ever want. No woman could ever compare to her and what we had, and that’s why I am the way I am with any girl I date. It’s never love, just a state of being to make life easier, I guess. That’s how I’ve lived my life for the past ten years, and I have to find a way to get back to that.
Without another word, I get up and walk across the boat and onto the dock, desperate to get away from her before I say something I’ll regret.
The midway is crowded. People everywhere are cheering, hollering, laughing, and there’s plenty of cotton candy, corn dogs, and Coors Light. Bright lights and loud music round out the festivities.
It’s Loggers Play Day , and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It is a time-honored tradition here in Riverside. Every September the entire town comes together to celebrate the long standing logging businesses. It used to be a day that all of forestry was celebrated. Now it’s just an excuse for local loggers to get drunk and show off their chainsaws.
It’s a strange feeling being back here and being older. I would say wiser too, but that’s not the case because I’m looking for Zac in the sea of people when I shouldn’t be.
I know he’s here, I can feel it.
Standing in the middle of the madness, I pop a deep fried piece of heaven known as an elephant ear into my mouth. I moan loudly when the butter, cinnamon, and sugar hit my tongue. I damn near melt into a puddle of goodness on the grass.
“That good, huh?” Justin teases from beside me.
“So much better than I remember.”
Row scarfs down her gyro next to me. Luke and Holly share a pretzel as they walk hand in hand. Walker and Justin drink their beers, and another couple we went to high school with chase their kids from booth to booth.
I’m so happy to be here, even if it is hot as hell. It’s a damn good night for a carnival and celebration.
The sun is setting over the enormous dirt lot, the bright orange ball disappearing behind the expansive rows of carnival games. I stop what I’m doing and watch for a moment, feeling a tad wistful. The setting sun leaves a bittersweet longing in my chest, wishing I were here with Zac. Maybe somewhere he’s watching it too. Shaking my head at the thought, I take a drink of my lemonade and keep walking, ignoring the feelings.
“Play with me,” Justin demands, stopping next to a water gun horse race booth.
“Hell yeah.” Never one to turn down a chance to kick Justin’s ass at something, I follow him and Walker to a brightly lit booth.
“I’m down,” Walker announces, snagging my elbow and pulling me up to the game.
Justin has always been the sibling I never had. The brother I always wanted and the friend I always needed. He may be Zac’s brother, but he and I were always just as close.
Walker has always been like a brother too—a brother I want to strangle.
“Now don’t cry when you lose.” Picking up his gun, Walker smirks over his shoulder at me. He’s handsome, and I wonder why he’s still single.
“I’ll try,” I mutter sarcastically, picking up my own gun.
We all sit down on the uncomfortable, small stools. Row claims the seat next to me. Walker’s on the other side of Justin. Justin gets all cool on me, and doesn’t need to prop his elbow on the platform to take aim. I decide to take full advantage of it. I don’t remember these guns being this damn heavy.
The carny starts to ramble, announcing the rules and shouting insults at the guys, all in good fun. Suddenly, he stops talking and rings the buzzer before I’m barely able to get into position. My finger immediately squeezes the trigger, but it’s obvious within two seconds I’m gonna lose. Justin is focused, his horse halfway across the board already. Walker is close behind him.
Row looks over at me and we share a look, both of us knowing there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell we’re winning this thing.
We do the only thing we can—we cheat.
Twisting in my seat, I shoot Walker and
Without another word, I get up and walk across the boat and onto the dock, desperate to get away from her before I say something I’ll regret.
The midway is crowded. People everywhere are cheering, hollering, laughing, and there’s plenty of cotton candy, corn dogs, and Coors Light. Bright lights and loud music round out the festivities.
It’s Loggers Play Day , and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It is a time-honored tradition here in Riverside. Every September the entire town comes together to celebrate the long standing logging businesses. It used to be a day that all of forestry was celebrated. Now it’s just an excuse for local loggers to get drunk and show off their chainsaws.
It’s a strange feeling being back here and being older. I would say wiser too, but that’s not the case because I’m looking for Zac in the sea of people when I shouldn’t be.
I know he’s here, I can feel it.
Standing in the middle of the madness, I pop a deep fried piece of heaven known as an elephant ear into my mouth. I moan loudly when the butter, cinnamon, and sugar hit my tongue. I damn near melt into a puddle of goodness on the grass.
“That good, huh?” Justin teases from beside me.
“So much better than I remember.”
Row scarfs down her gyro next to me. Luke and Holly share a pretzel as they walk hand in hand. Walker and Justin drink their beers, and another couple we went to high school with chase their kids from booth to booth.
I’m so happy to be here, even if it is hot as hell. It’s a damn good night for a carnival and celebration.
The sun is setting over the enormous dirt lot, the bright orange ball disappearing behind the expansive rows of carnival games. I stop what I’m doing and watch for a moment, feeling a tad wistful. The setting sun leaves a bittersweet longing in my chest, wishing I were here with Zac. Maybe somewhere he’s watching it too. Shaking my head at the thought, I take a drink of my lemonade and keep walking, ignoring the feelings.
“Play with me,” Justin demands, stopping next to a water gun horse race booth.
“Hell yeah.” Never one to turn down a chance to kick Justin’s ass at something, I follow him and Walker to a brightly lit booth.
“I’m down,” Walker announces, snagging my elbow and pulling me up to the game.
Justin has always been the sibling I never had. The brother I always wanted and the friend I always needed. He may be Zac’s brother, but he and I were always just as close.
Walker has always been like a brother too—a brother I want to strangle.
“Now don’t cry when you lose.” Picking up his gun, Walker smirks over his shoulder at me. He’s handsome, and I wonder why he’s still single.
“I’ll try,” I mutter sarcastically, picking up my own gun.
We all sit down on the uncomfortable, small stools. Row claims the seat next to me. Walker’s on the other side of Justin. Justin gets all cool on me, and doesn’t need to prop his elbow on the platform to take aim. I decide to take full advantage of it. I don’t remember these guns being this damn heavy.
The carny starts to ramble, announcing the rules and shouting insults at the guys, all in good fun. Suddenly, he stops talking and rings the buzzer before I’m barely able to get into position. My finger immediately squeezes the trigger, but it’s obvious within two seconds I’m gonna lose. Justin is focused, his horse halfway across the board already. Walker is close behind him.
Row looks over at me and we share a look, both of us knowing there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell we’re winning this thing.
We do the only thing we can—we cheat.
Twisting in my seat, I shoot Walker and
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