Page 77 of One Wild Chance

“It started a few summers ago. Every first Friday of the month they have entertainment in town—a live band and dancing.” She scoops up some eggs and pauses. “It’s not a date, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not worried,” I say, even though I’m well aware of my feelings about Blaine taking her out.

She stares at me. “But you don’t approve.”

I pick up my mug. “Never said that.”

“I can tell.” She chews, then swallows. “You have this look every time his name comes up.”

I frown. “What kind of look?”

“Like you just stepped in a pile of horse manure,” she says before taking another bite.

I motion toward the email. “It sounds like he has feelings for you.”

She holds her fork mid-air. “I told you we’re just friends.”

“Friends who go to concerts together?” My jaw flexes again.

“No. Friends who occasionally spend time together because there aren’t many people our age in Golden Springs.” She stabs at her eggs. “That’s not a date.”

I lift a brow. “He called you pretty lady.”

She points her fork at me. “You weren’t supposed to read that.”

“I didn’t know what it was when I opened it. He used the farm’s general inbox. Doesn’t he have your personal contact info?”

She looks down at her plate, not answering.

That’s what I thought.

“Are you going to go with him?” I press.

She drops her fork on her plate, like she’s run out of patience for questions. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t. I just got a weird vibe from him. And I don’t like him around you.”

She rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t roll back into her head. “He doesn’t have a weird vibe. He’s just not like you.”

“How?”

“He’s—” She pauses, like she’s searching for the right word.

“Safe?” I offer. “Someone who pencils you into his calendar like a legal appointment?”

“I was going to say…normal.” She gives me a hard stare. “You know, average. Like all of us around here.”

I stare at her for a beat before I shake my head. “You could never be average.”

She freezes, something stirring behind her eyes. “Well, you said there was nothing here for you back in high school.” She sets her napkin on her plate. “Maybe you were right about there being nothing here for you, but Blaine actually wants to be here. He doesn’t treat this town like it’s beneath him.”

“If you want to go out with Blaine Callahan, I won’t stop you.” I lean back in my chair.

Her brow pulls down. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m just saying, it wouldn’t surprise me if he gave you tax preparation software for your birthday.”

“I’m sure whatever he came up with would be more than anything you’d manage,” she snaps.