Page 82 of Let Me Love You

But now, we’re surrounded by a bunch of people. And this isn’t the kind of conversation to have with listening ears.

“Do you know what float you’re driving today?” Lana asks, pulling me from my thoughts halfway down Main Street. “I bet it’s the big cowboy hat one with a hot dog on top.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Cowboy hat with a hot dog on top?”

She nods. “The founder wore a cowboy hat on the day Granite Falls became its own town, and legend has it he celebrated by eating a hot dog.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

She gives me a look. “No. I’m serious. Becky’s good-for-nothing husband was supposed to drive that float.”

Well, shit.

“It’s okay, Bubba,” Summer says from my back. “That’s my favorite one.”

“It is?”

She nods, her hair tickling my neck. Her legs swing back and forth as we make our way through the crowd.

Lana gives us a strange look. “Summer, dear, you haven’t even been to the parade before. So, how is it your favorite?”

Summer is four and only now going to this festival everyone in town deems important. If I have my way, Summer won’t miss anything ever again.

“You said it has a big hot dog!”

I laugh, and Lana joins in, but Serenity stays silent. Her lips are tipped down in a frown much like when she first met me. She can avoid her feelings all she wants, but I’ve seen the shift in her. We aren’t just bound by a contract anymore.

But now, she hasn’t looked at me, touched, or kissed me since I came back from my meeting. I itch to pull her aside and ask what’s going on. Not to mention the guilt gnawing at me for the fact I haven’t been able to fill her in on her accrued interest.

Clearing my throat, I say, “I mean, she has a point.”

We get closer to where I’m assuming the festival will be. Hundreds of people are crammed onto the street. The police have this section of the road closed off so people can wander around to each of the pop-up vendors. The scent of popcorn snakes into my nostrils, and my mouth waters. Now that I’ve tried it, I want it again.

I reach out to grab Serenity’s hand, and she stiffens, but she doesn’t pull away. When she looks up at me, I nod in the direction of the popcorn stall, and I swear I see the tiniest smile grace her lips before they tip downward again.

The crowd thickens so much we can barely push our way through. Once I’m sure we’ve hit a wall, a small opening reveals the first float of the parade. Men and women mill around the trucks, waiting for the cue to start, but not nearly as many as were in the crowd. We continue past a butterfly float and a soccer ball float with a team of kids, maybe eight-years-old.

After a few more trucks, I find the cowboy hat with the hot dog. No one is inside the truck or standing around it. I’m sure they’re right, and this one is mine.

A guy in a black cap lingers nearby, and a chill shoots down my spine. I instinctively move to shield Serenity and Summer.

Not everyone wearing a baseball cap is related to the man who went to Serenity’s house.

No, I can’t think that way. Anyone could be a threat.

“Mr. Barlowe!” an excited voice says from behind us, and I jump. “How did you know this one is yours?”

I turn around, and Mrs. Milte walks over with a big smile.

I guess frail, old ladies scare me now. “A little birdy told me this was the one Becky’s ex was supposed to drive.”

Her eyes move to Lana, and she grins. “Guilty as charged.”

“You’re right on time. We’re about to start.” Clutching her cane, Mrs. Milte moves to the driver’s side of the truck, and I follow her. “The keys are already inside. Just keep about twenty feet between you and the driver ahead of you. You’ll know when it’s done because the rest of the floats will stop, too.”

I set Summer down. “Understood.”

Serenity and I open both back doors. I heave a sigh of relief when I spot the car seat. I don’t have a ton of practice buckling kids in, but now is the time to learn. Once Summer is in the seat, I fiddle with the straps until they’re buckled and properly over her shoulders and chest—just like I saw when I looked it up on YouTube.