Page 51 of A Fowl Match

“I guess you’ll never know.” He chuckles.

Sardine runs up to me at a fast pace and I haul him into my arms. “You are the cutest little guy ever! I missed you!” He purrs in my ear as he nuzzles against me.

“Are you coming, or are you only here for my cat?”

“I guess I’ll eat with you.” I giggle while placing Sardine back on the ground. I grab a toy mouse from my bag and throw it for him, making a mental note to buy him more toys just because he deserves it.

We dig into our plates of macaroni and cheese with fried chicken. After I learned he and his grandmother made this food I was elated. They’re going to make me gain so much weight. Their food is out of this world. I’ve spent the past few weeks gorging on soup, casseroles, and bread. I’ve gained at least five pounds already. Still, I devour one helping of food and plate another.

“Are you ever thinking about going back to New York? Or is farm life growing on you?”

“To be honest, Nolan approached me at the last competition and offered me a partnership. He wants to start his own company and make me a partner—”

I cut him off, “Wow, that’s huge news! An amazing opportunity. Are you going to take it?”

“I told him I would think about it.”

Oh.

My heart drops. He can’t move back to New York! Not after everything. Well, he can, but I don’t want him to. It’s shocking to me how much I like him already. Ireallylike him. If he leaves now, I’m going to be devastated. I didn’t want to feel anything towards anyone again. At least romantically. I was happy to haveanother friend in my life. But I started feeling more anyway, without even trying.

“I thought about it over the past few weeks. I was unsure until today. I got some much needed advice from my Gram. She always knows the right thing to say. Anyways, I called and turned down the offer.”

“Really? Why would you turn it down?” I can’t help but feel relief, but it’s a huge opportunity. Offers like this one don’t come by very often. I wouldn’t want him giving up his dreams because of me. I want him to be happy. And if that’s in NYC, who am I to strip him of what he wants in life?

“I realized that I belong here. The small-town pace of life is where I feel comfortable. Everything in the city life was too fast paced. I was miserable at my office job. Every day I woke up dreading having to go to work and pretend like I was someone completely different. When I wake up in the morning here I do it with a smile on my face. Even at five in the morning, how sick is that? I can take care of my grandparents if I stay here. Tend to the land just like my grandfather. Help provide food for the community. Cook with my grandmother and learn all of her secret recipes passed down from generations. Also, I met this girl I kind of like.”

“Who’s this girl? Can I meet her?”

“It’s you, silly.”

I can’t even try to hide my smile now.

Chapter 36

Violet

“Arethosechickensonyour pants?”

“Yes, indeed they are.”

“I love them. Come here.” I jump onto his couch and curl into his outstretched arms. The nerves I felt before are long gone. I don’t know why I got worked up. It was for no reason at all.

“Really? Olive told me I should wear something else. She was so mad at me for bringing these,” I say, snuggling against him.

“I wouldn’t want you to be anything other than yourself. They suit you perfectly.” He kisses me softly on my cheek. “I want every little piece of you. Messy hair, crazy chicken T-shirts, chicken pajamas, camo crocs and all.”

“Is that true?”

“You are beautiful darling.”

He clicks on the television, and we watchShrek 1, my all-time favorite movie. I snuggle against him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. Sardine curls up next to me. A huge quilt drapes over top of us all, bundling us in a warm cocoon. I could get used to this.

Once the movie ends the screen flashes the credits and I snuggle closer. Dustin brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, and it tingles against my skin. I never get tired of the feeling of his touch. He leans down and crashes his lips against mine.

Every time our lips meet, everything around me blurs in comparison. I used to wonder if he felt the magnetic pull between us when we touched. Now I know for certain that he does. The passion behind every touch is heady. And I want more. I need more this time.

“Dustin.” My voice comes out scratchy.

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