Chapter 3
Colt
As always, Saturday's Farmers Market is bustling.
The September chill in the air doesn't keep the residents of Corvid Valley away from their weekend tradition.
After helping my umpteenth customer of the day, my eyes wander down the stands, and I'm annoyed when my body reacts to the sight of Serena at her booth.
Tessa comes up behind me with bunches of rosemary to fill in the gaps on the table and looks over to where I'm staring. "Looks like your neighbor's having an excellent Saturday as well," she says, giving me a knowing smile.
"Yeah. I don't get it," I mumble, which makes her giggle and shake her head.
Before I can ask her what's so funny, her parents, Miguel and Dawn, stop by.
"Hey, Mom. Will you get me the tea I like from Serena? I'm all out."
"Of course, sweetie," Dawn says, giving me a half-hug hello.
Right then, Miguel's brother and my friend since elementary school, Armando Mendoza, shows up with his four-year-old son, Gabriel.
"Hey, man. No Erin today?"
"She's at home with the baby. Luz has the sniffles. My baby girl needs to be better for her birthday."
"Aww. My baby cousin has to be better by her birthday party," Tessa says.
"Yeah. Erin has given me an assignment to check out Serena Tuttle's herbs and teas over there to see if she has anything that would be appropriate for her."
Furrowing my brow, I bite back a snarky comment.
"Oh hey, Colt, can I place an order for Mexican mint marigold for the party? I'm making my world-famous Mexican-style burgers."
"Yeah, of course. I have a good harvest right now, too."
"Alright, man. Exceptional. And you're coming. Right?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
After the morning rush, Tessa takes off to enjoy her Saturday like a teenager should. Customers are steady throughout the rest of the day, but not like the morning rush. Goldie, the Farmers Market manager, swings by an hour after lunch and approaches my table.
"Hey, Colt. Before I forget, just a heads up, but you're sharing a booth for the Harvest Festival this year."
"Oh, seriously?" I ask, surprised.
"Yeah, all local farmers are, because we've had an insane amount of outside people signing up, and we just need to condense."
"Alright. Well, that's good. I bet you guys are making bank with that. Who am I paired with?"
Right then, Goldie is called to the office over the announcement speaker.
"Oh, shit, Colt. Something must be up. I have to run," she says and takes off.
I arrive a little late to baby Luz's birthday party and head straight to the Mendoza's backyard. I see several coyotes racing, and when they get to a row of orange cones, all three shift into their human-forms. Mateo, Miguel, and Alondra laugh as they transform.
"I won," Alondra announces, lifting her hands up into the air.
Her husband, Jett, walks over with a beer for "my crazy fast wife," he says, kissing her temple before handing it to her.
Even after several years, I still can't get used to the fact that my friend's sister is married to a rock star I grew up with.
It's incredibly trippy to hang out with him.
Walking over to Armando at the grill, I hand him some fresh Mexican marigold. "I brought some extra just in case."
"Thanks, man."
Scanning the party, my eyes settle on a familiar curvy figure whose auburn hair is braided into two pigtails. My breath catches, which annoys me, and I force myself to recover. "You're friends with Serena?" I ask, trying to sound casual.
"Oh, yeah. Erin loves her. When Luz was born, Erin was having trouble producing enough breast milk, and Serena made her this tea blend that was a lifesaver. They've been pals ever since."
Erin's cousin Meredith pokes her head over Armando's shoulder.
"Those look amazing," she says, then turns to me.
"Your neighbor also makes fantastic teas for women during that time of the month, and when Aunt Flo gets kicked to the curb as well.
" She says, before sauntering off to her husband, Calvin.
I hang out with Armando by the grill for a while, glancing at my neighbor talking to different guests. No matter what I think of her hippie-dippie stuff, she certainly has impressed many people I respect.
After lunch, we sing to the one-year-old, who then destroys the cupcake in front of her, covering herself adorably in pink frosting. I notice Serena helping Armando and Meredith slice the cake, then passing around pieces to the guests.
When I see her coming towards me, my heart begins to race, which I find incredibly irritating. Smiling up at me, she hands me a slice of birthday cake.
"So I hear we're booth partners for the harvest festival."
"What?" I blurt out. "We're together?"
My tone must appear rude because she gives me an incredulous look and squares her hands on her hips.
"Listen, I don't know what your deal is with me, but it's getting tiresome, and we're stuck together unless you're in the mood to argue with Goldie," she says, spinning on her heel and stomping away.
I stand there like a dummy, holding a slice of bright pink cake, wondering why the hell watching her storm off makes her even sexier.
When the clock hits 3 AM, I give up on trying to fall asleep and turn on the shower.
Under the steaming hot stream, I stretch my neck, thinking a good rub down will help me fall asleep.
With soap pumped in my hand, I begin to stroke my cock, picturing my favorite space princess in a certain outfit that has gotten me hot and bothered for decades now.
Closing my eyes, I rest my head under the stream as I picture her lips around my cock, while sucking it and stroking the shaft with her other hand.
Fantasizing that I look down at my space princess, I pretend she looks up at me with her big brown eyes and wet auburn hair plastered across her back.
Whoa, wait, auburn hair?
My strokes become faster as I realize I'm fantasizing about Serena sucking and licking my cock like she's in love with it. Before I can shut my mind off, my body shatters as I spill my seed into the swirling water.
With my heart racing, I slam my hand against the tile, steadying myself, and try to catch my breath.
What the fuck was that?