Page 42 of The County Fair Queen

"Who else would it be?" Why the hell were the walls so thin? This was supposed to be an antebellum home, but it was likethe only thing separating us from the outside world was a gaudy selection of wallpaper. I'd have to remember to advise Aunt Lurlene to invest in insulation.

"Make it stop," Jordan groaned as he pulled the blanket over his head.

Next came the sound of pebbles against glass from the next room over. I assumed Rivers was trying to get my attention by throwing rocks at my window, but it had been years since he'd been in my room. It wasn't terribly shocking that he'd gotten the layout wrong. From my father's bedroom next door, a set of footsteps crashed across the hardwood floors, then he opened the window. I wasn't exactly sure what happened next. All I knew was my father had only gotten a few syllables out before letting out a painful cry.

"Son of a—" Preston screamed, slamming the window shut. The sound of his footsteps thudded down the hall, and without knocking, my bedroom door flung open to reveal the most unwelcome of sights. Preston barged into the room like he had all the right to do so. He was wearing a sleep shirt with a giant panda on the front, and a pair of cutoff sweats. Judging by the speed at which his right eyelid was twitching, I knew he was seconds away from exploding. He had one hand covering his eye, and the other pointed directly at me.

"Motherfucker just threw dirt in my eye. Get your ass down there and get rid of him before I grab my gun."

"What's happening?" Jordan mumbled, wrapping his arms and legs even tighter around me. "Is there a tornado?"

Preston's jaw clenched. "You two sleep in the same bed?"

Jordan's eyes shot open, and his cheeks turned twelve shades of red. "We're not having sex," he said frantically. "Phillip just likes to cuddle."

"Fuck you for that, Jordy," I said, turning my attention back to Preston. "And if you think threatening to murder Rivers is goingto get me to do anything, you're sorely mistaken. You can set him on fire for all I care."

"I didn't sign up for this. Not a single second of it. We can't all just prance around making goo-goo eyes at our boyfriends at five in the damn morning. Some of us have actual responsibilities."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"I don't care if he's the damn pope. I ain't having this."

I pulled the covers over my head, shutting Preston out of sight and out of mind. He stormed across my bedroom and jerked the blanket down past my ankles.

"Put on some damn clothes and shut him up. I've got to be down at the orchard in an hour and a half."

"Fine," I huffed, sighing heavily and flinging my hand toward the door. "Out. Just give me a damn second to get dressed, and I'll handle it. Honest to God, this is ridiculous."

"Jordan?" my father asked, ignoring my clear and concise instructions to leave my bedroom. Jordan's head peeked up over my shoulder, and when I looked back at him, he was smiling dreamily. The smile didn't last long. "You two always cuddle in your underwear?"

Jordan's eyes flickered down to his boxer-briefs. He tugged his lip between his teeth, and then, like a dog in heat, he arched his back, accentuating his ass. Preston's tongue traveled the length of his lips, his chest rising and falling slowly.

I sighed. "For God's sake, it's too early to deal with this. Out, Preston. Get out."

When he was gone, I pulled on a pair of shorts. I didn't waste time with a shirt, fearing my father might actually follow through with his threat. It wasn't that I objected to Rivers losing his life at Preston's hand. I just didn't want to be forced to clean up the mess or help hide the body.

Hobbling down the stairs, I couldn't see Rivers through the floor-length window beside the door. For one perfect, beautifulmoment, I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he'd finally gotten the hint and sped off like a thief in the night.

No such luck.

He wasn't outside. He was in the sitting room with Aunt Lurlene.

The sound of his laughter crashed against the walls, echoing out into the hallway and up the stairs. Behind the sofa, moonlight poured in from the picture window, lighting up the room. On the couch, Aunt Lurlene sat stoically, wearing another of her ridiculous costumes. I wasn't sure what sort of maniac wears a woman's business suit before dawn, complete with pristinely pressed crimson slacks and a maroon blazer. I also wasn't sure why, under that blazer, she had on a t-shirt with the wordsRIVERS KNOWS BESTscrawled across the center.

Rivers looked more casual than I'd ever seen him. He was wearing a pair of impossibly tight running shorts and a pink shirt that said,Phillip's Firecrackers Fan Club: Tallulah Chapter. I didn't know where he even got the shirt, but it made my heart swell inside my chest. Sitting with his legs spread, he greeted me with a sight I hadn't expected.

Mary, mother of God.

His bulge was unnecessarily large, and it was almost like he was showing it off on purpose. Daring me to stare at it. Willing me to get lost in the magnificent mound of cloth-covered flesh.

Mission accomplished.

I cleared my throat, leaning against the archway leading into the room. Rivers' eyes caught mine, and a subtle smile spread across his face. At his side, Papa was resting his head against his paws, nuzzling in as close as he could. Apparently, I wasn't the only one Rivers had under his thrall.

"Morning, babe," he said, his voice unnaturally chipper for five in the morning. His eyes dipped down to my chest, lingering far longer than they should have. A feeling of inadequacy spreadthrough me as I realized I was bare in front of him from the waist up. As for the 'babe' comment? If he thought I was letting that slide—that I wouldn't scold him for doling out endearments when the cameras weren't around—well, he'd be right. As unnecessarily uncharacteristic as it was, each time he'd drop the B-word, my insides turned to jelly and my knees went weak.

"Rivers," I said, taking a seat in a rocking chair across from the sofa. I grabbed a throw pillow from the love seat and used it to cover my stomach. "To what do we owe this honor?" Through no action of my own, my eyes dipped down to his crotch.

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