Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 21010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Supposedly the Rowdys have said awful things about us too. That we’re greedy assholes, we think we’re too good for Burly, and we want to be worshiped like kings and queens ruling the county. That perhaps we’re the ones with the Hapsburg tendencies, with something about keeping our wealth in the family and the bloodline pure.
It’s all absurd though, right?
“So,” I say, swallowing nervously. “Nelson Rowdy.”
He nods. “Nicole McCormick.”
It feels weird. Super weird. That the man I’ve spent the last hour and half laughing and enjoying my time with, the man I was feeling things for despite never seeing his face, is a man that I’m supposed to unconditionally hate. For some reason.
Trying to figure out a way to ignore the stupid feud, I decide to ask for help and maybe get some truth instead of just nasty rumors. “Uh... pardon me for not doing my homework, but why am I supposed to hate you again?”
“You’re asking me?”
“I figure you’d know. Even if it’s colored by whatever nonsense your parents fed you.”
“Nonsense might be more right than you know.” He scratches his head. “I don’t know. Something about some gunfight back in the day. Like, way back in the day. Civil War-era or something like that.”
“Over what? Why’d they start shooting at one another?”
“I think it was because one of the Rowdy cows ate part of the McCormick lettuce crop? I dunno. I think it was really over land. Our properties have bordered one another all these years.”
“We’re fighting over land? Or fought over it? My family has more land than it knows what to do with.”
“And the Rowdys have more than enough for their herds.”
“That all seems stupid.”
Nelson shrugs. “I didn’t start the feud. It all seems pretty dumb to me too. Ancient history, as personally important to me as who built the pyramids in Egypt.”
With this revelation, I can’t help but smile at him. His wit’s razor-sharp, and he’s good-humored. Whatever happened all those years ago, is it still worth fighting over now?
I swallow. We stand there, staring at one another. It’s all incredibly awkward, but whatever we do next, I definitely don’t want to start a fight with him. Even if every other Rowdy is a banjo-playing cow lover, Nelson Rowdy is most definitely not. He’s handsome, he’s sweet, and I'm having the time of my life just walking beside him and talking. And none of this has made me want to stop pursuing him.
“So, uh, what do we do now?” I say, fidgeting with the top of my avocado costume.
He sighs and shrugs once again. “Screw the feud. I want you, Nicole.”
Nelson strikes. He pulls me close, our costumes smooshing together, and we kiss. It takes me by surprise, but it isn’t long before I’m leaning into it. The delight I feel is so sudden and overwhelming. It’s electric, and even more so as our tongues meet and begin tangling.
He’s quite quickly checking off all the things I want in a guy. Smart? Yes. Handsome? Hell yes. Witty? Yes. A good kisser? Definitely yes. I’m starting to think he’ll pass my other tests too, and he’s going to do it with flying colors.
The only way I think he might fail is if I decide to care about the ‘don’t be a Rowdy’ requirement after all.
We break from our embrace, both breathless. I smile at him. “Who knew making out with my mortal enemy could be so exciting?”
“Your mortal enemy? You’re making me sound like I’m part of some invading army instead of just a member of a family you are in a pointless feud with.”
“It isn’t so crazy if you hear how my dad talks about Rowdys, Nelson.”
“Probably something about how we smell bad and we don’t pay our taxes or something else stupid like that.”
“You have no idea. And I kind of don’t want to fill you in.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s as dumb as the rest of the feud.”
We decide to keep walking the maze together. We’re in no rush to put the tops of our costumes back on, and I’m happy that we don’t. I think he likes that I’m a McCormick a bit too much, really. He does like me for me, I could tell he liked me before I ever took my costume off, but maybe he thinks our star-crossed status is hilarious.
And really? I have to say I feel the same. There’s a bit of rebellion in sleeping with the enemy. Or at least flirting and making out with the enemy.
Sleeping with the enemy hasn’t happened yet, but I’m not ruling it out.
“Do you have any clue how to get out of here?” I ask as we wander.
“I had a rough idea when we started, but it all went out the window when I started taking wrong turns on purpose.”