re right, sunshine. I’m not going out on a date with her.”
“No, I’m not going to—” She froze, blinking up at me in surprise. “Wait. What?”
I reached out, brushing my thumb over her bottom lip. “Everyone knew they were only bidding on me for my blueberry scone recipe.”
“Your blueberry—” Everly stared up at me with wide eyes. “You mean she didn’t want sex?”
I huffed out a laugh and shook my head. “Jesus, no. And I wouldn’t give a shit if she did because I’m not interested in anyone else. It’s been you for a long time, sunshine.” I cupped her face, my thumbs brushing softly against her cheeks, and leaned close, my voice just a soft rumble between us. “As much as I love this jealous side of you, there’s no need for it. Did you already forget who fucked you to sleep last night and who was inside you this morning? I sort of assumed that meant I was already spoken for.”
Her cheeks bloomed at my words, her eyes sparkling as she stared up at me, hands pressed to my chest. “You are?”
I kissed her, just a soft press of my lips on hers, before pulling back. “I sure as hell hope so. I’m yours. And I thought I made my intentions clear with this festival.”
“With the— What?Youdid all this? Why?”
The same reason I did anything. “For you.”
She shook her head, eyes searching mine. “I don’t understand.”
“I—”
“This is my time to shine!” Mabel called as she popped out from behind a tree, phone held above her head as she shuffled toward us. “That was all very sweet, but I’ve got something you need to watch, sugar!”
I groaned, dropping my head back to the cart behind me and closing my eyes. Couldn’t get a moment’s peace around here. “Jesus, it better not be what youaccidentallyshowed me earlier today, Mabel.” I shuddered, remembering her “instructional” video for the products she sold. Fortunately, there were clothes involved, but if I never had to see her holding a ten-inch lifelike dildo again, it’d be too soon.
“Oh, it was just a fake penis, Beck,” she chided, rolling her eyes. “Honestly, I don’t understand why you’re so squeamish about it. You’ve been walking around with one for over thirty years. I’d think you’d be used to them by now.”
I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “What do you need, Mabel? We’re kind of in the middle of something.”
“Right, the video. Yes, here we are.”
Mabel held the phone toward us, showing a choppy video that was most definitely shot by her. It was a compilation spread out over the ten days it’d taken to put the festival together. Everything from its inception—Addison, Ford, and me at the diner, our heads together as we came up with the plan—to businesses pitching in with baskets for raffles and restaurant owners donating meals and residents setting up everything, all while keeping it from the one person it was for.
Everly’s eyes were glued to the phone, but I kept my gaze on her, watching as a variety of emotions flickered over her face—shock, then awe, then happiness and gratitude. And this time when she cried, I knew they were happy tears.
Still, I cupped her face, sweeping them away with my thumbs. “See? For you. It’s always for you.”
