His mind replayed the words he’d said to her.
“Addy, I will never think of you in that way. Never. You are not my girlfriend and will never be my girlfriend. So stop trying to pretend that you are.”
He remembered pointing his finger at her.
“You clean for me. That’s it. Nothing more.”
His mind replayed the expression that covered her young face. She’d thought she’d done something nice for him, and her smile had been so big; then it seemed to crumble off her face. The biggest tears he’d ever seen welled in her eyes but didn’t slip down her cheeks. She whispered an apology, said it would never happen again, then slipped out of his house. He’d only seen glimpses of her since that day. Even when she came home to visit, she managed to sit in the church’s balcony and slip out of the sanctuary before he had a chance to see her. But then he’d never been worried about seeing her anyway.
He’d been meaner than a copperhead watching over her nest that day, and he’d never thought a thing about it. Until now.
No wonder she wouldn’t take a kiss from him. She wouldn’t want one. He flipped the steaks then sprinkled salt and pepper on top of them. He owed her an apology. He wasn’t very good at giving them, never had been, but he knew he owed her one just the same.
Once the steaks were finished, he placed them on a plate and took them in the house. Having microwaved the potatoes, Addy already had them in a bowl on the kitchen table. Butter and sour cream containers sat beside them.
She didn’t look at him but said, “The rolls should be done in about three minutes.”
Nick placed the steaks beside the potatoes. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out some steak sauce and a couple bottles of water. “I need to talk to you, Addy.”
Addy busied herself at his sink, rinsing off a couple dishes she’d used in the last few minutes. She stuck them in the dishwasher and didn’t turn toward him. “Of course.” She opened the oven door. “I think the rolls are done enough.” She grabbed a pot holder off the counter and lifted the rolls out of the oven. She still wouldn’t look at him as she placed them in a bowl and then set them on the table. “Can we say grace first?”
Nick nodded as Addy slipped into one of the chairs. With a sigh, he sat across from her and extended his hands. She didn’t place her hands in his. Instead he knew she pretended not to notice and closed her eyes. Saying a quick prayer, Nick opened his eyes and watched as Addy hurried through making her potato and cutting her steak. As soon as she could swallow her food, she was gonna run.
“Addy, I need to apologize.”
Addy shoved a piece of roll in her mouth and swallowed. “For what?”
“Well, not for what you think.” He reached across and touched her hand, attempting to get her to look up at him. It worked. She peered at him, but Nick almost faltered at the uncertainty that reflected in her gaze.
Willing himself to have strength, he said, “I almost kissed you.”
She lifted her chin and to her credit continued to look into his eyes. “I know.”
“I’m not sorry for that.”
Confusion seemed to etch her features.
“I’m sorry for the way I treated you all those years ago. For the things I said. I was wrong.”
Addy looked down at her plate. “I was a silly girl. I wasn’t exactly innocent. I know my crush made things hard for you, especially since I was so vocal about it.”
“But I shouldn’t have been mean.” He reached over and cupped her chin with his thumb and index finger until he could peer into her eyes again. He wanted her to see the truth in his words. He needed her to know he meant them. “Those words aren’t true, not anymore, and I’m sorry.”
“Look, Nick. That’s in the past. It doesn’t matter—”
“It does matter,” Nick interrupted her. “My feelings have changed, and to be honest, I don’t know how to think or feel or what is right, and God doesn’t seem to be as vocal with me as He has been with you.”
A slow smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
“But I want to be honest. And I want you to know I’m sorry.”
Addy bit her bottom lip, a habit she’d had in a moment of nervousness since she was a small girl. Her expression softened, and she smiled fully at him, nearly taking his breath away. “Okay.”
“And I want to know if you’ll go to the fair with me this weekend. I’m showing my Angus steer as I do every year.” His confidence started to wane, and he lowered his voice. “And I’d like you to go with me.”
“Okay.”
Nick nodded. “Okay.”
