When we finally pulled ourselves out of bed, we got ready for the festival. It turns out all of Main Street shuts down for the big day. There were food trucks lined up all along the street, local businesses with booths, and a temporary stage for live music. Kids were running back and forth, playingtagwith their faces painted and balloon crowns on their heads. Even the firehouse had a booth set up. I nudged, Jesse. “Hey, I’m surprised you didn’t have to give a safety briefing today! The guys from the firehouse are over there.”
“Tell me about it. I’m glad to have the day off, though. Want to grab some lemonade and go listen to the music?”
“Yeah, let’s do it.” Jesse grabbed my hand, lacing his fingers with mine as he led the way.
After we got to the lemonade stand, I stood aside while Jesse ordered our drinks. I had turned my back for ten seconds, taking in the view of the festival, when yelling caught my ear. I turned around to see Jesse arguing with some guy. They were in each other’s faces when I screamed, “Jesse!” and ran over to stand between him and the guy. “Jesse, look at me.”
He finally did. Instantly, his eyes softened. “Laida, we should go,” he said, with his eyes trained back on the guy.
“Okay, come on.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him to a set of picnic tables, far away from the stranger. “Sit with me. What was that about? Who was that?” Jesse was still visibly angry. His knee was bouncing and he was knocking on the table with his knuckles. “Jesse…”
“That piece of walking shit was my ex-best friend, Jacob.”
My jaw dropped. “Oh.”
Jesse’s eyes darted to mine. "That’s who fucked my ex-girlfriend behind my back.”
“I’m sorry. What did he say?”
He chuffed and explained, “He tried to ask me how I was? Like it was no big deal. Like I didn’t catch him balls deep inmygirlfriend onmytruck.” It was clearly still painful for him. The betrayal cut deep and he was still working through it. “I just haven’t seen him since it all happened, so it feels a little fresh…andonlyfor that reason.” He looked at me while he stressed it, as if to reassure me there was nootherreason, like jealousy.
“I understand.” It was quiet for a moment, so I asked, “Is this event salvageable, or are you ready to go?”
“Honestly?” He asked.
“Yes, honestly. Whatever you want to do, I’m down with it.”
He smiled and grabbed my hands. “Then I honestly just want to take you home and fuck you through the mattress.”
“Sir!”
We laughed and raced each other to the truck.
Chapter 11
Laida
It had been a few weeks since the Founders Day Festival debacle and we’d fallen back into our normal work/farm routine. As I cleaned things up around the farm, Rusty was running around the backyard, with full-onzoomies. When he wasn’t running circles around me, he was digging holes and snaking himself between my legs. I narrowly escaped tripping a few times. You’d never know anything was ever wrong with him. I was thinking about how fun he is when my phone sounded off with a text message from Jesse.
Jesse: Hey, beautiful Herbalist. You there?
Me: I’m here, sexy Firefighter.
Jesse: Sexy! She thinks I’m sexy.He’d been making me laugh on the regular and more playful than his usual reserved self.
Me: Sexy. Yes. What can I do for you?
Jesse: The next few days are touch and go for me. I’ve got several community and training events coming up, but I justwanted to tell you, so, you know…you don’t come for me.I blushed because he just had to bring that up.
Me: Easy. It was one time. Lol!
Jesse: I loved it. I have to go, but I’ll touch base when I can.
Me: Okay, be careful.
Jesse: Will do.
I had a basket of flowers I’d just harvested and wanted to get them on the drying table, so I went inside and started the process of creating more salves. I called out, “Come on, Rusty!” Rusty came running and walked beside me. Lavender, Chamomile, Dandelions, and Peppermint were my day’s harvest. With four homemade drying screens on the dining room table, there was plenty of room for everything I’d picked. It would take a day or so for the lavender to fully dry, but it would be worth the wait. Then I’d be able to make one of my favorite recipes for Jesse, lavender tea bread with a homemade lemon glaze.
