Page 63 of Worth the Want
“Someone left a note on your car? What did it say? Did you see anyone? I told you to get outside cameras.” Knox is the picture of concern, and I can’t say I blame him. Safety isn’t something you mess around with.
“Easy, big brother. I’m fine. It was probably one of the guests. I turned a guy down when he asked for my number earlier. He’s harmless.” Her words come out easily enough, but I’m not sure she’s convinced either of us. “I just wanted to stop by and drop off my auction items. I’m visiting Winnie’s booth for some baked goods, and then I’m off. Love you, Hazey!” She drops a kiss onto Hazel's cheek and heads off.
“I guess I need to order some cameras,” Knox says.
“I guess you do,” I agree.
We get a corndog at the fried food station, and Hazel and I try a fried Oreo. It was delicious, and I could probably go the rest of my life without ever having another one. Knox has twined our fingers together more than once, run his fingers down my arms, and wrapped his around me while playing carnival games. The tension from earlier seems to be forgotten, and I shake it off. It wouldn’t be the first time I read something wrong.
Mr. and Mrs. Holloway, or Tom and Mary as I have been instructed to call them, came by and got Hazel. So now it’s just Knox and me—and Alder and Ivy, Colt, Mare and her boyfriend, and Rhett and Winnie. We’re crowded around a small arena, and in the middle sits a mechanical bull. I’ve already signed both of us up to ride it.
“You know I’m more grateful to be pregnant now than I was a few minutes ago, knowing I don’t have to get up there,” Ivy comments.
“Oh, come on. I bet you’d absolutely crush it,” I say.
“Crush it and look so hot doing it,” Ivy agrees.
Winnie sighs. “I think we all know it’s better that I stay out of the ring.” A chorus of agreement follows.
“Agreed.”
“Yes.”
“Affirmative, baby sis.”
“Okay! Rude! Let’s see you get up there!” Winnie says to Colt.
“More than happy to demonstrate a successful ride.” His look at Marigold is anything but subtle, and I fight a blush.
“I wanna go!” I say, and I’m met with cheers from the crowd.
“You gonna be okay on that thing?” I spin to face Knox, grinning.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Should I be?”
“It would be thefriendlything to do,” I tease.
“I don’t think we’re friends, Indiana.”
“We’re not friends? I wasn’t sure.” I play dumb. Teasing him is fun.
He leans closer to me, his mouth coming right next to my ear before whispering. “Friends don’t want to do what I want to do with you, Honey.”
His words send heat racing into my veins.
“Is that a promise?”
“You can bet on it.” I laugh, feeling free and light and bright and shiny. It’s new and exciting, and looking at him, like this, is something I didn’t know I wanted. How can you know you want something when you’ve never felt it before?
“Alright, let’s see it, Colt!” Rhett yells at Colt as he hops onto the back of the metal saddle with horns. I won’t deny that he looks good up there. There’s a twinkle in his eye that tells me he loves the attention on him right now. I subconsciously glance at Marigold. Her boyfriend, Grant, is telling her he needs to leave again.
“You just got here,” she says.
“I know, and I wish I could stay, but I can’t help it that I’m on call. I’ll make it up to you,” he tells her, making her giggle before kissing her hair and heading toward the parking lot. I avert my eyes, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping. The buzzer sounds, and Colt hangs on for the full eight seconds before jumping off and taking a bow. There is a sea of women vying for his attention, but it seems to me that he only has eyes for one.
“Okay, Indie! You’re up!” Colt yells. I nod.