He looked down at his food, pierced a large piece of steak, then shoved it into his mouth. He glanced up at Addy, who still smiled at him. She chuckled lightly then shook her head before she took a bite of her potato.
He reckoned that meant they had a date. His last bantering with Drew slipped into his mind. A guy didn’t lose the bet until he actually tied the knot. He’d just have to find a girl for Drew, then everything would be perfect.
Nine
A wave of concern had washed through Addy when Val showed up on her doorstep for a surprise visit the night of her and Nick’s fair date. Thankfully Drew had been all too happy to go with them, making them a group of four instead of three. Addy feared Nick would be upset that they wouldn’t be alone, but he had been thrilled with the idea of Drew and Val joining them.
“Oh! I haven’t been on a Ferris wheel in forever!” Val exclaimed as she pointed to the huge circular ride as they walked through the entrance.
“Well then, let’s head over there.” Nick took Addy’s hand in his. She noted the scowl on Drew’s face as Nick guided her away.
Why was her brother angry? He and Nick had been friends for, well, for all her life. Trying not to think about it, Addy focused on enjoying the sights and smells of the fair. Her stomach growled as they passed a booth of funnel cake. Due to some kind of conditioned programming in her head from childhood visits with her mom, she simply could not leave the fair without purchasing one.
They passed several game booths. One required a person to flip a ring around the top of a milk jug. Another had the player throwing darts at balloons. The prizes were all very cheap trinkets and stuffed animals. As a child, she remembered begging her parents to help her win a coveted teddy bear that held a bowl of honey in its grip. Before the fair moved on, Drew had won her the bear, which lasted about a week before their dog got ahold of it and ripped it to shreds.
She held tight to Nick’s hand as they approached the Ferris wheel. It was actually one of her least favorite rides. First, the carnival workers erected the enormous contraption in less than a day’s time. Second, it appeared, as it always appeared, that the ride had seen better days—many better days ago. Third, the monster took you high up in the air in a slow circular motion while you sat suspended in little more than a bucket made for two. The Ferris wheel was definitely one of her least favorite rides.
Nick turned and looked behind them. “Here we are.”
Val laughed as she pushed her head back to take in the monstrosity. “Wow! These things are always bigger than I remember.”
Addy tried to disguise her discomfort. “I always remember how big they are.”
“Don’t worry,” Nick said to Val. “Drew will hold on to you if you’re scared.”
Addy watched as her brother clenched his jaw. He shoved his fists in his front pockets, and Addy knew he was about to pummel Nick. Addy looked at her date. What was wrong with him? The entire evening he’d seemed more concerned about Val and Drew than he was about her.
She’d felt so sure he cared about her after their dinner at his house the other night. Tonight he was acting like a teenager who was just trying to help his buddy get a girlfriend. And it was obvious his buddy didn’t want a girlfriend.
Trying to ignore her frustrated thoughts as their turn came up, Addy climbed into the Ferris wheel seat. Nick slipped in beside her. Feeling a moment of panic, she grabbed hold of his h
and. He smiled at her, and for a moment, she thought he might lean over and place a quick kiss on her lips.
The ride moved up a few feet and stopped to allow Val and Drew to get on. “Don’t be afraid, Val! Drew will take care of you!” Nick hollered down to them.
Addy couldn’t take it anymore. She glared at Nick. “What is wrong with you?”
Nick furrowed his eyebrows. “Nothing’s wrong with me.”
“Why are you so worried about Drew and Val? I thought you wanted to go with me to the fair.”
Their seat suddenly lunged forward as the operator started the ride in a full circle. Addy squealed and dug her fingernails into Nick’s arm. Nick wrapped his arm around her, and she tucked her face into his shoulder. “I did want to go with you.”
His arm tightened around her, and she felt his lips press gently against the top of her head. “Don’t be scared, Addy. I’m here for you.”
