Page 25 of In the Dust

Right?

I jump with excitement, making the best out of the day, and I know the perfect place to take him. “Whispering Willow.” I grin. Brad looks at me wearily. “I promise you’ll love it!” I assure him.

Finally, he gives in. “Okay, okay. Just take me somewhere for a latte first.”

“Done!” I lie, not knowing of any coffee shops besides an old gas station.

* * *

The moment Brad steps away,Harper leans forward with a mischievous grin on her face. “I saw you all cozied up with Mr. Payne last night.”

I throw my face in my hands. “Did anyone else see?”

“No.” She gives me an apologetic smile when she takes in my red cheeks. “Dixie May, it’s not like you were kissin’ him! Don’t be so embarrassed. It’s a lot comin’ back home.”

I don’t want to be rude, but I want to ask her how she knows it’s difficult. I think I’m the only person who has ever actually moved away from Willow Creek.

A lot of people leave their hometowns to grow bigger, or because there’s nothing to do. But we aren't lacking on things to do; there’s always a fun time and good friends waiting at every turn here.

It’s the best town in the world, but it holds too much hurt for me.

Way too much hurt.

* * *

I spritz a little perfume on,and then I look at Harper. “Why do we do this?”

“Do what?” she asks, dabbing on a little cherry lip gloss. We’re alone in my room, and the guys are outside making a fire.

I shake the bottle. “Spray perfume on when we’re going to smell like burning wood in ten minutes.”

She laughs, taking the bottle and spritzing it on herself. “I honestly don’t know.”

“I hope tonight goes smoothly.”

She quirks her brow. “You have your past flame and your current boyfriend attending the same bonfire. What could go wrong?” she teases.

“Colton could throw him in, for one.”

Harper throws her head back in laughter. “We could invite Miss America over here to diffuse the situation.”

“Yeah, right. I’d end up throwing her in.”

We head downstairs, walking out into the high-rise of a fire. “They must have turned this into a competition too.”

“Oh, you know they did.”

When we get to the guys, I look around for Brad, but he’s on the phone. I slap Colton’s arm. “You know my Dad’s going to get a call about this,” I sneer. A small town with nosy neighbors equals a whole bunch of tattle tales.

Colton throws another log onto the blazing fire. “Already called him. We dug a break around it.”

“Where’s the alcohol?”

He pulls a glass jar from a nearby cooler, handing it to me. “Here you go, sunshine.”

I laugh. “Where’s the beer? You know I can’t handle moonshine.”

He shrugs. “Fresh out.”

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