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“So, talk me through this carnival.Arewe talking about rides?Funnelcake?Games?”
“Allof the above.Exceptinstead of funnel cake, we do mini doughnuts here.Andbeaver tails.”
Giggling,Iask, “Whatexactly are beaver tails?”
“It’slike a doughnut with cinnamon and sugar on it.They’reaCanadiandelicacy.”
Mylips turn up into a big smile. “YouCanadiansreallylove your beavers.”
IthoughtJacksonwould laugh at my joke, but he frowns at me. “Youhave no idea.”
“So, tell me more about the carnival.”
“TheWesternSpringscarnival is the biggest town event of the year.Mydad told you it’s where he met my mom.Sheloved the carnival so much.Shewould get all of us in our best jeans and button downs, make us polish our boots, and then let us run absolutely wild, going on rides and eating cotton candy and mini doughnuts or beaver tails until we were sick.”
Thatsounds like heaven. “Soundslike we have a plan.Ridesand cotton candy and mini doughnuts and beaver tails until we puke,”Ipromise him with a laugh.
Jackson’slips twitch.
Myphone buzzes in my small cross-body purse.
Lily:Toldu you’d get a chance to wear those new boots!
Lily:What’staking you guys so long???
Lily:Getyour sexy ass over here in those cowboy boots and makeJacksonWatersadmit he loves you already!!!
Selena:We’reon our way!He’sin a bit of a mood…
Lily:Howis that different from every other day?
Selena:LOL
Selena:Seeyou soon!
Inever toldLilythatJacksonhasn’t said he loves me yet, becauseIdodge any and all questions about our relationship, feelings, the future, and just about everything else.Butmaybe he did?
“Whowas that?”Jacksonasks, with one eye on me and one eye on the road.
“Lily.Shewas just wondering where we were.Itsounds like she’s already having herself some fun.Ican’t wait to do the same,”Imutter under my breath.Atleast someone in this fake relationship should have a little fun. “Ifyou want to do your own thing tonight, that’s cool with me.Ican hang out withLily.AndI’msureIcould get a ride home fromGunnarandLily.Orone of your brothers.”
“You’renot going anywhere with any of my brothers.OrGunnar.Andnot for the first time,I’mquestioning whetherIcan trust you alone withLily.”Jacksonpractically explodes. “WhywouldIwant to do my own thing?”
“Well, there aren’t any cameras here.Noone’s photographing us.Andyou just don’t seem that happy around me.So, if you wanted some space,Itotally understand.We’vebeen cooped up at the farm for days.It’sclose quarters.Iget it.Ican just have a girls’ night withLily.Andyou can do whatever…”Whoever. “Youwant to do…”
“YouthinkI’dbe happier away from you?”
Ilook away.Hiswords cut right through me. “It’stotally fine.Iunderstand,Ipromise.Youcan’t even get away from me at night.”
“Whatthe hell do you think you understand?”Jacksongrowls as he pulls the truck to a stop in a makeshift parking lot in a grass field.
“Itdoesn’t matter.Iwas just trying to help.”
“Justbecause it doesn’t look like anyone’s taking pictures, it doesn’t mean they’re not watching us, okay?Wehave to keep up appearances the same as we do inL.A.Canyou do that tonight?Canyou act like you’re in love with me?”He’sstaring right into my eyes when he asks me that.
Helooks so handsome tonight.Yup, acting likeI’min love with him will not be a problem.
“OfcourseIcan.That’swhatIagreed to, andIdon’t go back on my word.Butyou might be easier to love if you smiled once in a while.Let’sgo carnival!”Withthat,Iopen the door and slide out.
