Despite my stomachfeeling like it wants to rebel out of my body, I do end up attending the autumn festival. Bright early autumn sun, the smell of sunflowers in the air, and the laughter of children greets me as I climb out of my rideshare.
I look down at Honey, and our eyes meet as she stares up at me, both of us unsure if I should be in this crowd. She’s probably right. I pat her head gently, then triple-check to make sure her vest is on securely. Andy texted me earlier to let me know she’d be working and that I should stop by to see her by the sunflower fields. I figure once I see her and prove to her that I actually left the house, then I can turn right back around and head home.
Making my way through the crowd wasn’t as hard as I’d expected. At least not with Honey at my side. Most people give me a wide berth when they notice her. Catching sight of Colby has my speed increasing in that direction. But the closer I get, the more obvious it is that he isn’t alone. Those guys from the barbecue are there, just like Andy said they’d be. The tall one, Jackson, looms over everyone else, even taller than Colby, although only slightly.
With my nose scrunched in irritation, I approach them wearily. I feel a bit like I’m approaching wild lions on the hunt. Colby grins broadly at the sight of me, loosening all the anxiety and worry that ebbed up inside me on my slow approach.
Jackson pushes past Trevor to stand beside me. “Want a muffin? I have one left.”
I blink up at him in confusion. What’s wrong with this dude? “I ate breakfast already. Thank you though.”
“Oh yeah, sure,” Jackson says, a hint of dejection in his voice.
I tear my gaze from Jackson to survey the crowd. Good turnout this year. A couple of kids run around, screaming with joy in the pumpkin patch, tearing a rare smile from me. I love kids. Something so pure about them.
“Hey, Harper, isn’t there a pie-eating contest? I bet Jackson could win it,” Trevor asks, all blond hair and sweet smiles. Gross. I scowl at him for a second which only earns me the same sweet smile back.
My gaze pings back to Jackson when I don’t get a reaction from Trevor. I take Jackson in, from the perfectly brand-new sneakers on his large feet, up his jean-clad mile-long legs, over the tight muscles of his forearms where a light dusting of black hair covers his dark brown skin and then finally to his smiling face, where there’s an odd twinkle in his eye. Asshole knows what he looks like, but I won’t give in.
I scrunch my nose up in indifference. “Yeah, maybe.”
A while goes by as I stand, feeling out of place among the group of friends. Just when I’m about to head towards the sunflowers to check on Andy, Cindy comes barreling towards us.
“Look at all you boys. Harper, your mama is in the office looking for you.”
Fuck. I ignored her calls this morning, plus the one from my dad, hoping if I ignored them, they’d just assume I felt fine. One look at me and Mom will know I had an adverse reaction to the medicine. Then she’ll want me to go back to the doctor. But I know my body, every time I start a new medicine, there’s an adjustment period. I just need time, some relaxation, and to be left the fuck alone.
Without a word, I head towards the office, head held high to face my mother.
“Wait! Harper!” a voice calls out from behind me.
Freezing in the middle of the crowd, I turn around to face Jackson running toward me. I glance behind me, thinking maybe he’s yelling at someone else with my name. But when I turn back, he’s stopped in front of me with that weird, oddly charming smile on his lips.
“Hi,” Jackson says, his grin now eating up his entire face.
“Can I help you?”
Jackson blinks at me, eyes carefully scanning my face. “I’m in town for a few more days. Do you want to get together maybe?”
The question takes me so by surprise that I don’t even know how to verbalize it. This has to be an elaborate joke. A prank. Maybe Eli and Trevor’s friends are assholes. Seems unlikely considering Eli and Trevor are basically angels on earth, but anything is possible.
“Get together?” I repeat, words having the same ring they would if I were to askdo you have time to kill a baby deer?
Jackson takes another step forward, and I take a careful step back. “Yeah, maybe we can hang out?”
Lead fills my stomach just at the idea. No fucking thanks. “No, sorry.” My heart starts to race and bile fills my throat. It’s just like when I was a teenager all over again. The butt of the joke. I lift my hand and run it through my hair, thumb lingering on the jagged scar near my eye.
“No?”
I shake my head violently. “I have severe allergies.” I fake a sneeze.
A furrow forms between his dark eyebrows. “Okay?”
I sneeze again. “I’m allergic to bullshit. That’s why I have Honey. She’s my bullshit detector.”
Because Honey is a good girl, she sneezes too, aiming her narrowed gaze up at Jackson. The man stares at us in what seems to be amused confusion. Assuming we’re done, I turn around, and keep making my way in the direction of the front office.
Honey presses against my side as we continue on our way through the crowd. I assume I’ve shaken Jackson off, considering the silence, but as I approach my destination, I realize that I have a shadow that’s not mine. I pause again, turning my now irritated gaze on him.
