Page 28 of Lodged

I send a selfie, smiling while hugging Cobalt, with all the flowers behind me. I don’t think anyone has made me happier in my life. This is amazing.He’samazing.

Gio: Actually, I think I’m the one who should be asking that. I just wanted to make sure you know that, even though we can’t be out in public, you’re important to me. I think about you every minute of the day.

How is he even real? I’m glad I’m lying down in bed; otherwise, I’d be a big puddle on the floor.

Ruin: Any chance you’d like to join me this weekend in my hometown for the Apple Festival?

Gio: You know I’d love to, but I think it’s best if the first time I meet your family, I’m no longer your teacher.

I know he’s right, but it still stings. I want to spend as much time with him as possible.

Ruin: I know.

Gio: But next year, I’d love to go with you, and maybe when you come back, we can have another fortuitous encounter.

Ruin: Oh, I’d love that. Where do you think it’d be?

Gio: Well, since fall break is coming up, I thought we could take a couple of days and head to Corolla…

Oh my, this is getting serious, isn't it? Or am I making a bigger deal in my head than it actually is? I don’t know if it’s appropriate or not to ask, but going to the Outer Banks isn’t cheap, and I’m not swimming in money. Is he expecting me to chip in for the trip? Either way, I’m so excited. I’ll ask Rain to lend me some money.

Ruin: Definitely. I’d love that.

Gio: Excellent, I’m looking forward to it then.

Gio: Sweet dreams, Ruin.

Ruin: G‘night, Cobalt. *heart emoji*

Chapter 13

Ruin MacAllister

It’s a beautiful fall day in the North Carolina mountains. The air is crisp, the leaves are beginning to change colors, and you can feel the buzz in the town—today is Apple Festival Day.

“Good morning, Rusty,” River greets me with the nickname he’s had for me since I was a tiny baby. He comes to stand on the porch next to me, a cup of coffee warming his hands. “A little airish this morning, I reckon,” he continues, and I chuckle. I loveit when my brother uses the colorful Appalachian dialect.Airishis the word we use when it’s a little cold outside.

“Yes, but it’s still nice.” I breathe it in before taking a long sip of my own coffee. I brewed the one Gio gave me the other day.

“Where did you get this coffee? It’s really good,” River asks. I know where all this is going, but I’m still not ready to tell him about Gio.

“One of my roommates gave it to me,” I lie. I’m going to have to start writing down all my lies just to keep track of them.

“Hmmm. When you get back, you’ll have to ask her where she got it, because now I feel like we need to buy more.” I smile and nod at him.

Silence falls upon us, and I let myself enjoy the taste of my first pumpkin-spiced latte of the season with the most beautiful sight right in front of me. Our orchard spans over two hundred acres, with beautiful trees lining up and down the mountains as far as the eye can see. River’s busiest season is the harvest, and I’m sad I won’t be here to help this year, but once I graduate, I’m planning to move back. I love being near my family.

“Are you ready, Ru?” Miles comes out to join us, and I smile at him. We have a band, and every year, we perform at the Apple Festival.

“You know it,” I reply as I take another sip of my latte. Tonight will be epic. River and Miles play the guitar and banjo, Rain plays the drums, Merlin plays the violin, and I sing. We’ve been doing this since we were little, so we usually don’t need to rehearse much. Whenever we want to add a new song, we practice individually first, and then we come together to give it the MacAllister touch, as River calls it.

During the day, I help Mama and Rain in the family booth. We sell everything apple: pies, butter, and apples by the bushel. Mama and Granny spend the week before the festival baking and preparing the apple butter. People come from all over the state to our fair, even though it’s not the only Apple Festival in Appalachia.

Newcomers and locals alike stop by to say hello and buy from our stand. Rain and I are beyond busy—we switch between being the cashier and fulfilling orders.

River is always mingling and talking business with other local farmers, while Miles and Merlin help run the games section.

Last year, Granny volunteered Miles in the kissing booth. My poor brother ended up kissing over a hundred women. And as much as he likes to joke around, I know he felt it was a little too much. But Granny insisted the church needed a new sound system, and Miles needed to help fund it since he’s the one who makes her pray the most.

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