Chapter Thirty
I picked out a green cropped T-shirt, Cash’s favourite colour, to wear with my denim shorts.
I lean in close to the mirror and slowly graze mascara across my top lashes.
The best part of my outfit, though, is Mom’s vintage cowgirl boots.
They make me feel beautiful and closer to Daisy and Dottie.
I push my toe into the supple leather that feels and smells like home.
I tug on the loops until my heel pops into place.
It’s been three days since Cash and I first kissed in the barn. I’ve used every moment of extra time I’ve had to prepare for Emery’s birthday, stealing kisses from Cash in between. The market was a success this Thursday and the honey is ready to harvest completely.
Emery and I got snacks and drinks, yard games, volleyball and blankets set up all afternoon. Cash spent the day cutting down dead junipers and I split it into firewood. The left-over logs are going to stay long to put on the fire as it grows. It will truly be a bonfire.
Music floods my ears as I open the mudroom door.
I walk up the road, the gravel under my feet less and less audible as I get closer to the party.
Cash said to take my time coming out, as he and the guys would be getting the fire going for a while, so I did.
But now it’s clear I’ve been oblivious to what’s happening.
A zillion voices boom in the distance and parked cars line the road as far as I can see.
Emery said it would just be a few friends.
I hold tightly to the cool metal handles of the pitchers in each hand, my palms growing slick with fear. In an effort to be a little fancy, I made sour cherry and honey spritzer, but it doesn’t sound like that type of crowd.
“What the hell?” I mutter to myself, unable to see over the crest of the hill.
I make my way through the pasture gate. As I turn to pull it shut with my foot, someone bounces up behind me and grabs it.
It’s Kaylee. She looks like the stereotypical country girl – her blonde hair has been braided to the side, she has on jean shorts, a red tank with scalloped sleeves, and her brown cowboy boots perfectly compliment the outfit with bright red stitching.
I gulp, realizing our outfits mirror one another – mine in green, hers in red.
“What are you doing here?” I ask in surprise.
She roughly pulls the gate closed. “A friend told me about this party. Why do you care if I’m here?”
“Um, because it’s my place?”
She holds up two bags of giant marshmallows and slaps them against her legs. Her lip curls and she snarls, “You’ve got to be fricking kidding me. This is supposed to be the best party of the summer, and it’s just my luck it’s yours.”
“Just your luck?” I scoff. “It was only supposed to be for a few people. For friends.”
She looks around the ranch, taking in the barren fields, the cliffs and the orchard. “How is it I didn’t know you live here? My ranch is on the next mesa over.”
“Don’t know. I didn’t know that either.” I shrug.
“Cash only said yours is closer to Pinesridge.” My arms are getting tired from the drink pitchers, so I start towards the party.
It grows louder by the second, the beat of the music thrumming in my chest. Damn Emery – she took this party thing and ran with it.
Kaylee comes up behind me and huffs, “Look, Dahlia. That’s your name, right?”
I turn back reluctantly.
“Hang on, OK?” she sighs. “All of this is super awkward. I’ve just been needing to blow off some steam.”
I flick my eyes to the side and bite the inside of my lip. “OK…”
A girl catches up to us and takes Kaylee’s hand.
“Hi!” she says in an overly enthusiastic voice. I look to the two girls, obviously friends, and long for Lani.
Kaylee’s silent for a moment, giving me a look as if to say I’m sorry she interrupted. It throws me off, especially when she cracks a small smile. It’s like airing out her feelings cleared the tension between us.
She breaks the silence and says, “You haven’t missed much, by the way. The guys have been entertaining themselves like cavemen. It’s like they’ve never seen fire or something. They do this every time.”
Her statement makes me wonder how many fires she shared with Cash. A giant pang of jealousy hits me square in the chest.
As we get to the party, I watch as she says hi and waves to people standing around with drinks in their hands.
She’s being genuinely personable, making me think maybe she’s not quite as bad as she seems. Maybe I’ve seen the worst sides of her.
My eyes dart around, but I can’t see Cash.
I set my pitchers down on a folding table and slide my hand down my braid, raking my nails through the loose end.
I send Lani a video, circling around, showing her Emery’s birthday party. You at the luau? I ask.
She sends me a text. Not yet, remember the time?
Right! Sorry.
What happened to just having a few friends over?!
Not sure. Cash and I haven’t been seen in public yet though. I felt like I was ready for that, but … this is a lot of people.
No joke. Good luck. Let me know how it goes!
Will do. Have fun at the luau with your guy!
“Hey,” Cash purrs in my ear, startling me.
