Page 25 of If You Loved Me

“Yeah,” I laughed.

“See. This is why you’re my maid of honor. There’s no way I would have thought of that.”

“I still think you should both do a tasting. I’ve been working on some different flavors that I haven’t released with my cupcakes yet.”

“Okay!” she beamed. “That’s going to be Johnny’s favorite part of the entire planning process.”

“The food usually is.”

We spent the rest of the night giggling over wedding details and where they might go for their honeymoon. And for the rest of the night, I didn’t think about what I was lacking or how I didn’t have a love like hers and Johnny’s because I had my best friend and that was enough.

…for now.

Chapter 11

Sarah

Un-freaking-believeable.

Willow and Johnny weren’t able to make our annual trip to the state fair because their dog, Asher, decided to eat a poisonous skink and was barfing all over the place. She assured me he would be okay, per the vet, but that he was pretty dehydrated and they didn’t want to leave his side.

Groaning, I laid my head back on my car seat headrest. I couldn’t believe that little stinker ruined our tradition by eating a shiny lizard. The next time I saw him I was going to have a talk with him about his dietary habits.

Not that I could be too mad. As far as dogs went, Asher was the most beautiful yellow lab I’d ever seen with big golden eyes that would make even the toughest of hearts crack.

But still my night was ruined.

The stark reality of my loneliness was hitting me square in the face as I sat in my car in the grass parking lot of thestate fair. When Willow had come back to Pebble Brook Falls two summers ago, we’d established a yearly tradition of going to the state fair together. Corny as it was, the fair was one of my favorite events. It symbolized the fall season with the bright lights, obnoxious sounds, caramelized apples, and cute animals in the petting zoo.

I’d gone every year since I was a kid and I was looking forward to having another year with my closest friends.

Even Deacon had to dip out because of some issue with the cabin that he couldn’t delay fixing.

For several minutes I just stared at the entrance of the fair, watching all sorts of people walk through. Groups of teenagers huddled together while young parents tried to keep their toddlers from running too far. There were even some elderly couples, linked arm-in-arm, making their way through the line.

“Screw it,” I mumbled to myself as I grabbed my small crossbody and headed toward the entrance.

My phone pinged and I grabbed it from my purse to see a text from Willow.

Willow

I promise we won’t miss your birthday celebration at the apple orchard. Sorry again about tonight.

It’s okay. I decided to go by myself. Send me updates on Asher!

Will do. Eat a funnel cake for me!

Oh, I most certainly was going to eat a funnel cake. And just because I was here all alone, I might even have two.

After I paid for my ticket, I found the first food stand selling funnel cakes. “Can I have a little extra powdered sugar on top?”

The booth attendant looked irritated by my request, but I shot him a warm smile and he piled on the sugar. I was usually able to resist sweet treats since I was normally elbow-deep in batter and icing most days. But there was something so special about eating funnel cakes at the fair—I couldn’t resist them.

With my sugary fried batter in hand, I made my way through the alleys of the fair. Joy filled my chest as I took in the bright lights and felt the crisp air against my cheeks. Fall was magical and even though I was alone amongst a sea of people, I felt like I belonged here. Like this moment was mine to savor.

Maybe that was how I found myself face-to-face with my childhood arch nemesis, the Ferris wheel and felt invigorated to take on the challenge of facing my fear of heights. I didn’t let myself overthink it, I just showed the attendant my ride band around my wrist and wound through the zigzag line.

I arrived just in time for the next round of people to board.

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