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)
It isn’t her fault, I have to remind myself. She tried to stand up for me.
But when I look at her right now, her asshole of a father comes to mind.
If we go out, I’m going to be spewing so many curses.
And that isn’t going to be a good time for her.
It isn’t going to be a good time for me.
I need a beer and some time to myself. Not much else I can do besides that.
A few days pass. I haven't heard from Nicole. I’m feeling pretty shitty about the whole thing, and it has nothing to do with what Benjamin McCormick said to me.
But I’m at a loss on how to approach her again. The disrespect is still pretty strong in my memory.
I look at my calendar.
Today’s the cider press and hayride event. Where I’m supposed to show up beside her to be the king to her queen.
I groan and stretch. I guess I can’t run away from her forever. I shower and get ready for the event.
Luckily, we’re not expected to wear our costumes again until Halloween night, so I can leave Tomas the Taco in the closet for now.
I opt for something similar to the last time I encountered her. I’m boring I guess, but if it looks good, it looks good.
I roll up to the cider press, park the truck, and head to where I’m expected to be. Nicole is already there, and I have to say I’m as smitten as ever when I see her.
Dark denim jeans cover those long, luscious legs of hers. She’s wearing a light brown sweater, and her long blonde hair is curling around her face, framing her cuteness so perfectly.
I’m not sure how to approach her after what happened with her dad. I nod to her, acknowledging her presence but focusing on what’s in front of me.
I review the list of things expected of me as festival king. Mostly wearing a crown, smiling, and promoting the goodness of the town of Burly. Simple stuff.
“So, what’s with the silent treatment?” she says, sliding up next to me in the gazebo, leaning on the banister.
I blink, look at her, and just kind of shrug.
“Are you still sour that my father was an asshole to you?”
“Maybe just a bit.”
“I’m sorry. But that’s all I can say, Nelson. I’m not my dad. I can’t control him. If he decides to be an asshole, I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it.”
“I’ve never been more pissed at a man.”
“So? I get pissed at him all the time. He isn’t winning any father of the year awards from me, Nelson. His snootiness isn’t reserved just for Rowdys. He’s like that with everyone, he’s just more forward about it with you.”
I sigh and nod. Yeah, it isn’t right for me to treat her like this because of the way her father acted.
“It hurt me when you just marched off like that, you know. I thought you would hold the sins of my father against me. Just decide I wasn’t worth it.”
I shake my head. “It isn’t like that at all, Nicole. I’m just a tangled mess inside and sometimes I’m not the best at expressing myself.”
“That’s fair, I guess.”
“I still like you, babe. I still like you a lot.” Maybe more than like her, but I don’t want to come off as a crazy person. Not yet anyway. “How do you want me to make it up to you?”
She giggles, curling her hands around my waist. “You could take me on that ride you promised me. Truck or hayride, I don’t really care as long as it’s with you.”
I smile back at her, turning in her grasp and smiling her way. “I think we can make something like that happen. Even if you’re a snooty McCormick.”
“Seems like something a Rowdy boy would say.”
We laugh. I enjoy being with her so much, but that encounter with her father isn’t so easy to forget.
We’re more than individuals. We’re our family.
I can’t imagine Nicole’s dad is out of the picture forever.
For now though?
Nicole is mine, and I’m going to enjoy her to the fullest.
4
NICOLE
The Burly cider press is another weekend event in the series that the county puts on to celebrate the harvest season, which obviously is a pretty big deal for a town started by farmers. This also allows all the apple growers in the county to come together and offer their own takes on cider, let people try their offerings, sell some apples and their beverages. As a lover of apples and cider, like any good Washington state girl should be, I enjoy coming and sampling a bit of everything.
Nelson and I are obligated to be here this year. We’re wearing our little fall crowns, which are done up to look like they’re made of tree branches with apples instead of gems. We throw on our sashes, which sort of clashes with my outfit, but hey, not everything about being royalty is perfect.