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“Mom...” My eyes darted to Beth and Lexi. They didn’t need to hear about this. “Not now...”
“You can’t keep pushing this off forever, my dear.” Mom grabbed the empty dishes from the table and piled them in her arms. “You’ve got to find something to do this summer. Your sister’s at a getaway this week for her new college track team. I’m sure she’s having the time of her life. I’d like to see you having similar experiences. The time to do it is now, while you’re young. I’m putting my foot down.”
“Maybe the fair isn’t Charlotte’s style,” Lexi offered, her eyes wide as if she were a deer stuck in headlights. I had the feeling she was trying to backpedal to save my rear end. “Maybe she could take up cross country skiing. Or the guitar. Or she should take that basket weaving class that begins over at the library tomorrow. That could be fun.”
“Now, that sounds like a good idea.” Mom nodded sharply and I about collapsed and slipped beneath the table. Lexi didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut. “Thank you for the idea. I think I will sign her up for basket weaving. It certainly couldn’t hurt. Something’s got to work.”
I gaped at her. “Mom...”
“If you won’t put yourself out there, I will,” she said, backing away from the counter and smiling at Beth and Lexi. “Thank you for the suggestions, girls. Have fun at the fair. I’d better get back to my kitchen before Charlotte’s dad burns something.”
When she was out of sight, I turned back to the table with a frown. “I didn’t need your help. Thanks for that. Now, I’m going to have to spend my summer basket weaving.”
“I’m sorry.” Lexi raked her fingertips down her face. “I word vomit when I get nervous. I was just trying to help.”
“By throwing the Rodeo Queen competition in her face?” I asked, folding my arms and leaning back to pout. “That’s Sarah’s domain. Bet you a million dollars she wins. Those other girls don’t stand a chance.”
“I don’t know about that,” Beth grumbled, staring down at the waffle she’d stabbed with her fork. “Honestly, I think you should join the competition. You’d probably kick her butt and it would be fun to see Sarah lose for once. Serves her right after that cow comment this morning.”
My jaw about hit the floor. They really knew nothing about me. There was no way I could enter a competition like that. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
There was nothing remotely special about me. No talents. No outstanding beauty. No irresistible charm. Nothing that would make me stick out and win something like that. The very thought of putting myself through that made me sick to my stomach.
Lexi nodded to herself, completely ignoring my silent reaction. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. Charlotte should be the Rock Valley Rodeo Queen. She deserves it more than Sarah. And she could totally win.”
“I don’t know, guys...” I stared at the sticky syrup containers in the middle of the table.
For one split second, the idea of beating Sarah at her own game wormed its way into my head and I couldn’t help but smile. It would almost be the perfect revenge for the way she’d treated me this year. All the passive aggressive comments about me not being cool enough. The times she’d given me back-handed compliments that left me even more insecure. And not to mention, the times she’d just made me plain miserable.
Lexi must’ve taken my silence for agreement because she inhaled sharply and bounced in her seat, her face glowing with excitement. “Oh, please let me do your makeup and hair for the contest, Char. It’s my dream to be a makeup artist. This would help build my street cred.”
“What? No way.” I waved her away. The brief flare of pleasure I’d gotten at the idea of beating Sarah had gone out like a match thrown into a bucket of water. No way. No how was I going down that road. “I’m not going to make the mistake of challenging Sarah. She can have her rodeo crown as long as she leaves me and my friends alone.”
All I wanted was a summer with just me and Hunter. A summer where we could hang out, watch our movies, and things could go back to normal. Fighting Sarah for a crown that meant nothing to me was asking for trouble. I refused to g
o there.
Lexi deflated, her lower lip pouting. “That stinks. I think you’d make a great rodeo queen. You’ve already got the big hair.”
I made a face at her, trying not to take that as an insult. “Yeah, right.”
“And it’s better than basket weaving,” Beth offered with a shrug.
“No way, guys.” I held up my hands. “I am not doing it. I’d be publicly humiliated.”
“Or...you’d win yourself a sexy cowboy.” Lexi wagged her eyebrows and elbowed me. “That might be a risk worth taking. I think you’d be great. You really need to enter this contest.”
I wasn’t sure why Hunter’s face popped up in my mind the moment she said that, or why my gut twisted with a strange kind of need, but I shook it off as quickly as it came. There was no way I would enter that competition. Not even to avoid all the basket weaving courses in the world. That wasn’t me. The only thing I wanted to think about was seeing my best friend again.
“You guys are barking up the wrong tree,” I said, slipping out of the booth. “The last thing I want to do right now is take Sarah on. I’d never win. I’ve got no talents, no skills, absolutely nothing to offer. They probably wouldn’t even let me sign up for it in the first place. You know it’s true.”
Lexi and Beth exchanged disbelieving looks across the table. Still, I faced them both with my fists on my hips.
“Now, if you’re done using me for free food, I’ve got to meet Hunter at the opening ceremony. You coming, or what?”
“Actually, we’ll meet you there,” Lexi said slowly, shooting a glance at Beth. “We’ve got an...errand to run for my mom first. Right, Beth?”
Beth jumped, her forehead wrinkled. “Yeah...right. An errand. For her mom.”
