Page 30 of Punt

"Exactly." I said. "I'd like to buy some land. Maybe have some cows." I'd never shared that dream with anyone. I half expected her to laugh.

To my relief, she didn't. Instead, she nodded.

"That sounds lovely. My other grandparents have a small farm. I spent a lot of summers out there. They breed pigs. Believe it or not, I got my hands dirty, helping out." She held up a hand that didn't look like it had seen a smudge of dirt, but I believed her.

"Bacon farm, hmmm?" I said with a smile.

She grimaced. "I tried not to think too much about what happens to the pigs." She looked with irony at her sandwich, then bit into it.

I chuckled. She had guts, that was for sure. Brandi wouldn't have wanted to talk about pigs. She wouldn't have eaten ham either. Unless it was low fat and preferably vegetarian, she was out.

"I suppose we should take selfies," I said reluctantly. I was enjoying myself. I didn't want to turn this into a social media moment.

On the other hand, if Brandi didn't see it, she wouldn't miss me and then I'd never get her back and Ashley wouldn't reunite with Kris.

Did she really want that? But then she pulled out her phone and bent her head to mine.

Her hair brushed against my cheek. My breath caught in my throat. My dick was suddenly very attentive to her.

"Say cheese," she said.

"Chee—" My breath caught in my throat. I coughed to clear it. "Cheese."

My grin in the photo was silly, my eyes half closed. Ashley looked perfect. Every hair in place, teeth white and even, a hint of cleavage peeking out of her pink t-shirt. Kris was an idiot to cheat on her. She was cute, smart and obviously loyal. She deserved better.

If they got back together, I'd make sure he understood that. I might not put my fist in his face, but he'd get the message, loud and clear. And if he hurt her again, I would…

I'd be here for her whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on.

"Are you sure you want me to model?" I asked. "The camera hates me."

"You look adorable," she said. Quickly, she added, "I mean, you look fine. I can take it again if you don't like it."

She looked so awkward all I could do was smile and say, "It's fine. I don't want to break your phone."

She laughed and swatted me on the arm.

"Hey!" I protested with a laugh of my own.

I turned my face and found myself almost nose to nose with her. I stared right into her eyes while my heart skipped a dozen beats. We breathed each other's air for half an eternity. My gaze slid down to her lips. She was right there. I could…

We both turned our faces away and sat back, apart.

"Sorry," I muttered.

"Yeah, me too," she said awkwardly.

I finished my sandwich and cracked open a bottle of water to wash it down. "So, um. Tell me about this fashion parade."

Her smile lit up her gorgeous face. Evidently I'd asked the right thing to break the awkward silence.

"It's one of the biggest events of the year," she said. "We have a parade for every season, but the spring one is special. I suppose because it's spring. Who doesn't love spring?"

I shrugged. "I know I do. It's one of my four favourite seasons."

She blinked for a moment, then laughed. "Mine too, but it's at the top of my list. Warm weather, spring flowers, cute dresses." She sighed.

Autumn was my favourite, because the season started again, but spring was good too, for all the reasons she listed, and more.

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