True to my word, I was hopping down the stairs right on time, and I followed Mrs. Presley out into the town square. I hadthe suit on, but the head was still in my hands. The event wasn’t officially starting for another hour, so I had some time.
People bustled around the big, open lawn, putting the finishing touches on the decorations. Little booths were being set up to sell food and drinks. There were games where kids could win prizes. The band was doing a sound check.
In the center of it all was my seat. More like a throne, the big wooden chair was flanked by two giant carrots. I poked one and it seemed to be made of light foam material. People really went all out for Easter week in Ferris. For me, it was kind of a whatever holiday. In egg country, it was serious business.
I grabbed myself a red slushie from one of the booths, being manned by some high school band kids raising money for new uniforms. It was syrupy-sweet and delicious. Silly as it might be, I rarely had a chance to get things like this. Most of my meals were ordered in or at a high-end restaurant.
I had never seen some of the things these booths were promising, once they opened up. BBQ-stuffed waffles, fried bacon, pizza cones. I had been missing out. Tempting as everything was, I would have to wait until later.
After I was finished with my bunny business, I would make the rounds of the food booths, eating until I got a stomach-ache like a little kid. Judging from the tantalizing smells, it would be worth any heartburn I might get.
A familiar white van backed into an empty spot beside the town square. I quickly put my rabbit head on before she saw me. I wasn’t hiding from Shelby. I just didn’t know what to say to her.
I wanted to tell her I was sorry, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why. Probably because she was upset, and I didn’t like it when she was upset, even if it wasn’t my fault. All I had done was ask her about the post she had made. I didn’t even yell at her or blow up.
Despite that, I still felt responsible for the distance between us, and I wanted to get things back to how they had been a couple nights back. How could things have changed so dramatically between the bake-off and now?
Shelby got out of the van and came around back to open the doors. Crates of colored eggs were stacked in the back, and a couple of volunteers went over to unload them. With a grin no one could see, I walked over to her too.
“Would you like me to grab your eggs, miss?” I asked, my voice muffled by the suit.
Shelby spun to face me, fire in her eyes. “You better back the hell off, Marc Larson. I’ll pepper spray the Easter Bunny. I don’t play around.”
I chuckled, weirdly pleased by her response. “Relax, Shelby.”
“Tell me to relax again,” she said. “I dare you. I double dare you.”
“I guess I’m just a bad bunny,” I said, leaning closer.
Her eyes widened and then narrowed as she stared at the eyeholes like she could see through the mesh. “Carter?”
“Surprise,” I replied with a dry chuckle.
Shelby threw her head back and laughed. The sound was like a cool breeze over my heated skin. I loved when she laughed like that, free and full of life. And I loved it even more when I was the one who made her laugh like that. It was the sad faces I couldn’t handle.
“How did you end up as the Easter Bunny?” she asked me, still giggling like she couldn’t help herself.
I lifted the head just enough so she could see my face. People were already showing up with their children and I didn’t want them to see the goober under the mask. I didn’t know if kids believed in the bunny or if it even mattered, but I wasn’t going to be the guy who made the world a less magical place for these children.
“Marc dropped out and Mrs. Presley wouldn’t take no for an answer,” I said, grinning.
“Oh, my God,” she said, shaking her head. “If I had known, I would have shown up earlier.”
“I almost didn’t tell you at all,” I said with a shrug, suddenly feeling self-conscious and it had nothing to do with the bunny suit.
“’Cause you’re still mad at me?” she asked.
“The only thing I’m mad at is what Allory did here in Ferris,” I said. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re allowed to speak your mind. It was all true, anyway.”
She nodded. “Thank you. That means a lot. Maybe you’re more than just a bad bunny.”
“Not when you’re around.”
She looked up at me. “How about I make you dinner tonight?”
That perked me up. Shelby was inviting me to dinner. As excited as I was to try some of the insane delicacies here, none of them could compete with something Shelby cooked just for me. “That sounds nice.”
She flashed me a coy smile. “What do you prefer? Boiled carrots or roasted?”