She felt tears well up in her eyes. She really, really hated the Ferris wheel. She should have just told them that. Val and Drew could have ridden it. Nick could have even ridden it. She didn’t have to do this.
A few tears slipped from her eyes, wetting Nick’s shirt. He probably thought she was a total nut, crying on the Ferris wheel. His hand cradled her chin as he lifted her face toward his. His gaze shone with the concern he felt at her fear. He tightened his grip around her shoulder then released her chin and wiped her tears with his index finger. “I’ll always be here for you.”
He’s going to kiss me. I’m sure of it. And she wanted him to. She loved Nick Martin. She had since she was a little girl. She’d dreamed of marrying him, taking care of him, having children with him for as long as she could remember. Even after five years away, seeing him again was like wiping the dust off an antique item that still held its value. Her love for Nick remained, even more valuable than a schoolgirl crush. Priceless.
She parted her lips ever so slightly and leaned close to him. The seat swung backward as the operator stopped the ride. Terrified, she clutched his shirt and buried her face once again into his shoulder. Nick chuckled. “It’s almost over, Addy. It’s almost over.”
The operator finally stopped her seat at the bottom, and she was able to get off. Standing on solid ground, Addy exhaled a deep breath. “I lived.”
Nick laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “Yes, you did.”
“Now I’m ready for funnel cake.”
“What? You don’t think that will make you sick?”
Addy shook her head. “Oh no. That will make everything all better.”
Nick grabbed her hand in his and turned toward Drew and Val. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to take Addy to get some funnel cake.”
Val smiled. “We don’t mind. Drew and I are going to ride the pendulum.”
Addy looked at the ride that had a single arm reaching way too high in the sky with two covered bucketlike seats on each side. She watched it swing the buckets up and down. Addy shook her head. “I’m definitely not going on that ride.”
Addy looked at her brother, who still stared at Nick as if he wanted to punch him in the face. She couldn’t figure out what was going on with the two of them. They’d acted a little funny when she first moved back in with her parents. They’d always been over-the-top competitive with each other, but lately they seemed to be out for vengeance.
“Let’s go get your funnel cake.”
Nick guided her toward the booth they’d passed earlier. As they stood in line, Addy watched a man dump the batter into a vat of hot grease. He lifted it out and shook powdered sugar on top. Just the smell of the pastry sent Addy’s stomach to growling again.
Nick paid for the treat and soft drinks. They headed to an open table in the pavilion and sat down. Addy pulled a piece off and slipped it into her mouth. The warm, sugary doughnut tasted wonderful, just as it did every time she ate it. “Mmm.”
Nick grinned as he wiped the left side of her chin with his index finger. “You’ve got sugar on you.”
Addy felt her face heat up. She’d spent many a night dreaming of a first date with Nick. Now that it was finally happening, she felt like a teenager again. She took a sip of her Coke, trying to think of something to talk about. She looked at him. “How do you think your Angus will score tomorrow?”
Nick’s face lit up in animation. “Pretty good. My biggest competition is your brother, and normally he beats me. But this year I think I have a really good chance.”
“That’s great.” She pulled off another piece of funnel cake. “I’ll be here to cheer you on.” She popped it into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “ ’Course I have to cheer Drew on as well.”
He leaned forward. His deep brown eyes seemed to pierce through hers. “But you’re gonna cheer a little more for me, right?”
Addy felt dizzy at the smell of his cologne, at the closeness of his face. Her heart still sped up and stopped at varying times when she was around him. Now it felt as if it would beat through her skin. Unable to resist, she touched the slight cleft in his chin with her index finger. “Of course.”
❧
A stunned Nick stared at the oversize blue ribbon and the certificate that named him the winner of the category. He could hardly believe it. His Angus took first place. Drew’s took second. It was the first time Nick had experienced the victory. The first time Drew had to buy him a steak dinner instead of the other way around. And winning felt good.
“You finally got me.” Drew walked up to him, his hand extended.
Nick grabbed hold of his hand and shook it. “It’s about time.”
