I text Max and Nova to find out where I should meet them. I haven’t made it far before I see Max strolling my way holding a huge paper cone of fries. My heart twists atthe sight of him. He’s the perfect mixture of handsome and adorable, with that goofy grin on his face, and I have a sudden urge to take his face in both my hands and kiss him.
“You and Nova weren’t messing around with these fries,” he says and stretches the container out to me. “I got them for you, but I think we’re going to need to share.”
I happily take a few, grateful for the distraction so I can get my impulses back under control.
“How’d everything go with Li?” he asks.
“Really well. Thanks for pushing me to talk to her”—I point a fry at him—“although you don’t need to be so cocky about always being right.”
“I didn’t say anything!” He lifts his free hand in surrender.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t finish yet. You alsomighthave been right about Li and Felix being a good fit. I can see a spark.”
He has the gall to do a triumphant victory dance next to the funnel cake stand.
“Don’t drop the fries!”
“As if.” His expression is pure elation. “Ooh, you hate it when I’m right.”
“I do not,” I retort. “I hate it when youknowyou’re right and do uncoordinated dances in my face.”
“Uncoordinated? How dare you. I’ve got all kinds of moves.” He does a spin, and I can’t help laughing at how dorky he’s being.
“Where’s Nova? Not that she’d hang out with us if she saw you dancing.”
“We ran into some people by the rides. I told her I’d come find you while she holds our place in line.”
“Let me guess,” I say with a smile. “We’re going on the Zipper first?” Nova and I ride it every year and spend the whole time screaming and laughing so loudly you can hear us on the other side of town. I always swear I’ll never get on it again but immediately relent the following year.
“Um…yeah, that’s the one,” he says, looking surprised. “You two are very in sync.”
I shrug and take a few more fries. “Standard best friend stuff.”
We walk through the midway where fair barkers yell for our attention. Max moves closer to my side. “Actually, before we get back to everyone, I have a question I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
His serious tone sends a spike of adrenaline shooting through me, but then I mentally kick myself. It’s very possible he’s about to ask whether it’s cool if he hangs out with his percussion buddies instead of me. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions just because I wish we were here together as more than friends.
I slowly turn toward him.
His jaw works back and forth like he’s debating something. “Do you have fair plans with Nova this evening?”
My pulse speeds higher and I shake my head. “I think there’s a tractor pull tonight, but we usually skip that kind of stuff. Why?”
“There’s someplace I’d like to take you. Just the two of us, if that’s okay?”
My breath hitches at the intimate way he’s studying my face. People are streaming past us, barkers are shouting mere feet away, but all I can focus on is him. He could tell me hewants to go bathe in cow manure this evening, and I’d still agree to try it out one time. I’m so lost for this boy, it’s not even funny.
“Yeah, okay,” I whisper. My voice is unsteady. “Sounds like a plan.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
We have a great rest of the day eating too much food, visiting all the baby farm animals, and riding so many rides that I’m at risk of losing my voice from screaming so loud. But the whole time, there’s a tight ball of anticipation in my stomach, wondering what Max is planning for this evening.
I drop my car off at the house after leaving the fair and take a moment to text Nova. She seemed very understanding when I told her about our plans, but Max was with us, so I can’t be sure of her reaction. A second later she texts back.
Nova:Totally fine. Have fun with Max!
An exclamation mark? About Max? That’s weird. I shake my head and put my phone back in my pocket.
