Chapter 4
Mabel
From the moment we set off I could see that Levi was in his element.
The first challenge was to put together a wheel barrow and Levi had the thing half built while I was still unfolding the instructions.
We had to fill the thing with potatoes and then wheel it through a little obstacle course to where we had to take turns throwing them at a target.
Each person in the pair had to hit the target once, each taking it in turns to throw.
Levi hit it six times before I got mine but when I did he gave me a high five and a big grin.
The next thing was the obstacle course. Levi cheered me on and helped me through it.
It actually felt really good. A sense of accomplishment.
And in all the things I’ve entered over the years, I’ve never had someone cheering me on.
And so, when it was his turn, I joined in with the crowd.
Jumping up and down, calling out encouragement.
Mr. Daniels the history professor. He is quite a bit older than me but we are good friends. I’m often borrowing books from him. He gave me a nod and a well done. And then later, when Mr. Daniels waved to me from across the town square.
“Is that the sort of guy you go for?”
“What? Old Mr. Daniels? He and I are just friends.”
“Okay, sure. He wasn’t looking at you like you’re just friends.”
There is a hint of jealousy in Levi’s voice, but I must be crazy.
And sure, Mr. Daniels isn’t that much older than me, probably only a ten or fifteen years.
Probably Levi thinks that is the only guy I could get.
An older, quiet professor who like to read.
It wouldn’t cross Levi’s mind that I might be attracted to a fucking sexy, hot cowboy my own age.
It’s not like Levi didn’t get his fair of attention. And when he winked at a group of girls and they went off giggling I felt myself feeling strangely jealous.
“Plain to see what sort of girls you like.”
“Just being friendly.” He says it with that damn smile of his. Well, he can be friendly with whomever he likes. I don’t care anyway.
I’ll just keep telling myself that.
And we were finally moving onto the clue part of the treasure hunt. The first being a puzzle that Levi and I sit down on the ground to complete.
“I may not be good at riding or flirting or know how to be popular, but this stuff I can do.” I say with a proud smile.
“Is that why you enter all those competitions?” He asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you trying to make up for not fitting in?”
“Look, I was never going to be Miss. Popular. I’m not the kind of girl that gets asked to dance at prom.” I shrug, hoping it looks like I’m not bothered by it. “I’ve come to terms with who I am. I just don’t like all that other stuff. I like reading and learning about history. It’s who I am.”