“Pete, maybe there’s another committee member who could take this on.”
“Told you before, no one else is suited.”
Knock.
“June.”
“You’re the only option,” Pete continues, oblivious. “Word is the rodeo stars already like you.”
My face heats. “Where did you hear that?”
Knock.
“June.”
Knock.
“June.”
Hazel is wheezing now with giggles.
“The rodeo circuit coordinator mentioned it. Said his boys haven’t stopped talking about the local girl who helped at the photo booth.”
Knock.
“June.”
Knock.
“June.”
I finally glance up.
Kai is standing outside the window, face pressed against the glass like a kid at a pet store. When our eyes meet, he breaks into the most devastating smile I’ve ever seen and gives me a little wave. “Hey, June.”
I can’t help it. I laugh. “Pete, I have to go.”
“But—”
“I’ll call you back. Soon.” I hang up before he can protest.
Kai then disappears from view.
“He’s insane,” I say.
“He’s completely obsessed with you,” Hazel corrects, wiping her eyes. “Did you see his face? He looked like he’d just found buried treasure.”
“He looked like a man who doesn’t understand personal boundaries.”
“Same thing.” She grins. “So. You going to tell me what happened after I left last night?”
I fill her in on the fun night of carnival games and the mountain of prizes, the way Kai and Carter competed to win me increasingly ridiculous stuffed animals. The way they looked at me when they said goodnight. The way I couldn’t stop thinking about them the entire drive home.
“And then,” I add, “I got home and felt like absolute garbage.”
Hazel frowns. “What do you mean?”
“Fever. Body aches. This weird… buzzing under my skin.” I shake my head. “It’s gone now, thankfully. Probably just a bug. Or exhaustion.”
