“I don’t mind getting to know my in-laws.” Faryn smiled.

“Yeah, okay,” Landon replied.

“What does that mean?” Faryn asked him.

“I was still single last time I checked,” he replied as he continued to drive.

When they finally made it to the fair, it was crowded as hell. Landon drove around for twenty minutes before he got lucky and found a perfect place to park. The boys were excited to get out, but the line to get wristbands was long as hell. It was moving at a decent pace, so Landon let them get out and stand in it. He and Faryn sat in the truck, but they didn’t say anything. It felt kind of awkward and it wasn’t like them not to talk.

“You good?” Landon asked as he observed Faryn staring out the window at nothing.

“Yeah,” she snapped angrily.

“What’s with the attitude?” Landon asked her.

“I don’t have an attitude,” Faryn replied.

“That’s not what it looks like to me.”

“Whatever,” Faryn said with a roll of her eyes.

“Say what you have to say Faryn. What’s on your mind?” Landon questioned.

“First off, I was just joking with you about the in-law thing. I know you’re single and you don’t have to keep reminding me of that,” Faryn announced.

“So, what are you upset about? We’re both single, so what’s the problem?” Landon questioned.

“Okay Landon, you win! You wanted me to ask, so I’m asking!” Faryn yelled.

“What are you asking?” Landon asked, making her look at him like he was crazy.

“I should have known that you were gonna be an asshole about it, but fine. I’m asking you to be my boyfriend, okay?”

“Okay,” Landon replied.

“Okay what, Landon? Is that a yes or a no?” Faryn quizzed.

“It’s a no for me,” he answered, making her heart skip a few beats.

They’d had countless conversations about being together and now he was turning her down. Faryn felt like she was about to start hyperventilating, but she kept her composure as best she could. She didn’t know what she had done wrong to make him change his mind so suddenly. Maybe Harley was right, and he got tired of waiting for her to make up her mind.

“Why?” Faryn asked, needing to know the reason for his rejection.

“I’m a grown ass man and I don’t want to be nobody’s boyfriend. Now, if you’re asking me to be your man, then I’ll be happy to,” Landon said with a smile.

“Oh, my God, Landon! I can’t believe that you just did that to me,” Faryn said as she punched his arm.

“Stop being so scared of everything Faryn. You told me shit about your past that you were probably too embarrassed to tell anybody else. Yet, you were scared to ask me to be with you. It’s not like I didn’t want to. I told you that from the beginning,” Landon replied.

“And just so you know, you are my boyfriend, but that doesn’t make you a boy. It’s just a word Landon. Nobody walks around saying that’s my man,” Faryn laughed as they got out of the car.

Landon walked around to her side of the car and kissed her before they went to stand near the boys. When they got to the window, Landon paid for five wristbands and they were granted access into the park where the fair was being held. Faryn had no intentions on getting on any rides, but Landon didn’t give her a choice.

After more than three hours of running around like a kid, Faryn had officially tapped out. Landon got her a bottle of water and she sat on the nearest bench that she could find, while he took the boys on a few more rides. Landon was a great father and uncle, and Faryn loved that about him. She was sitting there texting Harley to tell her that she’d finally made her move with Landon, when someone walked up and called a name that she hadn’t heard in more than a year.

“Is that you Candy Girl?” a woman said, making Faryn snap her head around to see who it was.

She smiled when she recognized Slim, her former co-worker at JB’s, standing there smiling at her.