Tamping down my rage, I stroll toward them. Walking closer, I hear the woman say, "I swear I've seen you somewhere before. You look so familiar." I roll my eyes at the line even though she probably does recognize him. I roll my eyes a second time at the way she is dressed. A short tight dress that barely covers her ass. It screams, "Look at me." We are at a county fair, for goodness sakes, not a nightclub.
Easton doesn't respond, but he tucks his phone away and smiles when he catches sight of me. The second I'm within arm's reach, he pulls me into his side and gives me a sweet kiss. "Hey, baby."
Pulling away, I turn my attention to the woman who is still standing beside us. "Oh, hey, Lana. I didn't see you there," I lie. The smirk on Easton's face says he knows it too.
"Cat." Lana looks to me, to Easton, and then back to me. It's like she's trying to figure out why someone who looks like Easton is with someone like me. I'm not bothered, though. That's a tactic used by women like Lana. That's just their way of letting their own jealousy and insecurities shine through. When will they learn? It makes them look weak. Not to mention, men don't find it attractive either. It's not the perfect body, perfect makeup, and the perfect clothes a man wants…not a real man, anyway.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
Friend? Really?
Luckily, I don't have to reply to Lana's snide comment because Easton does it for me. "I'm not her friend. I'm her man. Now, if you'll excuse us." Easton pushes off the wall, steering us away from Lana, who we leave shocked, with her mouth hanging open.
"That was awesome. God, I hate her."
Easton keeps his hold on me as we stroll through the crowd without a backward glance. "Yeah, well, I can't stand women like that. So, what's her deal, anyway? I'm assuming you know her."
"You would assume correctly." I blow out a breath. "Lana and I went to high school together. She's also Carter's ex." I watch as Easton's jaw ticks when I mention Carter, but I continue, "Anyway, she was a bitch back then, and she's a bitch now. When we were kids, she convinced Carter I had feelings for him and did everything she could to end our friendship. Of course, she succeeded, but now I have my friend back, so I win, and she loses. Karma always wins in the end." Easton grunts. "Enough about her. I'm hungry. You?"
"I could eat. What are you in the mood for?"
Without missing a beat, I reply, "Corn dogs and a blue slushy."
Later that evening, Easton and I lie in bed with me between his legs and my back against his front. Aside from the unfortunate run-in with Lana, I had the best time at the fair.
"You have a good time today, baby?" he rumbles against my ear, his scruff tickling my skin.
"The best. Some of my fondest memories of my parents are of us at the fair. After they passed, Grandma and Grandpa would take me every summer, but Grandpa and I haven't been in a couple years."
"What were they like?" Easton asks.
I tip my head back. "My parents?"
He nods.
I face forward and close my eyes. A smile takes over my face when visions of their faces enter my brain. "I look like my mom. Same height, same wild, curly, red hair. My eyes I get from my dad." I swallow past the lump in my throat at my memories. "Dad said Mom was his soulmate and that he knew it the second he laid eyes on her. He said it took her longer to realize it."Easton squeezes me, and I chuckle. "I remember them being so happy. I'd never even seen them fight." I tell Easton about how my father ended up at the ranch after he lost both of his parents. "The ranch was Moms' life. She lived and breathed everything about this place, and my dad lived and breathed my mother." I go quiet for a moment. Thankfully, Easton doesn't interrupt my reflection. "It might sound, I don't know, crazy…but in a way, I think it's best that they passed away together. I know what happened was tragic, especially because they left behind a young daughter, but I mean it when I say my parents were soul mates. I honestly don't think either of them would be able to live without each other." Twisting in Easton's arm, I face him. "Does that sound messed up?" I ask. "I've never said that out loud to anyone before."
"No, baby. That doesn't sound messed up at all." He cups my face. "Those are your feelings. You're allowed to feel and think any way you want about your mom and dad. What matters is you loved them, and they loved you. They also left you with some beautiful memories. What I think is you find solace in knowing they are still together in the afterlife."
A tear slips down my cheek. "I do. It comforts me knowing they still have each other."
Easton uses the pad of his thumb to wipe away my tears.
"How do you do that?" I ask.
"Do what?"
"Get me? You just…get me?"
"Because, Cat, you're my soulmate, and even though you may not be ready to admit it, I'm yours."
"I think you're right," I breathe.
"I know I'm right," he declares vehemently. Then Easton kisses me. We're soon interrupted when his cell rings. With a growl, he breaks away. Snatching his phone from the bedside table, he sighs. "It's my sister."
"Okay." I scoot to the edge of the bed and stand. "I'm going to go wash my face while you take your call."
Once I'm finished in the bathroom, I walk back into Easton's room. "Hey, I'm going down to the kitchen for a beer. Do you want one?"
