Page 65 of The County Fair Queen

When I turned toward Rivers, he had a smile stretched clear across his face. Beside him, Minnie held out a small, sparkling tiara for him to take. He lifted the crown and placed it on my head, his thumbs brushing back and forth against my cheeks. "Congratulations, Firecracker." His hands descended slowly, falling down the sides of my face, past my shoulders and arms. When his hands found mine, it was like waking from an endless dream. He gave them one last squeeze before returning to his original place on stage. With Rivers behind me, Minnie handed me the tiara that was to go to this year's winner. Though thewomen were all beautiful, I didn't particularly care to dance with any of them when this was over. The only person I wanted to share this with wasmyking.

Minnie stood in front of the microphone, lifting her thumb from the other name on the paper, finally revealing the winner to herself. As she stared at the page, I stared at the tiara in my hand. It wasn't the one I'd worn that night. That one was still back home in Santa Barbara. This one was just a cheap, plastic replica they probably purchased down at Dudley's Automotive and Halloween Superstore(don't ask, because I can't even explain it myself).Still, it was a pretty little thing, the tiara. It sparkled against the spotlight, sending out fractals of purples and pinks that reflected against my tuxedo. I tried to imagine what it must feel like to share the crown with someone you care for. To dance with the man of your dreams while the world watched on. The crowd erupted into an overwhelming round of applause. I wasn't sure how long I'd zoned out for.

"Sweetie," Minnie said, leaning in. "That's your cue. Go ahead and put it on." She motioned me toward the group of hopefuls, and Rivers standing at their side, but I wasn't sure who'd won. Too embarrassed to admit I hadn't been paying attention, I swallowed the lump in my throat and approached a random woman, hoping for the best.

The first girl I approached glared at me as I held the tiara inches away from her head. "Is this some kind of sick joke? Are you making fun of me for losing? I campaigned eight months for this, and now you're just rubbing it in my face? Well, you can go straight to hell, Phillip Firecracker!" She choked out a sob, covering her face with her hands as she dashed off stage.

One down, two to go.

The next girl slapped my hand away as I held the tiara out for her. I leaned in and hissed into her ear. "If you ever touch meagain, I'll make sure my producer gives you an edit so horrible, you won't be able to show your face in public for years."

I turned toward the final hopeful. She was a lovely woman I'd met earlier in the week when I'd stopped by the Pick-n-Save to grab a package of denture adhesive for Aunt Lurlene. Becca, I think her name tag had said. Well, Becca was beaming at me like I'd just given her the world, and she knelt in front of me, happily accepting her crown. When she rose from the stage like a blooming violet, she said, "Thank you, Phillip Firecracker. You made my dreams come true."

I smiled, because it felt like I'd just made her entire year. "Congratulations."

"Oh, for the love of—give me that dang crown," Minnie grumbled, snatching it off of Becca's head. "Get off this stage, Rebecca. Off! Don't make me call your momma. That woman's already suffered enough, what with your brother's rampant inhalant addiction." Becca wiped a tear from her eye before slowly sauntering off the stage. "Now, go on. Get!"

"What in the hell is going on?" I said.

"Now," Minnie said. "Mayor Rivera, if you wouldn't mind joining me, I'd like to get this show on the road so we can finally see you two dance."

"Firecracker," Rivers said, pulling me out of the endless fog.

"Riv? What's happening?"

He reached out for me, and for a moment, I thought he might pull me toward him. Scoop me up in those big arms of his and hold me tight, never letting me go. Instead, he took the crown from my hand and brought it to his head, setting it on top. And he smiled. My God, he smiled.

"Why are you—Rivers, what's happening?"

"My king," he said. "I guess that makes me your queen." He leaned in, kissing my cheek. "Can I have this dance?"

I had to bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling. He led me offstage, then through the crowd, toward the center of the red brick road. From the stage, a familiar song played out through the speakers, and a man's voice belted out the opening lines to my one-and-only solo single. Preston was at the microphone, staring down at us like God, witnessing the world he'd created. The man who gave me life, but not much else. The father who'd never been much of a father at all. Still, I wouldn't have changed it. Not a single second of our history. His ice-cold demeanor, his quiet way. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't be standing in the middle of an old brick street, holding my hand out, waiting for the man I—

Oh, my God.

Oh, my fucking God!

"Firecracker," he whispered. His fingers weaved with mine, and he pulled him to me until we were chest to chest. Heart to heart. And as we danced—as we swayed and twirled like we'd been preparing for this all our lives—he leaned in, and he sang to me. A song I'd wanted erased from my history for decades. The beginning and end of my solo career. It was a treacherous number I resented with everything I had in me, but coming out of Rivers' and my father's mouths, it was like I was hearing it for the first time. A brand-new song for a brand-new me. That man I could have been, had Rivers been braver all those years again. The man I could still be if I cast aside my dreams of fame.

The man I would never be.

But for one autumn night in Tallulah, Texas, I could.

So, if I held on to him longer than I deserved, Rivers Rivera would just have to forgive me for falling victim to the muscadine madness of it all. Judging by the dreamy eyes he was flashing in my direction, I was pretty sure he'd fallen just as hard.

"Stay the night with me," he whispered. "It doesn't have to mean anything." The desperation in his voice slashed away at mydefenses, leaving me open and vulnerable in ways I hadn't been in years. "Please? Just for tonight."

I pulled back, studying his beautiful face. Memorizing every line—every single detail—so I could revisit it whenever I chose. Of course, it meant something. It meanteverything.

Hemeant everything.

And, so, I said yes.

When the song was over, he held me to his chest, dancing with me to the backdrop of a silent symphony. I wasn't sure how much time had passed before I heard Beau shriek. My heart slammed in my chest, a rush of panic encompassing me. Had he been hurt? Was someone trying to kidnap him? I'd rip the world in two to get to him if that were the case. Rivers and I jerked away from each other, staring in the direction his son had cried out from. Confusingly enough, he was standing center stage, staring at Aunt Lurlene. She was kneeling in front of him. Tears streaked his cheeks, and then he was in motion, launching himself at my frail aunt, wrapping his arms around her and sobbing.

"What the hell is happening?" I said.

Preston was standing at their sides on stage, scowling at the pair of them. Even above the noise of the crowd, I could hear the contempt in his voice when he shouted, "I ain't taking care of them. You ain't roping me into this, Lurlene. You hear me?"

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