Page 55 of Skating and Fake Dating
“I want to take you to the Ice Breakers inaugural bash, Bailey.” When she remains quiet, walking alongside me, I add, “Just think about it.”
Tiny races past with a stick, which to any other dog would be a log, and Bailey takes off after her. I chase them until we arrive at a clearing. Under an umbrella of golden leaves, she glows and my heart taps out a particular beat at her pure beauty that I can’t deny or ignore.
She tips her chin to the sky and looks up. Peace settles over her features and she looks more at ease than I’ve ever seen her.
Tiny sits down by her side.
“I used to come here with my Pappa all the time because it was so quiet.”
“You’re from a small town. It’s pretty quiet here in general.”
“Not in my house.” She crouches down and hugs Tiny. “He offered my siblings and my cousins the opportunity to learn how to collect and make syrup, but they were interested in bigger, shinier things—at least that’s what he said.”
“You were the only one who’d come out here with him.”
“I thought I could turn the hobby into a livelihood. I’ve let him down. Ended up chasing the bigger, shinier things myself.”
I crouch down next to her and the dog, who proceeds to give me a big lick across my cheek—Tiny, not Bailey.
“She likes you.”
I do too. The dog, sure, but this time I mean Bailey. I like her a lot. More than I should. More than is wise.
Tiny rises to her feet and takes off running again.
Bailey says, “She remembers the routine. After we come here, we go to the orchard. Want to check it out?”
I stand up and extend my hand for her to get to her feet. “Fresh-picked apples? Those are definitely on the nutrition plan.”
We continue walking and the sky opens up with hardly a cloud above. We wander through rows of apple trees with Tiny catching scents and occasionally looking back to make sure we’re following.
Veering off the main path, Bailey stops in front of a tree. I glimpse the lettersT + Tetched into the bark with a heart around them. Her shoulders wilt likely because they belong to her cousin and ex. But there are a few others, includingV+C. Not sure who that is, but it gives me an idea.
Bailey continues along the grassy path. “We need to find the perfect prize apple of the day. It needs to be firm but not under ripe, sweet but with a bit of tartness. The best ones are always hiding.”
She pauses in front of another tree and looks back at me as I take out my pocket knife and carveB + Cinto the wood and then draw a heart around it.
She searches my eyes. “Why’d you do that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Carson, should we talk about the fake dating arrangement?”
I brush away the wood shavings, revealing our initials.
Bailey says, “Remember, we made our rules?”
“That was all hypothetical.”
“What is it now?”
My voice is a husky whisper when I say, “I’m not sure.”
She draws a deep breath and boosts herself into a nearby tree as if bookmarking the conversation until there’s a better answer to that question.
CHAPTER 23
CARSON
