Page 16 of Always Mine

Oh, right, because I stupidly agreed to help out at Red’s again. Why do I keep doing this to myself?

“Yep.” I pull my arm away from her grasp

“Don’t be mad at me,” she says as I round my truck. “I only want to help.”

My phone stops ringing, and I tug open my door, more than ready to jump in and flee. I sigh. “I’m not mad, but you need to learn when to quit. You can’t push people to do the things you want, no matter how good your intentions might seem.”

“I want you to be happy.” Her voice cracks, and I want to feel bad but she had this coming.

I plaster on my best smile and lay it on her. “I can be happy and single.” My phone rings again. “I need to answer that before she loses her mind.”

“Fine.” She brushes me off. “Do it. We’ll talk later.”

Not about this, we won’t.

With one last wave, I hop into my truck, crank it, and pull away, thankful for Mama’s interruption. “Hello?” I answer, turning down the radio and trying to push that entire conversation from my brain.

I really need to let him go and move on.

* * *

I endup getting stuck at the farmer’s market for most of the day helping my parents. Cooper stopped by and helped too, so I didn’t have to cancel our plans, just shift them a bit.

“Want something from the food truck?” I ask Mama, knowing she hasn’t eaten since breakfast.

“A hotdog with everything on it, please, and get your dad one, too.”

“You got it,” Cooper tells her, looping his arm in mine and tugging me away.

I give him a little arm pat, thankful to have such a great friend. “Sorry you were roped into helping today. You really didn’t have to.”

We weave between tables, trying to get to the food truck. “Don’t worry. I don’t mind at all. You know I love your parents.”

“And they love you.” They always have. Cooper, Hunter, Paxton, and I were always together growing up, so it doesn’t surprise them how much closer I’ve become with Cooper. Especially after all I’ve gone through with Paxton.

“Can you blame them?” His smile blooms and I roll my eyes, stopping at the back of the line when we reach it.

“Cocky, are we?”

“Just giving myself a little ego boost.” He pats his shoulder for effect.

I snort, trying to ignore my growling stomach as I’m hit with the smells wafting through the air. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re going to miss me over the next two weeks,” he teases, tossing me a wink.

He’s not wrong. Not only is he going to be gone, but Hunter is going with him. Meaning my two closest friends will be away, leaving me with my sister. How lovely. My mind flashes to our earlier conversation and I quickly push it away, not wanting to go there right now, or ever.

“Maybe just a little,” I tease, holding my thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “I mean, who else am I going to hang out with?”

He opens his mouth to respond but he’s cut off before he can.

“Aren’t you two the sweetest couple?”

Oh God, no! I fight back a groan, already knowing what’s coming.

“Aren’t they though? It’s like a sugar rush just watching them together.”

Now I really do groan. You have got to be kidding me. I shoot Cooper an apologetic look before spinning around to face Birdie, Mae, and my nana who are sitting at one of the picnic tables looking up to no good.

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