But instead, I laugh. “You’re an evil genius.”
“And, Collins Carter”—he bows and draws the attention of everyone standing in line with us—“you’re the most worthy opponent.”
This I know, but I still like hearing it.
“Thank you, sir.” I curtsy. “And now knowing this entire election was built on a bed of lies, I can’t wait to destroy you at the polls.”
“It’s a punch ballot that they drop in a glorified shoebox, but yes. Same energy.”
In front of us, the riders start to filter out of the exit. Every single one of them is a disheveled mess, but other than two people who look like they might throw up at any minute, they all run straight to the back of the line for round two.
And standing next to Nate, I totally understand the need to keep going back for more.
* * *
? ? ?
By the end of the day, Nate definitely agrees that my schedule is the only way to do a fair.
Not only did we outlast almost every person we spent our early afternoon with, we also rode every ride multiple times, demolished lunch, learned about chain saw safety, fed baby goats, and now we’re back for dessert before we hit the road.
“I’m getting the corn bread funnel cake.” I make my final decision, looking at the deep-fried cookie dough once more . . . just to be sure. “Yeah, definitely going with the funnel cake.”
Classic with a twist. Perfect fair food.
“Would you judge me if my dessert was another donut burger?” Nate asks.
“There’s no judgment at the fair,” I tell him. “Unless you’re that one person who brought their own salad. I mean, leave the virtue signaling at home, lady. Nobody wants to see that nonsense.”
Fresh vegetables? How dare she.
The only produce I want to see at the fair is freakishly large and earns someone a blue ribbon.
“That salad really pissed you off, didn’t it?” He laughs before he leans down and touches his lips to mine.
I used to be anti–public displays of affection, but with Nate, I find myself wanting to touch him anywhere and everywhere. I feel like a teenager again . . . except not, because I didn’t have a boyfriend until I went to college.
I drop the salad talk and start to walk in the direction of the funnel cake booth. When they hand me a funnel cake bigger than my head topped with whipped cream, caramel, and a heart-stopping amount of powdered sugar, I know I made the right decision.
“I don’t care what anyone says, this is art.” I stare at my picture-perfect dessert trying to decide the best way to attack it. “Somebody should make one of those ice cream museums, but with fair food.”
There’d be a funnel cake maze, a corn dog carousel, and an exhibit where it looks like you’re walking on giant clouds of cotton candy. The only locations would be scattered across the Midwest and it’d be a freaking hit.
“I want to know what it’s like inside your brain.” Nate stares at me with a mix of wonder and amusement.
“I think it’s probably like a kaleidoscope or something.” I try to put words to the chaos running through my mind at any given moment. “Tons of bright colors and half-formed sentences interspersed with flashing pictures of food, your butt, and Little Mix songs playing all the time.”
“My butt?”
“You have a fantastic ass.” I pop a piece of funnel cake in my mouth. “It lives rent-free in my mind.”
“Glad you like it.” He smiles at me and I add that to the list of things always in my brain.
“I like you.”
I don’t mean to get so sincere in the middle of the fair, but I can’t help it. Not only has this been one of the best days I can remember having in . . . maybe forever, but all my time with him is turning into the best day ever.
“I like you too.” He turns to me and takes my free hand in his. “I more than like you.”
Suddenly, the kaleidoscope in my brain turns black and I can’t think of anything to say. I’m frozen to the spot, staring at Nate beneath the neon lights of the food booths and carnival rides. It’s hardly a fairy-tale setting, yet nothing has ever seemed more romantic or perfect.
Because somehow, against all odds, in the aftermath of going through our pain, we found happiness and comfort . . . in each other.
Serendipitous indeed.
Chapter 26
Remember.” Ruby grabs me by the shoulders and bores into my eyes. “On this stage, Nate is not your boyfriend. He’s not even your competition. For the next hour, he’s your enemy and you will not stop until you destroy him!”
I told my mom not to let Ruby have that third cup of coffee, but does anyone listen to me?
“Rubes?” I take a small step back. She gets a little scary when she’s this intense. “I love you, but I’m going to need you to take it down by, like, seventy percent. This is for the homeowners’ association, not the Senate.”
I love that she stayed to support me through this, but my girl is jonesing for litigation. I need her to get back in the courtroom ASAP because these video meetings just aren’t doing it for her. Last week she made me pull an all-nighter and laminated my note cards.
I didn’t even study this hard in college.
“You’re going to do great.” Ashleigh tucks a stray curl behind my ear and paints my lips with the makeup we weren’t able to talk her out of signing up to sell. “People don’t care about the rules; they want to connect with you. They want to know how you’re going to help them. You know why you’re here, so speak from the heart and it will be perfect.”
I never thought the loud woman who lived next door and only wore wedge sandals would be the calming force in my life, yet here we are.
If anyone would’ve told me a year ago that I’d be living with my parents, dating Nate Adams, and running for the HOA board, I would’ve laughed in their face. I mean, I lived it and I still can’t quite believe that I’m here or that what started as a petty attempt to piss Nate off has turned into something I actually care about . . . against someone I care about even more.
If by some crazy chance I win this thing, I really want to make my parents and my community proud. I think I could be really good at this.
“Yeah, sure. Speak from the heart or whatever.” Ruby rolls her eyes. “Then you fucking bring Nate to his knees. You can kiss and make up afterward. Which, by the way—”
Before she can finish, someone knocks on the door to the conference room in the back of the clubhouse we’ve claimed as our headquarters for the day.
“I’ll get it!” I jump at the opportunity to avoid whatever lecture Ruby was about to inflict on me.
Ashleigh’s soft giggle follows me as I feel Ruby’s glare burning a hole in my back. I pull open the door, expecting to see my mom or one of the other board members telling me it’s time to get started, but instead I’m greeted by Nate’s smiling face.
He looks nothing short of wonderful.
He traded out his trademark khakis for a pair of slim-cut navy slacks and paired them with a brown leather belt and a striped button-up folded at the sleeves. I may not have proof, but I’m pretty sure no other HOA hopeful has ever looked so hot.
“No fair!” I look him up and down, unable to help where my eyes happen to linger. “You look like a damn thirst trap. You’re rigging the vote.”