Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I wanted to make sure my booth looked nice.”
“Your booth always looks nice. The best booth in town.” She leans a little closer. “But don’t tell Ruth I said that because she’ll lie out of spite and tell me she’s out of hand-pies.”
“She can be mean at times,” I say, even though it won’t deter her.
“They did better this year. They still lost, but it wasn’t by such a large margin.”
I nod. I was keeping track of the competition through the Facebook page. Bobby John Prichard was updating it every couple of minutes while the mini-triathlon was taking place.
“I think they should’ve spiced it up. I saw online that some of these cops and firefighter competitions do more of a strong-man thing. Or even a boxing match. I think Cash would’ve won if they did that. He seems like he’s got a lot of aggression he needs to channel.”
“One scoop or two?”
“Two, always. He barely even smiled when he was throwing candy to the kids, but maybe he’s upset that the firemen get to spray people with water guns. Chandler came. I know a lot of people thought he might stay home this year. He looks like he’s doing okay, all things considered. Oh yum. Thank you.”
She takes a quick lick of the ice cream cone I handed her, but it doesn’t slow her down.
“This is delicious. You should consider selling it every day at the bakery. No, don’t do that. I’ll be the size of a house before I even make it into my third trimester. Eastyn didn’t compete with the guys. I wonder why. Harper was wearing her bright red shirt and running, swimming, and biking right along with Hayes and the others. Do you think she has a thing going on with any of them?”
“I think her personal life isn’t any of my business.”
My friend narrows her eyes at me, but I straighten my spine and stare right back at her.
“That may be,” she says slowly. “Because you aren’t her best friend.”
The challenge is there, and I know my time of avoiding this conversation is over. I have been keeping my distance from Madison. It’s hard to watch her being so happy and getting everything she ever wanted. I’m not mad that she’s happy, I’m just upset that I can’t seem to get that opportunity too.
“Who is Harper’s best friend?”
Madison frowns, or at least she attempts to frown, but it’s impossible with how much she’s enjoying the ice cream.
“Fine,” I say with a huff, throwing my hand towel over my shoulder until I need it again.
“I’m not going to beg,” she says after I don’t immediately start talking.
“Yes, you will,” I say, making her smile wider, but I won’t make her.
I angle my body so I’m not facing anyone. There are more than a handful of people who think they can read lips around here, and I don’t want some contorted version of what I’m going to say ending up in the Lindell Gazette.
“Cash and I aren’t even friends anymore. We had a fight.”
“Adalynn!”
I do my best not to cringe when she places an ice cream sticky hand on my forearm.
“You told him how you felt and he turned you down? I was certain—”
“He made it clear how he felt about me. I think he has someone else.”
“False,” she says quickly. “I’d know.”
“How?” I snap. She’s been back in Lindell for a couple of months. I only left town for college and then came right back. If anyone had their finger on the pulse of this town, it would be me.
She shrugs, taking another lick of her ice cream. She does it so leisurely, I almost rip it from her hand and throw it in the trash to take away her distraction. But I’m not the type of person who would make a pregnant lady cry.
“The man loves you, Ads.”
“I don’t even think he likes me as a person any longer.” I wave my hand in front of my face and make a sound that doesn’t convince her that I’m hot rather than on the verge of tears. “We had two fights right in a row and he all but demanded I tell him if we were going to try for a baby again this month. It was like he had better things to do.”
She stays silent, but this time she doesn’t lift her cone to her mouth until it melts down her hand, and she only does it then to keep from making too much of a mess.
“Is it possible you read him wrong?”
“No,” I say adamantly.
“How are you so sure?”
“I know him, Madison.”
“If you knew him as much as you think you do, you’d know he was head over heels in love with you.” She holds her hand up to stop my argument. “And before you say he’s not, I’m not the only one who sees it. Heck, everyone in town sees it but the two of you. It’s incredibly frustrating to be honest.”