Page 63 of Finding You

“It was!” Avery agreed. “And I also heard that this could become an annual thing! How cool would that be?”

“It would be even better if they combined it with the Fourth of July festival,” Leo suggested. “Not that there’s anything wrong with ours, but if they did it up on the mountain and actually waited for the fourth to do just one massive firework show, I think it could be fairly epic.”

“Any idea who we would have to talk to about that?” Ashlynn asked to no one in particular.

“My guess would be whoever organized this year’s event. The resort clearly has an event coordinator,” Reid said.

“Maybe,” Devin added. “But I thought I heard this was of the investor’s team's efforts to draw people back to the resort? Or am I wrong?”

“I’ll have to ask Levi,” Ashlynn said. “He worked closely with all of them, so maybe I should start with him.”

“Ask Levi what?” Levi said as he walked over and joined them.

“About doing the festival at the resort again next year, but for the Fourth of July,” Ashlynn explained.

“I’ll bring it up at the next meeting. In the meantime, who’s up for some volleyball?”

That was all the encouragement Devin needed before jumping to his feet. Looking at MacKenzie, he asked, “You good?”

She nodded. “Go have fun!”

As soon as Devin, Reid, and Leo were gone, the girls moved in close. “Okay, what’s going on with you?” Avery asked.

MacKenzie’s eyes went wide. “Me? What do you mean?”

“We might not have known each other very long, but we can totally tell you’ve got something on your mind,” Ashlynn explained. “Did you and Devin have a fight?”

“What? No!” she blurted out and then took a moment to glance around before looking at the two of them. “I mean…no. We’re fine. My car broke down again, and I guess it’s on my mind.”

Avery’s gaze narrowed. “No. I don’t think that’s it. Try again.”

“I’m serious!” she argued. “It happened while I was out picking up food to bring here today.”

But Ashlynn was shaking her head too. “No, I agree with Avery. I think it’s something else. Your car breaking down wouldn’t be a big deal because you know Devin’s going to keep working on it until it’s running perfectly. So come on. Out with it.”

“You know we’re not going to leave you alone until you spill, so…”

“Hey!” Billie said cheerily as she sat down with them. “What’s going on? You all look way too serious.”

“MacKenzie was about to tell us what’s wrong with her today,” Ashlynn explained, her eyes never leaving MacKenzie’s. “She’s been distracted and is trying to blame it on her car breaking down again, but we don’t believe her.”

“Oh, no! The car broke down again?” Billie asked. “That’s weird. Normally Devin is like the car whisperer. He can fix anything! I wonder what happened.”

“Who cares!” Avery cried. “This isn’t about the car!”

“What car?” Chloe asked as she joined them. Then she looked at MacKenzie. “I thought Will said the Mustang was fixed?”

“He did, but when I took it out today, it broke down. It’s not a big deal, and…”

“AHA!”both Avery and Ashlynn said excitedly.

All MacKenzie could do was groan.

“Hey, girls!” Jade called out as she also came and sat down. “This looks like a discussion I totally should be in on!” Then she glanced around. “What are we talking about?”

And before anyone else could answer, MacKenzie threw in the towel and wished she could just yell “PINEAPPLE!” and leave, but instead, she answered Jade.

“They all think I’m upset,” she said firmly. “I told them I was because the Mustang crapped out again, but no one believes me!”

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