Page 51 of Snowballed

“I took a shower after the goat shit shovelling,” I assure her.

“It’s funny that Noah comes from the same place you do, yet he always looks so fine.”

I nod. Tonight he’s wearing a dark shirt and faded jeans that strain around his massive thighs and butt. I haven’t even told Rocky about the big kiss, both because the circumstances are so odd and because I’m not quite sure what will happen next. If anything.

To maximize my humiliation, Helen has decided that the auction dates should stand behind their ticket boxes and encourage bidding. This is easy for Rocky, who has charm coming out of every pore. And Noah barely has to bat a long eyelash before there’s a lineup of ladies waiting to deposit tickets in his box. Despite what he said yesterday, he seems relaxed although he doesn’t smile at all. Since that’s his signature look, nobody is deterred. Helen has conveniently positioned herself next to Noah and keeps talking to him.

“Hey, Zoe.” It’s the tall guy from the party whose name I’ve completely forgotten.

“Oh hey.” I stall. My mind churns through the possibilities. I know it started with an M or N: Marcus, Neil, Michael, Nick? The name, Niblets, is coming to mind as I remember Noah comparing him to a cornstalk.

“Do you remember me from that hockey party? Martin?”

I nod happily. “Of course, Martin.”

“You never contacted me for the pickle recipe,” he says.

“I know. I’m sorry. Things have been really busy.”

He nods. “I can send it to you right now if you like.”

“Sure, thank you very much.” I feel the vibration of my phone and hold it up. “Got it.”

He smiles. “So, what could the winner of a date with you look forward to?”

Rocky snickers. “Do you like goats?”

Martin smiles. “I do actually.”

I shake my head. “I’ve never taken my goats on a date. There could be goat cheese pizza though. I make the cheese myself.”

“It’s delicious. Zoe is an amazing cook,” Rocky says.

“She sure is.” Noah’s voice floats over, and we all look at him. He quickly turns back to the co-ed asking him some question that requires her to lean over and speak one inch from his ear.

Martin leans forward and tilts his head towards Noah. “Is he your boyfriend or something? I thought that everyone in the auction was single.”

If only. “Oh no. Noah lives with me.”

Martin’s pale skin turns paler. “What?”

“I mean, he boards on our farm. He lives with me and my mom.”

“Ah. Now I get it.” Martin smiles and pulls out his tickets.

“You sure got your money’s worth when you got an arms-length,” I say. “You could bid on everything here.”

He begins to separate his tickets, and I help him.

“I don’t think that’s the best way to improve my odds.” Then one by one, he plunks every ticket in my auction box. I turn pink. This guy just spent $40 on tickets just for a chance of a date with me? Not to be mean, but Bobby never spent $40 on an actual date with me.

“Wow. Good luck,” I say.

Martin grins at me. “Thank you. Make sure my tickets are at the top when they draw, okay?”

“Okay. But I don’t think you have to worry.” I stop talking before I can point out that his tickets are probably the only ones in the box.

“Wow, that’s pretty flattering,” Rocky says once he’s gone. “I think he really likes you. What do you think?”

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