Page 22 of Stay for Forever

We travel to the park north of town. The baseball field and tennis and basketball courts are crowded with townspeople gathered around for the day’s festivities. Streamers from recycled paper – this is Winter Falls after all – decorate the area. There’s also a stage set up in front of the bleachers at the baseball field.

Ashlyn leads me to the stage. When my gaze catches on Mav waiting there for me, I stumble on the stairs. Holy munching goats! Who picked out his outfit? He doesn’t resemble a pagan god. With his naked chest and the beard he let grow out, he bears a striking resemblance to a Viking.

Vikings are always sexy, but Mav as a Viking is literally the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. In addition to the muscles of his chest on display, his brown trousers hug his hips and thighs. Thighs I know are strong enough to hold me up while he pounds into me.

He smirks at me and thoughts of all the scrumptious things he can do with his body to make mine sing fly out the window. Maverick Langston is not to be trusted, and I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. Unfortunately, my body doesn’t get the memo and butterflies flap their wings in my stomach while my knees knock.

I lock my knees as I take my place next to him on the stage. When he reaches for my hand, I snarl at him. His eyes fill with hurt before he drops his hand. How dare he feel hurt? He’s the cheater. Not me!

Ashlyn grabs the microphone. “Who’s ready to party?”

I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes. My baby sister being mayor is the worst decision this town has ever made, and I was around when they thought everyone should go shoeless because of the harmful chemicals used in manufacturing shoes. Dr. Blue put a stop to the practice after several kids got infections from the cuts on their feet.

“Welcome to Winter Falls’ Eostre Festival!” The crowd cheers in response. “Eostre herself is here today to open the festival. And she brought her lover, Equinox, with her.”

She winks at me, and I fist my hands before I decide tugging my sister’s hair out in front of the entire town is the best idea I’ve ever had. Will Rowan still love her if she’s bald? She motions me forward.

I glare at her as I snatch the microphone from her. I force a smile on my face as I greet the crowd.

“Thank you for inviting me to your festival in my honor.” I curtsy. “The egg hunt will begin from the basketball court in fifteen minutes. In the meantime, enjoy the craft fair.” I motion to the booths set out on the baseball field. “Have a wonderful Eostre.”

I place the microphone in the stand and hurry off the stage. Mav follows me. Of course, he does. Can he not get a hint?

“Juniper!”

I whirl around on him. “What?”

His eyes dip and flare when they land on my cleavage. I wish I could yell at him, but this outfit is practically screaming look at my breasts! You know it’s the reason why Ashlyn picked it out.

“Ahem. Can we talk? I want to explain what happened with Quinn.”

I growl at the mention of the woman he kissed when I thought we were in a relationship. Stupid me. “I think the pictures explain enough.”

He steps closer, and I scoot backwards. “Please, June Bug. I’m sorry. I was an idiot. Won’t you let me explain?”

“There’s no time. The egg hunt is beginning.”

He glances around. “Where are the children?”

I smirk. “The children’s egg hunt is held at the high school. We keep the kids separated from the adults.”

Trust me, it’s necessary. There’s too much biting and pulling of hair otherwise. And that’s just how the adults act.

“But Easter eggs hunts are for kids.”

“This isn’t an Easter egg hunt.” I motion toward my dress. “The pagan outfit should have been your first clue.”

“At least you’re gorgeous, I look like a complete tool strutting around without a shirt on. I’m afraid to sit down and rip these pants in two.”

“And I can’t bend over, or I’ll flash the entire town.” No one would mind. Clothes are optional in Winter Falls for the most part after all.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect your virtue.”

Ashlyn skips up to me before I can tell him I don’t need him to protect me. I can protect myself. “You ready to get your ass kicked?”

“My being dressed in this ridiculous outfit is not going to stop me from winning the egg hunt.”

She snorts. “When have you ever won the egg hunt? I’m the reigning champion.”

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