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“Sure.”

I move so she can enter the room. She squeals at the sight of the creature and immediately gets her out of the cage and cuddles.

“Did you have a good day, bunnicorn?”

“It’s female.”

“Oh? You checked?”

“I did.”

“Now we have to come up with a name for you,” she says in a baby voice.

“You know, I was thinking . . .”

“What?” Cristina’s blue eyes are sharp. “About a name?”

I rub the back of my neck. “What do you think of Flame?”

Her face instantly breaks into a smile, and something in my chest expands, hot as the name.

Seeing her happy fills me with pride. I tuck it back down, push it away. I’m not ready for that. I’m not ready for this—us.

“I love it,” Cristina says, walking Flame back to her room. She stops past her door and turns around. “Oh,” she says matter-of-factly. “Tomorrow’s challenge will be messy. So be prepared.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

And then she shuts the door, separating us once again.

But it’s only temporary, because tonight, we go to the fair on our very first date.

Chapter 23

Cristina

“What should I wear tonight?” I ask Rowe and Coco, who’ve come by to help me get ready.

With one hand on her back, Rowe shuffles through my wardrobe. “I’m not seeing what I’d like—cute, but sexy.”

I lift a brow. “We’re going to the county fair.”

“Yes, and that’s why I’m going to braid your hair,” Coco adds, opening her makeup Caboodle.

“I think y’all are way too into this.”

“No.” Rowe turns, showing off the profile of her very round belly. “You’re not into this enough. Rhett is so handsome. Don’t you want to look cute?”

“I guess.”

“Not convincing,” Coco points out. “I admit, when we first met, I thought he was a jerk.”

“He’s not a jerk.” My friends exchange a look, and my cheeks become hot. “Not that I know him well, I mean. He’s just not jerky.”

Coco studies me for a long moment before she drops her gaze back into her Caboodle, which is so big it might hold fishing equipment, too. “Sounds like that quilt was right to put you two together.”

I try to laugh this off. “No, that blanket didn’t . . . We’re not compatible . . . It’s just a bunch of baloney.”

“You did win the first challenge.” Rowe pulls a red plaid shirt from the closet. Did Mina stuff that inside, or was it the magic? Because I don’t recognize it. “And you both looked adorable during the food fight.” She presses a hand to her heart and sighs. “I loved seeing you together.”