“One of these days I’m going to beat you both,” Mike put in as he walked up beside Drew.
Nick and Drew looked at each other and laughed. Poor Mike—he never won at anything they wagered on. Not that Mike wasn’t a great guy and a terrific friend. He just didn’t seem to come out on top in their contests.
Nick rubbed his belly. “I’m going to order myself the biggest steak on the menu.”
Drew grinned. “That’s what I always do—and will do again next year.”
Mike piped up. “I’m telling you two. Next year is my turn.”
“Nick!” Addy’s voice sounded from behind him. He started to turn around when long, soft arms wrapped around his neck. A whiff of her floral shampoo washed across his nostrils. He wrapped his arms around her, welcoming her hug. All too soon she released him. “Congratulations. You finally beat my brother.”
He looked at Drew. His friend squinted. If he’d been able to, he’d have shot fiery arrows at his sister and him from his gaze.
“Look. I gotta go.” She flitted her hand in the air. “Val’s running around here somewhere, but I told Gracie I’d meet her at the front.”
She turned toward Drew and Mike. “Bye, y’all. See you in a bit.”
Once Addy was out of earshot, Nick crossed his arms and widened his stance. “What is the matter with you, Drew?”
Drew gripped the metal fence gate for the animals. “I told you that you better not lead my sister on.”
“I’m not leading her on.” Nick unlaced his arms. “The truth is, I’m really starting to care for Addy.”
“Oh, really.” Drew nodded his head. He looked at Mike then back at Nick. “So, you’re gonna lose our bet?”
Nick snorted. “Well, I don’t know. You seemed awful cozy with Val last night.”
“I was not cozy with Val. You were trying to push her on me. I suppose so you won’t lose the bet. Is that right?”
Mike shook his head. “That ain’t cool, Nick.”
“I was not trying to push Val on you.” Conviction weighed Nick’s gut. That was exactly what he was trying to do. He didn’t give one whit about Drew finding a girl. And after last night, Nick felt even more confident about his feelings for Addy.
He glared at his friends as his feelings and his guilt mixed together. “I don’t care if you get yourself a girl or not. I don’t care about that ridiculous bet.”
Nick hesitated. It had been awesome beating Drew at cornhole, during Bible school, and now with his Angus. He’d beaten Drew at times before, and of course he always beat Mike, but lately he’d been winning every good-natured competition they had. “Well, I—”
“This is what I’m talking about. You’re hesitating.” Drew took a step forward and pointed at Nick’s chest. “You and I have been the best of friends since I was born, but I won’t let you hurt my sister. I won’t let you play games with her. She is not to be a part of any bet.”
Anger rose within Nick’s chest. “Of course she would never be a part of a bet.”
“Oh yeah.” Drew spread his arms wide. “You’re dragging her into it by not being honest with her. Either you care about her, and you stand beside it or you don’t. You don’t go around trying to hook me up with someone just so you can have my sister and win our bet. I thought you were more of a friend than that.” Drew turned away from him. “I thought you were more of a man than that.”
Everything in Nick wanted to grab Drew by the neck and wring some sense into him. But the truth of his words pounded at his chest like a hammer to a nail.
Mike’s voice sounded lower than Drew’s when he added, “He’s right, Nick.” Then he turned and walked away.
Nick stared at the certificate and the ribbon in his hand. His gut knotted until he felt he would be sick. Walking away from the stalls, he wandered toward his truck. Opening the door, he hopped inside and rested his hands on top of the steering wheel.
He stared at the fair. Dozens of people meandered in and out, venturing to booths and games and rides. He watched couples walk hand in hand and parents holler after their children to slow down. Addy was somewhere in there. With Val and Gracie. Wyatt would be in there as well. Tagging along with his wife and their unborn baby.
Nick wanted that with Addy. He wanted what Wyatt had. His mind cleared of all the doubts and concerns. It was his own foolishness and pride that had his mind all wadded up in knots.
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