18. Chapter 18
Erik
I love the autumn fair.
Ever since I was a little child and used to practice my shooting skills at one of the booths, trying hard to win a plush toy for Aunt Molly. We used to munch on cinnamon churros while watching people carve the funniest faces into pumpkins, tossed bean bags and drank apple juice and cider.
I take a deep breath and let it form into a happy hum at the back of my throat. It smells like fall: cinnamon, apples, and sugar.
Only a few clouds are in the sky, the air is crisp and the golden and red leaves turn the main square into the autumn setting.
I’m here on official business to keep an eye on things, but I doubt I’m needed this year. As far as I’m aware, there are no potential troublemakers around. Aunt Molly is sharing one of the stands with a jewelry maker from Kinstead, selling prints of her art.
"There you are, Erik." Harry appears in front of me like out of thin air, a clipboard with a hundred checklists in his hands, flipping through the pages with jerky movements.
"Here I am, Harry. What can I do for you?"
"The woman manning the pumpkin carving booth sliced into her finger, which means one of my security guys has to jump in and take her place while we get her to the ER.
" He flips through the lists, panic making his voice an octave higher.
"Now, the second shift is coming in in half an hour, but until then, could you please man the fireworks?
Those damn teenagers have been trying to sneak in and grab some. "
"Sure." I follow him over to one of the tents. “But I do have to leave the post if I’m called in.”
"Yes, of course. Just give me a ring and I’ll think of something. Thank you, Erik."
He motions for the security guard to go with him and they rush off.
"Half an hour, Harry!" I shout after him.
Though I'm not complaining about getting to sit down. A happy sigh falls from my lips once my weight is off my feet. I cross my arms in front of my chest and proceed to do some people-watching.
The autumn fair and the Christmas market are when Wayward Hollow gets the most tourism.
Mostly families who enjoying the activities, but in recent years, influencers have joined the tourism cycle.
Apparently, our gazebo is a prime photo spot.
They pose in front of it and in the park with their beige or brown autumn outfits, snap their social media pictures, then drive right off to their next photo spot.
There's one of them now. A girl, I'd estimate to be in her early twenties, with gala-worthy hair and make-up, trying to get hay off her shoes. I can't help but grin.
Nic and Henry stroll past me, they're so tuned in with each other they don't even notice me. Only when Jensen pulls on his leash to say hi do they realize I’m sitting here.
"Erik, hey there." Nic's face breaks into a smile. "I didn't know you had to work today."
"Every year it’s either the autumn fair or the Christmas market." I shrug and run my fingers through Jensen's fur. It's so soft. "So, I picked the autumn fair again. I'm not about to miss out on whatever Kieran's got planned for the Christmas market."
"Wise decision. Hey, did you see Lauren and Caleb? I've been looking for them."
"If I were you, I'd try the water apple-picking booth." Bobby's voice appears out of nowhere, and so does the man himself. "Lauren seemed very motivated to get Caleb to catch one of them for her."
Nic's and Henry's eyes widen and they shoot each other a look, surprise turning into amusement, then to glee.
"I have to see that," Nic declares. She gives me a little wave, then pulls on Henry’s arm and off they are, Jensen trotting after them. Bobby watches them leave, leaning heavily on his cane.
"Hey Bobby, everything alright? Do you want to sit down?" I’m already halfway to a stand when he waves me off.
"No, no, stay." He takes a step closer. "I'm about to get myself a nice caramel apple and sit with Courtney and Phil. Can I get you anything?"
"I'm fine, thank you." I stretch my arms over my head. "I shouldn't be much longer. Harry said the second shift of security would come in-" I check my watch. "Allegedly five minutes."
"Five minutes, eh?" He nods, chuckling. We both know it will take longer than that.
Harry has not mastered the art of organization too well, even with all the years of leading the autumn fair and Christmas market.
The slightest case of chaos is enough to throw him off, and someone slicing into their hand absolutely counts as ‘chaos.’ "Then I'll leave you to it. See you around, Erik."
"See you around, Bobby."
Five minutes turn into ten, but then, finally, my replacement appears, and I can go back to wandering the fair under the guise of keeping an eye on things.
But I barely make it five steps towards the fair, when two arms capture one of mine and hug it to a chest.
"Hey, Erik." I glance down and find Kylie's insanely blue eyes. I was hoping I’d run into her and now that she’s here, my heart pounds with the intensity of a jackhammer. "Bobby mentioned you're here and bored out of your mind."
