"Are you still with me?"
"Alright. Spill it," Emerson demands. "I just overheard a very heated lip wrestling match with you and a mystery woman."
"Her name is Cat. Her family owns the ranch."
"Don't leave this girl with a broken heart," Emerson warns.
"She's different, Em," I admit, and the lack of a smart-ass remark from my twin causes me concern. "Em, are you still there?"
"I'm here." She's quiet for a few more seconds. "You're serious?"
"She's the one, Em. My person. Cat is my yesterday, today, and all of my tomorrows." I hear my sister sniffle. "Are you crying?"
"You tell anyone, and I'll kick your ass," Emerson threatens, and I laugh. "East."
"Yeah?"
"I'm so fucking happy for you," Emerson says, and emotion pools in my chest.
"Thanks, Em."
10
CAT
"Come on! Please," I beg. "It will be fun."
Easton shakes his head. "Hell no. Not doing it, Red. You can forget it."
It's been a few days since the debacle at the pizza shop with Carter, and since I let my feelings toward him slip. To say he was a little more than upset that I would even allow the thought of being nothing but a convenience to cross my mind is an understatement. I have never met anyone as intense as Easton, and when he's not being intense and making my tummy flutter, he's making me laugh. Like right now. Easton heard the fair was in town and insisted he take me. I was hesitant at first because I was afraid someone would recognize him and the whole point of him being here is to not be seen. But, he assured me everything would be alright and that he knew how to be incognito when necessary. Easton was correct. He knew how to blend in with the crowd. We've been here nearly three hours, and no one has given him a second glance.
"Why not?" I ask. I have been trying to convince Easton to get on my favorite ride, The Orbiter, with me for the last ten minutes, but he won't budge.
"The last time I got on that ride, it was with my sister. We were twelve. Emerson had eaten two corn dogs and drank a huge slushy just before we got on."
Easton's not even finished with his story, and I already know where it's going. I try to cover my giggle with my hand. But, unfortunately, it doesn't work, and Easton narrows his eyes at me. "Did she…"
"Yes," he cuts me off. "All was fine until the ride stopped, and we got off. We didn't make it two steps before she turned toward me then proceeded to puke all over the front of me."
"Oh my god!" I burst out laughing.
"That shit’s not funny," Easton grumbles.
"Yes, it is," I wheeze, wiping the tears from my eyes.
"Hey, you try having someone blow chunks all over you and see how funny it is then. It was literally a chunky corn dog mixed with a blue slushy. She ruined my favorite pair of shoes. I reeked so bad we had to drive home with the windows down. My sister, on the other hand, thought it was hilarious."
"And you're saying that's why you won't get on the ride with me? Because your sister barfed on you when you were kids?"
"Hell, yeah. I'm scarred for life."
"Fine," I relent. "What about the Ferris wheel? Or is there some childhood catastrophe involving you peeing your pants because you're afraid of heights or something?"
Easton snags me around my waist, pulling me to his chest. "No, smartass, we can go on the Ferris wheel."
"Good. But I need to go to the restroom first." I kiss his cheek.
Fifteen minutes later, I'm stepping out of the restroom when I hear a familiar voice, one that sounds like nails on a chalkboard. That's when I look to my right and spot Easton where I left him. He's leaning against the pavilion's brick wall with his phone in his hand and his attention on the screen, not atthe woman who is currently talking to him. Unfortunately, she's also standing a little too close for my liking.
