Anyone But Rich (Anyone But..., #1)(58)

I let out a long sigh. I never understood how I always seemed to wind up surrounded by so many idiots.

“As I was saying,” Nick continued. “You jumped on the idea of coming to West Valley. Wild guess. You wanted to get back with Iris.”

“Listen,” Cade said. “I’m not pathetic like the two of you. I don’t want a relationship. I don’t want to lay in bed and talk about our favorite colors and that time we almost drowned at the beach when we were kids. Would I be happy to make Officer Iris have the orgasm of her life? Sure. Am I going to lose sleep thinking about it? Hell no. So don’t try to drag me into your pathetic little lovesick world.”

Nick shook his head in disgust. “I wonder if you actually believe half the things that come out of your own mouth.”

“You two are welcome to keep this up,” I said. “But I’m going to go find Kira.”

“And bring the wrath of Dickless down on us,” Cade shouted as he banged on the door again before putting his mouth against it and shouting. “Good. I say you sneak into his house and have a good, dirty fuck right on his bed. With Kira,” Cade added.

“I know I’m going to bring shit down on our heads,” I said. “But I care about Kira. It’s that simple. I wish it didn’t mean consequences for all of us, but I don’t think it would matter what he threatened me with. It’s not going to change the way I feel.”

“Barf,” Cade said, but he was smirking. “Go to her,” he whispered.

“Yeah, get out of here. I think Cade and I are going to stay put for a little. I’m actually feeling a nap coming on.”

Mayor Summerland finally decided to speak again. “I heard you say there was a way out the back. I’m not an idiot.”

“Good,” Cade said through the door. “Then we’re going to stand here and watch you awkwardly scurry back through the weeds to your car. And that’s if you can find your way through the building in the dark.”

Nick was smiling wide. He nudged Cade and gave him an approving nod.

I was almost sad that I didn’t stay to watch the awkward retreat of the mayor. Almost.





Chapter 21





KIRA


West Valley was “famous” for the summer fair we put on every year. In other words, everybody in town looked forward to it and nobody five miles outside West Valley had any clue about it. I was excited all the same, especially because Rich had agreed to spend the evening with me.

I met him near the main street, where tents were already set up for people to show off their favorite home cooking, crafts, and talents or just sit around in the shade and watch everybody enjoy themselves. Music played from everywhere and merged into a kind of nameless buzz of thumping bass and plucked chords.

It had always amazed me how a certain smell could practically zap me back to the past. Someone was making funnel cakes, and with one sniff, I was seven again. I could almost feel the grips of my mom’s and my dad’s hands in mine. I could remember how I’d pitched a fit because they made me wait until after lunch to come to the fair, since they didn’t want me to fill up on junk food. Even back then, I hadn’t been close to them. Not really.

The smell passed, and the memory floated away with it.

Seeing Rich was its own kind of strange. I kept expecting to get used to it, and yet every time I saw him, there was a giddy rush of disbelief. I’d play back snapshot memories of what we’d done together, of words he’d said. I’d scrutinize them like a detective trying to find what I was missing. There had to be a catch, right? But no matter how hard I looked, I found myself falling only deeper for him. I’d remember the way his eyes would crinkle and his lips would twitch if he thought I’d said something cute. Or the way he seemed so casual and calm, but if I ever stumbled or did something clumsy, he was immediately there to catch me.

The truth was right there in my head, and if I doubted it, all I had to do was see the way he looked at me. Richard King was the most unattainable guy I’d ever known. And I was starting to think he loved me. I was starting to think I loved him.

“You okay?” Rich asked. “You’re looking a little devious down there.”

“Down there? Come on. You’re not that much taller than me.”

Rich put his hand on top of my head like kids used to when they’d compare height in elementary school. He put his chest up close to me and then slid his hand across the gap between us. It caught him right in the middle of his chest, probably a full foot or more below the top of his head. “If you say so,” he said.

I grabbed his hand and pushed it up a few inches. “I did a lot of walking this morning. My body has compressed some. That’s my normal height. Right there.”

Rich laughed. “Your body has compressed. What do you think you’re made of, clay?”

“It’s true. Your spine compresses throughout the day. Look it up.”

He pulled me in for a one-armed hug and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll trust you.”

I knew it was silly, but heat surged through me. It was pathetic how easily he could melt me. The simple gesture and his words felt like they meant so much more than it would seem on the surface.

I smiled like an idiot as we walked, replaying the moment a few times so it’d still be crystal clear whenever I wanted to pull it back up again.