Page 121 of Just Like Home

He stepped back in line.

She did a poor job of stifling her smug smile.

When it was their turn, he stepped forward and ordered two corndogs, drinks, and one funnel cake, which she learned was large enough to share between two people.

To be perfectly honest, the thought of eating the corndog completely grossed her out, but a deal was a deal. They got their food (the corndog was ridiculously oversized), then made their way to a different tent, one lined with picnic tables, and sat across from each other. Every once in a while, Cole lifted a hand or tossed one of those very manly “guy nods” at someone by way of a greeting.

Two different parents she’d met at the dance studio stopped to say hello to Charlotte, which surprised her. She hadn’t expected to recognize anyone at this fair. Was this what life in a small town was like?

“Okay.” Cole interrupted her thoughts. “Are you ready for this?”

“Typically eating food on a stick is against my better judgment,” she said, inhaling the doughy smell of the food between them.

“Going out in public is against my better judgment, but here we are.” The expression on his face changed in such a way that it made her think perhaps he hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

“Why is that?” she asked.

He waved her off and nodded toward the corndog. “Bottom’s up.”

She picked up the corndog and stared at it.

“You’re looking at it like it’s an alien baby,” he said.

She laughed. “It might as well be.”

He dunked his in the glob of ketchup he’d squeezed onto his wrapper, so she did the same. Then, he held it up as if it were a wine glass and he was giving a toast. She touched her corndog to his and he flashed her a dimpled smile. And wow—what a smile it was.

“Cheers,” he said.

“Cheers.” She took a bite, surprised by the mix of flavors that filled her mouth—the fried batter, the tangy ketchup, a hint of salty meat—it was good.

It was good?

She chewed, savoring the bite as if it were a delicacy.

“Well?” He swallowed, then wiped his mouth with a napkin he’d balled up in his fist.

She shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this . . .”

He grinned. “Good, right?”

“So good.” She felt her eyes widen as she took another bite. “Why have I never had one of these before?”

His smile faded, turning to a lopsided grin. “I don’t know, why haven’t you?”

“Why don’t you go out in public?”

“Touché.”

“The answer is no,” she said.

He stopped chewing. “And what was the question?”

She watched as realization came over him. The kissing question. The one she’d avoided since he asked.

“Oh,” he said. “Well, that’s surprising.”

“Is it?”

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