AllFreeNovel
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It might be a little goofy, but I think it’s an idea that has potential so I smile and offer Malcolm my fist. He bumps it and says, “See, I knew you had a sense of adventure. Let’s do this.”
“Okay, but the first stop is going to be a little boring.”
“What’s that?”
“See that convenience store over there? I need a snack. I’m starving.”
He takes the next exit and pulls into the parking lot of the truck stop. As we walk toward the convenience store, he grabs my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Look over there. This isn’t a boring stop after all.”
Next to the convenience store is a piece of plywood propped against a wooden pallet. It’s painted white and in black letter reads, “Flea Market, Fruit Stand, and Petting Zoo”.
“Petting zoo!”
Still holding his hand, I drag him at full speed to the side of the store where a pebble walkway takes us into a large, open field. About ten vendors have tables on either side of the path covered with everything from car parts and furniture to jewelry and trinkets. I slow my pace and try to take it all in.
I stop at a table covered in old custom jewelry and watch as Malcolm walks over to a hat rack. He pulls a cap from the rack and slips it over my head. I take it off so I can read the patch on the front. It reads, “Winner” in gold thread with the Olympic symbol behind it.
He’s already tossed the vendor some cash and I smile. “Don’t count your chickens,” I tell him.
“You’re a sure thing, sweetheart.”
I place the cap on my head and continue down the path to a pen made from pallets and wire. A bucket sits beside an empty lawn chair with a sign that reads, “Petting Zoo $2.00.” Malcolm drops a twenty-dollar bill into the bucket and opens the gate for me. Inside, my ears are assaulted by a choir of geese, chickens, and sheep all competing for my attention.
“They think you’re going to feed them.”
“I don’t have anything to feed them.” I pout and kick at the hay-covered dirt.
“There it is.” Malcolm shakes his head and chuckles at the gumball machine filled with oats and corn. “You realize that this farmer is charging you to do his chores for him, right?” he adds as he slides a coin in the slot. “Hold your hand under the hole. It’s gonna come out fast.”
Armed with my handful of feed, I move from pen to pen, greeting each of the animals. It may seem silly, but I’m having the best time rubbing their heads and letting them eat from my hand. We reach the last pen and find that it’s filled with fluffy, little bunnies. I drop to my knees and do everything I can think of to coax them over, but they ignore me.
Seeing my frustration, Malcolm picks me up like I weigh nothing and settles me inside the pen with the rabbits.
“Are we allowed to do this?” I ask, expecting a man in denim overalls to round the corner and shake a pitchfork at me.
“The sign said Petting Zoo. How else are you going to pet them?”
I kneel in the hay and the curious little bunnies come over to investigate. As I give them each a pet, I notice that Malcolm has his phone camera pointed at me, so I pick one up and hold him against my face as I smile for the picture.
I could stay in here forever if it weren’t for the rumbling in my tummy, so I brush the hay from my pants and hold my arms up for Malcolm to lift me back over the fence. He grabs me under my arms and hoists me over but holds me in the air and gazes deeply into my eyes.
Oh god.
His eyes are gray with specks of gold, and I get lost in them for a moment. Then, my mind wanders down to the rock-hard erection that’s brushing against my thigh. Do I do that to him? The very idea of him wanting me makes me all warm inside. He puts me back on my feet and lets out a long breath.
I take his hand again, and we walk together back to the convenience store. I wonder what would happen if I said something about his erection. Would he feel embarrassed or would he come out and confess his desires? Unsure and not wanting to embarrass him, I decide on another topic to restart our conversation. “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to top this stop. That was fun.”
“It doesn’t matter what we do or see as long as I have you beside me.”
His words make my insides tingle, and I look down at my feet. I’ve only just met him and he’s a lot older than me, but I think I’m falling hard for him. Hard and fast. This is so not me, but there’s no denying it anymore. I’m drawn to him, and I can’t even explain it.
