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Blake leaned close to Everly as they applauded the winning couple. "They deserve it," he whispered.
Everly could only nod in agreement. She'd inhaled at the same moment Blake leaned in, and the smell of hay and dirt filled her head. It was Blake. He worked hard every day, and he didn't have to smell good or wear fancy clothes. She adored him just like this—hair messy from wearing a hat all day, a smudge of dirt on his cheek, and that look in his eye that said he thought of her as more than a friend.
She'd been missing out on this. She could have been opening up her heart to Blake all this time instead of wasting it on a man who didn't respect her enough to stay faithful.
A warmth radiated from her middle. She wanted Blake, and there wasn't any reason why they couldn't be together.
If he tried to kiss her tonight, she wouldn't stop him. In fact, she'd match that fiery intensity in his eyes. He wasn't just her friend anymore.
Blake and Everly stood, and only a few people approached them to chat. Most people who came to watch the show flocked to the winning couple to congratulate them.
Everly stood on her toes and whispered to Blake, "I have to find Remi. She has my phone."
Everly spotted her and started that way. As she got closer, the look on Remi's face had Everly's gut twisting.
"What's wrong?" Everly asked.
"Nothing." Remi held out the phone. "You just got an interesting message from jerk-face."
Everly looked at the phone and saw the name. David. He’d been sending messages and calling, and she’d been ignoring them.
The message was short.
David: I want the ring back. Jaden will be contacting you to arrange shipping.
Everly stared at the message. He wanted the ring back.Hewanted the ring he gave her back!
Blake walked up and laid a hand on the small of Everly's back. "Hey, what's up?"
Remi crossed her arms and scowled. "David wants the ring back."
Blake's eyes narrowed, and his voice was low and tempered. "He what?"
Everly tilted the phone so Blake could read the message.
"That's ridiculous,” Blake spat. “Just tell him you pawned it, and there's no reason for him to contact you ever again."
"You what?" Remi shouted. "Did you really?"
Everly nodded. "Blake went with me."
Remi held up her hand for a high-five from Blake. "Nice!"
"This is crazy. Even if I had it, I wouldn't give it back to him," Everly said. The excitement from the couples’ game morphed into fury. How dare David turn her happiness into something sinister.
Actually, she had control of how she felt, and in this moment, she resolved to focus her attention on Blake.
"Right. And I love that you pawned it. I would love to see his face when he finds out." Remi squealed and clapped her hands together. "This is great."
Everly typed out a simple text and hit send.
Everly: I pawned the ring.
“Done.” She shoved the phone in her back pocket and looked up at Blake. “You ready to go?”
Blake scanned the room and bit his lips between his teeth. That simple movement was enough to drive Everly mad. Would he really try to kiss her tonight? The thought had her gasping for air in the crowded dining hall.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” Blake said. “I guess Ridge has already gone home.”
