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“What’sthat?”
“The home of DallasBarnes.”
Don’t judgeme.
I know what I’m doing is wrong, but bad ideas sometimes lead to good things,right?
Chapter Thirteen
Willow
One of thebiggest things I’ve learned about Blue Beech so far is real-life county fairs are nothing like themovies.
Dallas texted me this morning to remind me of the time he was picking me up and told me to have an appetite. The impulse to decline spilled through me, but the thought of experiencing something new preventedit.
I mean, who doesn’t want to find out what the fair hype is allabout?
Dallas parks his truck in a grassy field converted into a parking lot. The amount of cars surprises me.This many people livehere?
He helps Maven out of the truck before circling to my side. “Thank you for coming,” he says when he opens my door. He grabs my hand and assists me out of the lifted truck. “It’s all Maven’s been talking abouttoday.”
I nervously laugh. “Guess it was time to pop my fair cherry.” I grimace at my word choice.No, Willow. No flirting with the widowedasshole.
He smirks. “Honored to be the one to doit.”
I nod, relieved he didn’t shut down on me but scared it’ll happen sometime tonight. Like me, Dallas is a pro at freezing people out at the snap of hisfingers.
Maven is spinning in circles with her arms out in the air. Her hair is pulled back in two French braids that are finished off with furry pink bands holding each one in place.Did Dallas braid them forher?
I swing the strap of my cross-body bag over my shoulder while Dallas scoops Maven up and spins her around one last time. He takes her hand and leads us toward the flashing lights and white tents. When we hit the dusty pathway, I peek down at my feet, wishing I’d chosen different shoes. Everyone is in boots or sneakers while I’m sporting studded black flats that are going to be ruined by the end of thenight.
“I want to ride that one!” Maven exclaims, pointing at rides as we make our way through the crowd. “Then, that one. And thatone.”
“Dinner before rides,” Dallas replies, casting a glance my way. “What’s your fairpoison?”
“My what?” Iask.
He peeks down at Maven with a smile. “This is Willow’s first time at the fair,” he explains, as if I were the only person who hadn’t done such athing.
Maven giggles, her face lighting up. “Really?”
I nod, and she reaches out to connect her hand with mine. My chest tightens when I squeeze my hand around hers, a sadness sinking through me. We resemble the other families here—mom and dad treating their eager daughter to a night full of games, candy, andfun.
“My absolute favorites are elephant ears and cotton candy!” shesays.
“Hey, I’ve had cotton candy,” Iargue.
“But have you hadfaircotton candy?” Dallas counters, causing Maven to burst out into more giggles. “Blue Beechcottoncandy?”
I glance over at him. “Wasn’t aware there was adifference.”
His dark brows rise. “Oh, there most definitelyis.”
We stop at a table underneath a blue tent, and Dallas insists on getting our food. Maven takes the seat next to me, her legs bouncing up and down inexcitement.
“Did you know Daddy said I get to ride big-kid rides this year?” she asks with a burst of energy I wish I had every morning. “Last year, I wasn’t tall enough, but I’ve grownlots andlots!”
“No way!” I reply before holding my hand up in the air. “I had to wait until I wasthisbig before I got to dothat.”