I punch a fist into his shoulder. “You scared me.”
“That was the point,” he laughs, sliding his hand into the pocket of my shorts and giving my butt a squeeze.
I yelp and grasp his hand. “Where were you?” I tilt my head into him.
He whispers playfully, “Watering the junipers.”
“Watering the –? Oh.” I nod.
I push my head into his chest, hoping I can stay here all night and escape small talk. “I’m confused about what’s happening,” I say, waving my hand at the crowd.
“Me too. People keep showing up.” He puts a soft hand round me. “Hank told me he heard guys from Silver Springs talking about it. Emery didn’t ask you if she could invite this many people?”
“All she said was a few friends.” I watch as Kaylee digs a nail into the thin marshmallow bag. She holds a marshmallow up to a guy’s mouth and he takes the whole thing in one shark-like bite. “Did you know Kaylee would be here?”
“No fricking clue. Do you want me to ask her to leave?”
There have got to be a hundred people here. So many they’ve brought their own chairs and coolers.
“No. It’s not like it matters any more, especially now that all the media hype is over.”
“Ready for a drink, then?” Cash asks, smiling sweetly. The fire’s glow illuminates half his face, creating a flicker of light in his right eye. He makes me burn as hot as those flames.
I shrug. “Sure.”
He fetches beer from one of the dozen coolers people brought up and he looks back, a mischievous smile curling on one side of his mouth.
He must have seen the fire in my eyes. I don’t feel alone as I stand by myself listening to others chat.
I’m taken off guard as Emery hip checks me, sending me closer to the fire than I’d like.
“What do you think?” she asks.
“I think you’re unbelievable!” I tell her, scowling. “You totally took advantage of me, and I’m pissed at you right now.”
She holds up her hands in defence. “I did not invite all these people. But it’s cool, Dahlia. You’ll be popular now.”
I take a jagged breath. “That’s what you think I care about?”
“Dahlia, look at the fun they’re having!”
“If even the littlest thing goes wrong … I swear to God, Emery … if it does, you’re going to be the one to tell everyone to leave. Right now, you need to tell them to stay away from the barn. Do you understand?”
She rolls her eyes. “Sheesh, I thought we could have fun together tonight.”
I close my eyes, infuriated. “You don’t get it, do you?”
Cash finds a place next to us and cracks open my beer. A pillow of white foam puffs out.
“It’s my birthday, you know,” Emery argues.
“I know, and I want you to have a happy birthday, but, Emery, please…” I wave to the barn. “You have to go tell them to stay away from the barn.”
“Fine! Whatever!”
I take a very long swig of my beer and watch her walk away. Cash puts an arm round my shoulders and tugs me into his chest. He runs a hand down my back and kisses the top of my head.
“I know this wasn’t what you expected, but how about we make the best of it? We’ll have a drink, eat cake, play cornhole and roast marshmallows, if you want.”
“OK.” I nod. “That sounds like fun.”
No one’s eyes are on Cash and me like I imagined they would be. And even when a bunch of guys pile up next to us, none of them treat me differently. Cash lights up when one of his friends jumps on his back.
“Hey, bro,” his friend says.
“Dahlia, this is my friend Hank I was telling you about. Hank, Dahlia.”
Hank looks at me with kind eyes and pulls me in for a gentle hug.
“Girl, it’s so nice to meet you. My boy here can’t stop talking about you.” Then he turns. “And this is my boyfriend, Joseph.”
Cash shakes Joseph’s hand. “Nice to meet you,” he says, and I hug him too.
Joseph points at me with one hand on his hip. “You slay in that fit.”
“Thank you.”
We’re all startled when a guy in a brown cowboy hat comes up behind Cash and slaps him on the shoulder. “Hey, pemmican boy!” He says it so loudly everyone freezes and stares.
I watch as Cash winces at the nickname. The guy wraps a drunken arm round Cash and twists a knuckle into his cheek.
“Y’all havin’ fun?” He looks between us. “Ready to get rowdy?”
Cash peels him off. “It’s not that kind of party, man.”
“Sure it is.” He takes a swig of his beer and looks me up and down. “Damn… How come we haven’t met yet?” He snaps his fingers and points at me. “Wait… You’re the girl from the videos, huh?”
Cash balls his fists. His biceps flex and Hank grabs his arm to steady him.
Cash nods at Hank in thanks and grunts at the other guy, “Time for you to leave.”
He raises his hands in mock surrender. “Fine! I just hope there’ll be more videos,” he says, and winks at me.
Hank and Joseph follow him out, making sure he gets a ride with someone sober.