Page 63 of The Jackpot Screwer
“Yeah, well I’m just not feeling like it.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Our parents are over there, so I’ll catch you later.”
“You sure?” She wrapped me in a hug. “Meet you at the Ferris wheel in say, twenty minutes?”
I nodded but was thinking I’d probably catch up with my folks and then sneak back home. Carter was obviously moving on, publicly. I for one didn’t want to watch it. Waving goodbye to Hunter and Ellie I started to make my way over to my mom and dad who along with Melinda, Henry and Jefferson were talking to Mayor and Mrs. Garrison. Almost having reached them, Grady Michaels’ voice came booming over the loudspeaker. He was the Elementary school Principal and had been the MC of the fayre for as long as I could remember. Apart from the one year when he had the mumps and was highly contagious. That year Jim Wickerson did it and got so high on pot laced brownies a couple of the High School seniors gave him, he announced Audrey Montgomery, who ran the dry-cleaning store, as winner of best cow in show—there wasn’t even a competition for best cow.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Dayton Valley Fayre,” Grady’s voice boomed out. “I’m sure we’re going to have another tremendous day, raising money this year for the Sunny Years Old People’s Center. We have the usual rides and stalls, and this year we have a dunking booth too. Over by the Haunted House, the lovely Delaney twins are waiting for you to hit the target and drop them into the water. It’s just a dollar fifty a throw, so get on over there and give the ladies your money.”
I started to giggle imagining Aunt J and Aunt L sitting in bathing costumes and waiting to be dropped into a tank of cold water. They were the only two ladies over sixty who I could imagine pulling it off.
“Also, don’t forget,” Grady continued, “get your votes in for the Dayton Valley’s Easter Queen. We’ll be crowning her later, so you don’t want your favorite to miss out.”
“Huh,” I grumbled to myself. “Outdated cliched competition if ever there was one.”
“Honey.” My mom had spotted me and was waving enthusiastically. “You not having Benny’s burrito?”
“No, Mom,” I replied through a gritted smile. “Not that hungry.”
“You feeling okay?” she asked, running a hand down my arm.
“I’m fine, Mom. Just fine.” I turned to look around the field and spotted Carter talking to a girl who I thought worked at the bank. She was younger than me and was gazing up at the damn redhead like he’d just put a glass slipper on her foot and promised her a kingdom.
“That’s good,” Dad said, pulling me to his side. “We’re going to see if we can’t dunk Janice-Ann and Lynn-Ann, isn’t that right?”
“Sure is.” Jefferson dragged his hand through his amazing hair and grinned. “If they want to get dunked then that’s what I intend to do, so get your throwing arm ready, honey.”
Giving him a small smile, I nodded and followed him and my parents, rolling my eyes at the number of women who were ogling Jefferson—some were even with their partners. God dammit that man was popular. Even my little brother said he was steezy, whatever the hell that meant. I could see the attraction. He was tall, muscular, tattooed, his butt looked damned good in a pair of jeans, and every woman over the age of thirty in Dayton Valley was desperate for him. If only Carter wanted me as much.
* * *
Almost two hours later and I hadn’t managed to escape back home. Dad had kept a tight hold of my hand and if he let it go, Mom took over. It was as if they knew I was going to run but were determined that I stay and get used to seeing Carter with other people. Not that I had seen him, except for in the distance and each time he’d been in the company of a woman, or multiple women. Once the Easter Queen was announced I was most definitely escaping back to the security of my bedroom and curling up with a book. Okay, so I’d never read a full book in my life but wasn’t that what heartbroken women did—lost themselves in a romance novel and a sexy book boyfriend?
“Okay,” Mom said excitedly. “It’s time for the Easter Queen announcement. I do love this part.”
Dad smiled lovingly at her. “You still got your sash, honey?”
“God, yeah,” Henry cried, pointing at Mom. “It was just after college.”
“Oh, I remember,” Melinda added. “I’d just moved here and thought you were like some fairy princess in that pink chiffon dress you wore. I wanted to be your friend the minute I saw you and asked Sondra to introduce us.”
Jefferson chuckled. “I do recall you both got disgustingly drunk that day.”
“Yeah, well,” Melinda replied, rolling eyes. “I think I was nervous, being new in town and all, and the whole of the town actually being here. As for Sondra, well she just wanted to keep me company in the beer tent.”
“Crazy days.” Mom sighed and gazed at Dad. “Winning that day was better than when I won Miss Congeniality at Galveston Beauty Pageant.”
A look passed between my parents and I knew something big had happened that day but really wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I had a feeling it might involve sex and that thought just made me want to puke in my mouth.
“Anyway,” Dad said, clearing his throat. “It was the biggest win ever. Did you know that sweetheart?”
I laughed. “Yeah, Dad. You told me.”
Mom slapped at dad’s arm. “Jim, must you bore the kids with that story every year.”
“Yes, because I’m proud of you.” He sighed, a happy smile on his face and my heart jumped at the thought that they were most definitely getting back on track.
“Is that why you’re so desperate to watch this, Mom?” I asked. “To check no one beats your record.”
Mom grinned and glanced between Dad and their friends. “Let’s get over there. I think we can push to the front, come on, honey.”
