Page 2 of Choosing You

Wiping her face, she murmured, “Sorry about that.”

Reaching over, Hailey gave her hand a squeeze. “What’s going on that has you this upset?”

Where do I even begin?

Letting out a long breath, she looked at all of them. “Everyone’s moving on and getting married and having babies, and where am I? Stuck at a job I hate, dating guys I have zero interest in, and dealing with guilt and pressure from Mom and Dad.” Sighing, she leaned back against the cushions. “Mom’s gotten a little needy lately and she’s always calling and texting and…” Another sigh. “She was sick two weeks ago—it was just a cold—but I had to actually stay at the house because she was carrying on so much.”

“Yeah, I kind of got the feeling she was being a little dramatic,” Hailey commented. “But she kept telling me she was upset because she was going to have to wait longer to come back and visit us.”

“Oh, she’s obsessed with being here,” Sloane clarified. “Obsessed! Dad’s been here to oversee the work being done on the bar and so she’s complaining about being alone and missing out, and it’s exhausting!”

“It sounds like it,” Billie said. “We’ve all been there. Kind of. Parents tend to get like that. When our mom was in that car accident two years ago, it was an all day, every day thing. We all had to take turns staying with her. Why aren’t your brothers helping?”

“She doesn’t want them to,” Sloane replied. “She is hyper focused on me and my life.” Pausing because she felt herself getting choked up again, she let out a shaky breath. “Every time we talk, I end up feeling worse and worse about myself. Believe me, I wish I could meet a nice guy, but…but it just hasn’t happened yet.”

“Okay, don’t take this the wrong way,” Hailey began cautiously, “but maybe that’s because you tend to…you know…make light of everything. Like…like…the kissing booth obsession. You’ve been doing that since you were in high school, Sloane. You kiss random strangers and treat it like a joke. If you put as much energy into meeting a decent guy as you do into running around to every festival you hear of that has a kissing booth, maybe things would be different.

Her sister wasn’t wrong. The whole thing had started out as a dare at the spring carnival when she was a junior in high school, and it became a game she and her friends played.

A game that became a hobby.

A hobby that had her coming back to Sweetbriar Ridge every chance she got because of the hot guy who always seemed to be working at the booth.

It was far too quiet for a room with so many babies, and when Sloane looked up, she noticed that everyone was still warily watching her.

Except for Ashlynn. She was smirking.

“Fine,” she said with a huff. “I get what you’re saying and…you’re not wrong. I have spent a lot of time not taking life and relationships seriously. And now, I think I’m ready, and I want what you guys and all my friends have, but I don’t know how to turn off all the…you know…carefree playfulness?”

“You can still have some of that and be in a relationship,” Chloe offered. “You don’t have to totally turn off who you are. The things that make you special are the things that some lucky guy is going to love about you.”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from making a sarcastic comment.

“Chloe’s right,” Ashlynn chimed in. “However, I’m not sure you’ll be able to give up the whole kissing booth fetish until you find…you know…the one.” Grinning, she added, “Do you go to a lot of festivals back in Florida like you do here?”

“Um…” And yeah, everyone’s eyes grew a bit wider while they waited for her response.

“There aren’t a lot of festivals back home,” Hailey said. “Sure, there’s the occasional carnival, but it’s too big of an urban area.”

They all nodded, but Ash was watching her with a knowing look.

“If you’re looking for one last festival, you’re in luck,” Billie said. “Jade has organized a brand new one—Meet in the Streets. It’s a festival to celebrate all the new businesses in town. It’s not going to be quite as big as some of our other events, but there is going to be a carnival on the middle school grounds.”

“With a kissing booth,” Ash added.

“So, um…when…when is it?” she asked, desperately trying to sound casual and failing.

Before anyone could answer, Chloe’s little girl, Charlotte, let out a cry—which triggered a few more from the rest of the tiny bunch. It was a great way to break the tension, and it wasn’t until they were all standing and picking up babies that Ashlynn gently guided her away from the group.

“The new festival is in two weeks,” she whispered. “There was just going to be a small carnival, but I was the one who suggested the kissing booth.”

“What? Why?” Sloane hissed.

“Oh, stop. I casually mentioned it to Jade and said it was always such a hit at all the other festivals, and she agreed. Apparently, you’re not the only fan of them.”

“Ew, Jade likes them too? Does Levi know?”

The cackle Ash let out had everyone looking at them, but she waved them off. “Sloane was complimenting how big my boobs are,” she said with amusement. “Is it time for lunch yet? I’m starving!”

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