“Why do you smell like a heard of buffalo, Kins?”
I laugh against his chest, blinking away the tears that almost fell. “Rhett has a horse. He showed her to me and then we fell asleep on a pile of hay in the barn, watching her.”
“That’s your story?”
“That’s my story,” I giggle.
“Please don’t do it again, okay?”
I nod my head, understanding where he’s coming from. “There hasn’t been anyone other than Wyatt and Kate for a while now, but they’re my brother and sister. They’re supposed to get on my nerves.”
“Are you telling me I’m annoying?”
I let go of him, shaking my head at his ridiculous assumption. “No, I’m not. I’m saying, thank you for having my back.”
“I’ll never stop caring, Kinsley.”
And as much as I need that from him, as much as it soothes my soul to hear those words, it still feels terrible because I can’t give him more.
THE NEXT COUPLE of weeks pass by in a blur. My relationship with Carson has remained strained. Even though we promised to move forward, I still catch him watching me or staring a little too long when he shouldn’t be. But I don’t say a word or give any kind of indication that it bothers me. I let him do what he needs to do because I’ll do anything to avoid another confrontation like our last.
For the most part, he’s been easy going. A couple times we even stayed up late watching movies, eating popcorn, and laughing like we used to do when Wyatt was still here. Those are the times I feel the closest to him, and like we really can manage to live together and be friends.
More than anything, I need the stress free Carson as much as possible. Between school, the diner, and Rhett, I’m constantly being pulled in a million different directions. I’ve been so busy that I’ve been struggling to keep up with all my assignments while still finding time for everyone. In fact, I’ve given up sleep just to keep everyone happy. But this morning, when I almost fell asleep standing up in the shower, I went back to bed. After faking a migraine when both Kate and Carson came to check on me, I bought myself a few more hours of sleep. Carson even brought me some Advil before he left for his own day of school.
Kate thinks I’m spreading myself too thin, and that I’m wearing myself out. At least that’s what she blamed the migraine on. I don’t like lying to either of them, but I don’t have room to complain. Both are holding down jobs, maintaining social lives, and paying bills on time—the same as I am.
Still, once I get a couple hours of rest, I get up, and drag my butt to school. I even sign into the office with a note I hand wrote myself and signed Kate’s name to. The secretary doesn’t question it, and I fall back into my familiar school routine like I didn’t just bag the entire morning on purpose. I timed it so well, I even managed to get to school right at lunch time.
“Congratulations, Kinsley,” a girl in my first period class says, enthusiastically, as she passes me in the hallway.
“Thanks,” I mumble.
“Kinsley West, where have you been all my life,” Becca says, as she shoves a couple books into her locker. “You missed one heck of a morning.”
“Congratulations, Kinsley,” two more girls say, as they pass by on their way to the cafeteria.
Perplexed, I look to Becca for answers. “What’s everyone congratulating me for?”
Becca smiles, looking like she’s about to jump out of her skin. “Had you not been playing hooky, you’d know you were nominated for Homecoming Queen. You’re on the ballot, Kinsley. Can you believe it?”
I lean against my locker, stunned. “No, I can’t. How did I make the court?”
“Who cares how you made it. You made it, that’s all that matters. The dance will be even better now. Plus, you get to walk on the field at halftime.”
“Do I have to do it?”
She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that. Of course you have to do it. We’ll get you a nice business suit for the game, and then you have to find an escort since well, you know. There’s so much we have to do. Oh, and your dress for the dance. You picked one out, right?”
“No, not yet.” I couldn’t go dress shopping the night Becca was going with her mom. On top of the mound of school work I had to finish, I also had to put in a couple hours at the diner.
“Kinsley, the dance is in a couple days. You need to get something as soon as possible. This is a big deal.”
“I don’t have an escort, Becca. I don’t have a father to walk me down the fifty yard line like the other girls. My brother is going to be getting ready for a game the following night, so he won’t be allowed to leave campus, and Rhett’s on the team, so he’s out.”
“There’s gotta be someone who can do it. Maybe my dad can walk you.”
I wave her suggestion off with my hand, dismissing her idea entirely. “No, that’s ridiculous.” There’s only one other person I can think of. Only it’s not going to fly with Rhett—even if he is my only other option. “Maybe Carson can help.”
Mandi picks that exact time to pass by me, snickering at my predicament. “Just give it up, Kinsley. It wasn’t meant to be.”
Becca lunges at her with her history book that weighs at least three pounds raised above her head. “I swear if you don’t shut that trap of yours, Mandi, I’m going to shut it for you,” she threatens.
“Keep talking, little girl,” she says, as she walks farther down the hallway.
After I slam my locker door a little too loudly, Becca lowers the book, and takes a deep breath. “I almost beat her. My god, I was so close to whacking her over the head with my book.”
“It was pretty badass, Becca,” I tease, still laughing at her dazed expression, and how easily she morphed from my sweet, best friend into a lunatic.
“Thank you, but don’t worry, Kins, you’ll figure it out.”
“What will you figure out?” Rhett asks, as he sneaks up behind me, wrapping his arms around me, and kisses my neck. “I missed you in class this morning, Sunny.”
I melt into his body, the only place I want to be right now. Everything’s easier when it’s just the two of us. “Sorry, I hated missing, but I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”
“They would have been open if I was with you,” he whispers.
My cheeks heat instantly. The physical side of our relationship has been building over the past couple weeks, ever since our night together in the barn. Each time we’re alone, we go a little farther, still never going the entire way. But I feel like it’s going to happen soon—and I’m really nervous about it.
Thankfully, Rhett’s public displays of affection never seem to bother Becca, even if she does roll her eyes, as she watches the two us. “It’s sickening, guys. Just plain sickening. It’s a good thing I didn’t eat my lunch yet.”
Rhett unwraps himself from my body, and takes my hand in his, pulling me along. “Come on. Let’s go eat before Becca loses it. I’ve seen her throw up before. It’s not pretty.”
She reaches out to punch him, but he dodges her fist before it makes contact with his bicep. “You made me throw up dirt, Rhett Taylor!”
He walks backwards in front us, smiling at how easy it is to get Becca worked up. “I thought you said she was over it, Sunny?”
“She’s being violent today.”
“I almost kicked Mandi’s ass with a book,” she says proudly.
Rhett shakes his head, mostly because a book being her weapon of choice wouldn’t be that strange. Not when she’s always reading one.