Page 60 of Cherry Tree Ranch

“There is no relationship, Billy. We told you we broke up and you made us fake it. I kept it up until semi-finals, I did the interview, the photo shoot, everything… I even won, man. Come on.”

The tension amps up between them. My heart thrums in my chest. Cash is about to take a step towards Billy, but stops and reaches for my hand. He holds it tight and opens his mouth to speak when suddenly, as if from nowhere, we’re swarmed by strangers with phones and cameras.

All around us people talk over each other.

“There’s Cash!”

“What did he say to Billy?”

“Who’s that girl?”

Then people point their phones at me and ask more questions than I can process, let alone answer. Cash lets go of my hand, looking startled, trying to keep people back. I clutch my cherry tablecloth to my chest even tighter.

Billy speaks loudly over everyone, telling them to step back, but no one listens. For the second time today, all eyes are on me. Heat flushes my cheeks.

The woman who did Cash’s interview pushes in. “Sally Hunter here, journalist for Colorado Rodeo Insider. Are you aware that Cash Cortez, face of Buckaroo Billy’s, is refusing to comment on his relationship with Kaylee Watson?”

I draw back. “No,” I say, wondering why she’s asking me.

She steps closer. “Are you the reason he refused to kiss her?”

A woman next to me turns to her friend and sneers. “She’s pretty, but she’s no Kaylee.”

They look me up and down like I can’t hear them. Like I’m only an object for their entertainment. Never before in my life have I felt the scorn of strangers.

“Yeah, I’m not going to be following her,” the friend snorts.

“Cherry girl, what’s your name?” someone else calls.

My heart thumps into my throat and voices echo in my ears as people push in and call out. The chaos makes me dizzy. I back away and turn to the parking lot. As soon as I spot Mom’s little car stuffed between two pick-up trucks, I break into a jog.

I almost trip when part of my cherry-covered tablecloth trails underfoot. The corner tears off. I pause for a moment, tears of overwhelm filling my eyes, and bundle the fabric to my chest. For a second, I turn and look back at Cash.

His gaze finds mine through the crowd. My heart aches when I see his rueful expression. I put my hand over my heart and shake my head. Then I turn once more and run.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Mom, please drive!” I tell her.

She startles. “Dahlia?”

“Sorry, but we’ve got to get out of here.”

She pops the seat out of recline and yanks the gear lever into drive. After pulling out from beside the tall truck, Mom sees the mob. She steps on the gas and turns the car in the opposite direction. The wheels spin on the gravel. At the main road, she lifts her brow to me. My eyes are full of tears, and I explain to her what happened.

“Oh, Dahlia.” She pats my leg. “I’m glad we got out of there. All I know is this too shall pass.”

“Yeah,” I take a gasping sob. “OK.”

I dry my eyes and open the video Lani sent while Mom drives us home. It’s a clip from Cash and Kaylee’s interview. I watch Kaylee lean in to kiss Cash – but he turns away from her and high-tails it out of the booth. Fans have plenty to say about it in the comments.

I write Lani that I’m not doing great, but will be home soon. I scroll down through related videos, and my stomach twists as my own face pops on to the screen.

I’m standing in the crowd of onlookers like a deer in the headlights while they pepper me with questions. There’s another and another as I scroll down – all of me standing there, stunned, then running off and tripping over my tablecloth. I look and feel the fool, and fresh tears sting my eyes. People are gossiping in the comments, and I can hardly bear to read them.

A call from Emery interrupts my doom scrolling.

“I’ve seen the posts,” she says. “I’m leaving Dad’s right away to come over, OK?”