Page 98 of Not Until I Found You

Zane

“Ah.” Ryland takes a deep inhale, smiling blissfully. “Do you smell that?”

“Kettle corn and charcoal smoke?” I scan the crowd, dodging a kid who’s holding a sparkler too close to my arm.

Downtown Covewood is buzzing with life today, as it is every Fourth of July. Red-white-and-blue banners flutter from the lampposts. Tiny American flags line each storefront window, and strings of patriotic bunting drape across awnings up and down Main Street.

Ryland exhales. “Freedom.”

I huff out a chuckle. “That’s not freedom. That’s burnt burgers and body odor.”

He looks over at me. “You’re really killing the moment here.”

“I’m just keeping it accurate.”

Raine steps up beside him, nudging her shoulder into his. “Oh, come on, let him enjoy his favorite holiday.”

Ryland’s wearing red, white, and blue from head to toe. There’s a flag stitched across his hat, mirrored in the pattern of his shirt, and there are stars running down one leg of his shorts.

“I’m not sure you’ve gone all out like this before.” I gesture toward his outfit. “I mean, yeah, sure, you’ll wear the shirt, but the hat and pants too?”

Ryland straightens, brushing a hand down the front of his shirt, beaming proudly. “This outfit shows my respect.”

“For who? The flag or the fashion industry?”

“The country,” he shoots back, like it should’ve been obvious. “Some of us take this holiday seriously.”

Raine hums, reaching up to adjust the brim of Ryland’s hat slightly to the side. “He’s been planning this outfit since January.”

“Seriously?”

“Yup,” she says, smiling. “He’s the cutest.”

Ryland grins as he bends down to kiss his wife. I, on the other hand, bring my attention back to my surroundings. Main Street has been blocked off, and a stage has been set up toward the end, right next to MJ’s Diner, where live music will be playing later. The fireworks show will happen right at eight p.m., and I fully plan on kissing Maxinne underneath them. Kids are darting around between adults, with sticky fingers and painted faces. Annabelle smiles up at me, sticking her tongue out and barking, with her cute face painted as a golden retriever. I’ve had to tell her three times that, yes, she looks exactly like Sven.

Ryland swoops her into his arms so she can search through the sea of people for her uncle Luke. Raine hovers nearby with a lemonade, laughing loudly, her eyes bright as she takes in the celebration around us. The sight of all of us together brings a smile to my face.

This is the good stuff in life.

I’m mid-sip of my own lemonade—because of course I had to get one for myself—when Maxinne catches my attention from across the street. She’s standing in front of Covewood Botanicals. The shop windows are thrown open, with greenery spilling out toward the sidewalk. She’s wearing a yellow summer dress, her long brown waves hanging loose down her back. She’s laughing, her hands moving wildly as she speaks to Marie, the shop’s owner, who’s nodding along to whatever she’s saying.

Maxinne glances up then, her eyes finding mine from across the street, and her smile grows wider. I excuse myself from my family and cross the street toward her, only to be stopped midway by a hand on my arm.

“Zane, there you are. Where have you been?” Edna plants herself directly between me and Maxinne.

I run a hand through my hair. “I, uh… I’ve been working a lot. You know how the summers can get.”

“I do,” she says, unimpressed, “which is why I’ve been trying to get a hold of your brother for days. My laundry room flooded last week, and now my floor is squishy every time I walk on it.”

I nod, only half listening. My attention drifts past her in time to see Maxinne finishing up her conversation with Marie and heading straight toward us. I look back down at Edna. She squints up at me, her painted-on eyebrows deepening the creases in her forehead.

“I’m sorry to hear about that. You know, Ryland is right over there—” I go to point behind my shoulder, but she cuts me off.

“And,” she barrels on, ignoring me completely, “I swear there’s another raccoon in my attic. You did such a fine job with the last one, I was wondering if you could take care of this one too.”

“Another raccoon problem?” Maxinne says from behind Edna.

Edna spins around, her expression brightening at the sight of her.