"Bobby is a meddling gossip." I chuckle and rub the back of my neck.
"Oh." Her hold on my arm loosens, which feels all kinds of wrong. "Anyway, what are you up to?"
"You know, just walking around, making sure everyone behaves." I make a vague gesture at the fair, which couldn’t be more peaceful. The greatest offense to maybe happen today is one of the dogs stealing a sausage from the hot dog booth.
"Mind if I join you? I mean, not working, because obviously I'm not a cop, but..." Her grin widens. "I am great company."
"I mean, I can't stop you." Her face falls. Smooth, Erik. "And I wouldn't want to." Her smile slowly returns. "Where's Abby?"
"Hanging out with Kieran and Dick." Her lips purse into an adorable pout.
"Damn traitor likes Dick more than me." I bite the insides of my cheeks to keep from chuckling as I start walking.
"Oh, hell no, that sounded wrong. In my head, the two of them are besties, not romantically involved. At least I hope so.”
She’s so adorable and the way her face turns into a shocked grimace is too cute to keep my laughter contained any longer.
"Is everything alright, Kylie?" I press out. There’s a straw of hay stuck to her hair. I try to pluck it out, but it’s woven into her hair, so it takes me a moment. "Are you tipsy?"
"I might have had a cider." She clears her throat ever so subtly leans into my touch. "Or five. Why, is it that obvious?"
"Yes. Yes, it is. You're cute when you're tipsy." I hold up the straw I freed from her hair.
"Only when I'm tipsy?" Our eyes meet, and the air between us crackles.
"No," I mumble and let the straw fall to the ground. "Not only when you're tipsy."
"That, Erik, is the correct answer.” She holds my gaze, pulling her lip between her teeth, searching the answer for an unspoken question on my face. “Come on.” Her eyes dart to my arm she’s still holding. “Let's get a churro. I've been smelling these all day, and I'm dying to get my hands on one."
We stroll to the food truck, following the churros’ scent. Aunt Molly’s booth is packed, what must be twenty people checking out her and her booth partner’s items, so I only greet her with a quick wave.
Once we arrive at the food truck, Kylie stops in her tracks and pouts.
"Oh wow, the line wasn't this long before."
"Let me try something." Skepticism is written all over her face, but she lets me pull her along.
I know the guy who runs this food truck.
Javier. He also owns a restaurant two towns over.
Whenever my job brings me remotely close, I make sure to pay him a visit.
It's a mix between a café and a diner, and the churros are, without a doubt, the best thing he has on his menu.
His food truck is regularly booked out for weddings, school events and birthdays, so truly, Wayward Hollow should be honored he keeps the autumn fair dates open.
He even decorated his truck with pumpkin stickers all over and fake leaf garlands around the window he operates out of.
"Javi!" I shout once I see his familiar black-haired head. His head shoots up and he searches the crowd until he finds me. "How's Maria doing?"
"Erik, my man!" He exchanges a quick sentence with his employee, then jumps out of the food truck, appearing from behind it with a smile rivaling the late afternoon sun.
"Maria, man, she's doing awesome. You know, she got past the morning sickness, and now she's all glowing.
" He talks a lot with his hands, motioning towards his face.
"And, we're having twins. Can you believe it? "
"Congratulations." I clasp his shoulder and give it a squeeze. "That's amazing. Get ready for a lot of sleepless nights."
"It’s okay, I'm excited." Then he notices Kylie and directs her attention to her. "And who's this beautiful woman?"
"I'm Kylie." She lets go of my arm to shake his hand, and I already miss it.
"Lovely to meet you. I’ve been salivating over the scent of your churros for the past six hours.
" He lets go of her hand and darts back into the truck. When he turns back to her, he’s got tongs in his hand and narrows his eyes.
"You look like a cinnamon kind of person." He points the tongs at her. When she doesn’t disagree, he turns to the fryer.
Before Kylie knows what's happening, she's got a paper bowl with a bunch of cinnamon and sugar sprinkled churros in her hand.
"How did you—"
"Please, be careful, they’re fresh out of the fryer. And Erik, knowing you, it's chocolate as always, yes?"
I raise my hand to offer him a fist bump. "Please, Javi. I've been dreaming about your churros."
"And I'm pretty sure Maria's been dreaming about your pretty face." He bursts into laughter, meanwhile I feel my cheeks turning as hot as Kylie’s churros. "Here you go."
"Hold on, let me—" I pull my wallet out of the inside pocket of my jacket, but he waves me off.
"Are you kidding me? Put that away."