Page 34 of A Fowl Match

Chapter 22

Violet

Ihavenowords.I’m completely and utterly speechless. I brush my hands against my lips and my cheeks are flushing a bright crimson. I just know it. I can’t believe we were so close to kissing. I was not expecting that at all. As the rain drops sizzled against my cheek, like cool drops of water against a hot electric stove, steaming against the surface from the sudden impact, his light blue eyes saw directly into my soul.

“Stay here, I'll grab the clue.” Dustin says and I shake the thoughts from my head.

“No, I'm going.” I huff in frustration.

“Please? I don’t want you to fall.”

“Okay, I’ll stay.” My eyes go to my feet. Even though at this point, there's not much more damage I could do. I am covered in mud head to toe. It’s caked in my hair, all over my clothes, and on my face. People pay good money for a mud treatment that I just got for free. I laugh to myself.

“Want to hear the next clue?” Dustin holds the last envelope that leads to the final treasure. Once we find the last one, wehave to take it to the pavilion. I nod my head up and down in agreement. “Congratulations, this is your final clue to the treasure. You can find me somewhere where there are tons of things stacked and piled. I am at the top in a box. You’ll know what kind of box when you see it. Happy hunting.”

“Jane has a serious collecting problem,” Dustin grunts while he opens another empty box at the top of the stacks of items in The Hoarders Emporium. “You weren't kidding when you said it’s exactly as described. I thought you were exaggerating to make me sweat about finding this box.” He balances on a tall, rickety wooden ladder. I’m on the ground trying my best to hold the thing in place. It's swaying back and forth every time he moves.

This isn’t going to end well.

“Woah.” The ladder sways a little too far and almost tips him off the side.

“Sorry!” I shout, balancing it back flush.

“Be honest, are you trying to kill me? If you hated me, you could just tip the ladder and I’d be a goner.”

“I never hated you Grumpy. You won’t know when it's coming anyway. Expect the unexpected.”

“That’s nice to know.” He chuckles. He continues to open a few more boxes, but each one comes up empty. Out of the corner of my eye something shines.

“I saw something sparkle up there a few boxes back! Check around there.”

“That’s it! It’s a treasure chest!” Dustin yells, his voice is breathy, and he must be exhausted. The chest is a faded woodwith gold trim edges. A lock is on the front and I’m praying it isn’t latched. He steps down the ladder and hands me it. “You do the honors; I’m ready for a nap.”

Thankfully the lock wasn’t closed. As I open it up it creaks to reveal a custom trophy shaped like a rooster. In small cursive engraved in the bottom it says,2024 Thornwood Valley Small Business Games Participant.I take a moment to admire how neat it is. “Let’s go.” I grab his hand, and my fingers intertwine with his. We run as fast as we can through town. The rain has settled down, but at this point I’d be glad if it didn’t so that this mud could wash off me. We did our best to try to keep from tracking mud into the antique shop by taking our shoes off at the door, but we still managed to cover the floor. Jane will thank me later. I’m sure I’ll be back scrubbing the floors later on today.

As we make it back to the pavilion, my heart drops. It looks like some teams already made it back. Olive, Annie, Chelsea, and Laura are already eating cold pizza. I cost us this one with my fall.

“Congrats you two! You are in third place, so you made it to the next round! First place won ice cream at Bobbie’s freeze tonight. I take it you’re not too disappointed about missing that. You both look freezing. And why are you covered in mud?” Phew! For a moment there I thought we lost. I’m surprised we made it in time.

“Don’t ask.” I sigh and grab a piece of cold pizza. I shove as much as I can in my mouth.

Olive smirks looking back and forth from me to Dustin. She averts her gaze at our joined hands that I forgot were intertwined. I release his hand swiftly. That’s not what I was going for. I held it when running. So that I didn’t fall. I shake my head at her and roll my eyes.

“Did you just have a full-on conversation with Olive without saying anything?” Dustin’s voice whispers into my ear.

“Yeah, we did.”

“How do girls do that? Do you have telepathy or something?” he asks, looking perplexed. He looks back and forth between us trying to figure out what we just said.

“If I told you all of my secrets it wouldn’t be any fun.” I shrug.

Maybe I do want to tell him all my secrets. It would be nice to confide in someone. But I’m worried he will run when he finds out the truth.

And that’s what scares me more than anything. I don’t want to be alone again. Although I have Darcy and Olive, it’s nice to have another friend to talk to.

But sharing everything is too risky. So, for now I’m keeping it all to myself.

Chapter 23

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