Page 25 of Until Easton

BECCA

"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 in 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 at the woman who is currently talking to him. Unfortunately, she's also standing a little too close for my liking.

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.

"Becca." 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."