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My stomach drops right down to my feet. I know that even if I try to open my mouth and make it better, nothing will. I completely cheapened what just happened here.
“Christ… you’re still not paying attention, are you?”
I don’t know what he thinks I’m not paying attention to. I’m paying very clear attention to the warning bells going off in my head, thank you very much.
Ford’s hands drop from my face when he takes a step back from me, and it feels like I was just tossed into a bathtub filled with ice.
“Lock up after I leave.”
And then he’s gone. Out of the kitchen and disappearing into the laundry room. I don’t realize it actually happened until my body jolts when he slams the side door of my house closed behind him.
I rearrange my clothes back in order in a daze. I pick up the boxes and shoes from the floor and set them down on my kitchen table in a daze. I lock the doors and turn off the lights in a daze. I change into new pajamas and brush my teeth in a daze.
It’s not until I crawl into bed and turn off the lamp on my nightstand that I start to feel anything other than numb. Instead of my room being pitched into complete darkness, there’s a soft, orange glow coming from my bedroom window that wasn’t there last night. Burrowing my head farther into my pillow, I tug the covers up tighter around me and swallow back the tears… staring at the plastic jack-o-lantern Ford hung on the outside of my bedroom window when he must have noticed I hadn’t had time to do it yet, just because he knows it makes me happy.
Chapter 14
Sidney
“Those baked goods certainly didn’t go to his hips, didthey?”
“Was it chocolatechip cookies?”
“I bet it was banana bread.”
“Couldn’t be. I made him banana bread and got nothing.”
“I just don’t understand it.”
“Was it pie or cookies? At least give us that.”
“I hope it wasn’t your apple hazelnut cake. No offense, but it’s not my favorite.”
“You didn’t use Nadine Flotte’s pumpkin roll recipe, did you? Oh, she won’t like that.”
“It was probably her pumpkin cream cheese waffles. I’ve had those. They’re good when—Ow, Sid! Comeon, I’m working tonight!” Kenny complains, rubbing his arm where I just leaned over and smacked it when he felt the need to join in on the Harvest Grove gossip happening right in front of me.Aboutme.
By now, word has spread that Ford and I kissed. Thank God no one knows what happened last night. I should have known better than to talk about anything personal anywhere but in the comfort of my own home in this town.
Except that didn’t work either, considering Ford heard every word of mine and Callie’s conversation… which led to him giving me the best orgasm I have ever had in my life, and me stomping all over him when it was over.
I hate my life.
“I can’t believe you’re still alive after what you did to Penny and Ginger.” Kenny laughs, shoving a handful of kettle corn in his mouth.
“I heard them running through town and screaming your name when I was proofing my dough at the bakery at 6 a.m.” Abby laughs, taking a slurping sip of her apple cider slush.
I did wake up in bed surrounded by piles of pee-soaked toilet paper, courtesy of the girls. Well, technically it’s because of Ivie Cooper’s dog, Lucy, who got loose from her house. Lucy lifted her leg on the girls an alarming number of times while they were passed out in the town square. Other than that, I surprisingly came out unscathed. Which just means whatever they’re planning to do to me next is going to be a doozy, and reminds me I need to change my locks.
Glancing over at my sister and cousin, I see they have already chosen their seats for this evening and are thankfully staying where I can see them.
Tonight is the showing ofThe Babysitter’s Last Halloweenat Diederich’s Farm, just outside of town. The farm is filled with locals and tourists, everyone enjoying the cool, fall evening with a bright, full moon overhead, while volunteers dressed like the characters from the movie weave in and out of people, pausing for photos before the movie begins. A giant screen has been set up in front of the pumpkin field, with bales of hay covered in blankets arranged all around the grass in front of it for people to sit on. There’s also a smaller screen under a canopy not too far away that will be playingHocus Pocusfor kids and adults who aren’t up for a scary movie.
There are a few food trucks parked over by the corn maze, and a row of tents—where I’m currently located—lining the grass next to them, with Edison lights strung under the tents to see by for locals to sell items. Boo Bites is making kettle corn and caramel apples under one. Nicky is selling movie merchandise under another. Alexa Dumas, the make-up artist at the salon, is face painting. The cheerleaders from Harvest Grove High are selling bottled water and pop to raise money for new uniforms. And I’m selling my Severed Head Succulents under the last tent in the row.
I should be enjoying tonight, considering I’ve already sold almost all the plants I brought with me, but it’s pretty much impossible to enjoy anything at this moment in time. Especially when there are a dozen single women, and Kenny, currently surrounding my tent, not understanding why Ford is suddenly interested in me after six years.
Join the club, folks.
