I loveevents and crowds and being the center of attention. I play it up in a way that I know annoys most people, but I’m social. And our town is so boring with nothing going on a majority of the time that the few chances I get to be a part of something here I thrive off the energy.
There are some bounce houses that look like firetrucks. We have the rigs parked for people to look at. The sheriff’s department is here with a couple of their cars, and two of the mounted police. There’s a bunch of kids running around, petting the horses and jumping in the bounce house. A local musician is performing and people are in the grass listening.
The event has a handful of things planned, but I’m not thinking about any of that. I’m thinking about one thing. Or one person, rather.
“Hey Parker,” Natasha, a girl I went to high school with, comes up to me.
“Hey, are you having fun?”
“I’d have more fun with you after this is over,” she flirts.
I smile, huffing out a soft chuckle. “Sorry, I’m still on duty after this.”
I wouldn’t see her after this anyway, but I’m nice when I turn girls down. I somehow managed to get a reputation and don’t bother trying to deny it.
She pouts her bottom lip. “Maybe another time then?” Her voice is hopeful.
“Maybe.” I nod, but know that there won’t be. Not with her. “Have a fun time.”
She goes back to join her friends, and I go back to my main focus. My head is on a swivel as I look for Lily. I know she’s going to be here, despite what she said before. She loves coming to things like this. A chance to get out of the house, to break her routine and do something. That’s the shit she lives for. What we lived for together once.
“You about ready?” Jameson asks with a heavy hand on my shoulder.
“For what?”
“The tug of war against the sheriff’s department.”
I chuckle. “Oh yeah, you know I don’t think it’s even going to be a fair competition.”
There’s no way they can beat us; shit, look at me. The rest of my coworkers are all in good shape while the cops taking their position on the other side of the long rope look like they haven’t seen a gym in a hot minute.
“Don’t be a dick.” Jo bumps my arm.
“I’m not, you all just better make sure we win. I have a girl to impress.”
“Do you? Do we know her?” Jo smirks because she loves to give me shit.
“Uh, kinda?”
“Is Lily even here?” Jameson asks, glancing toward Sutton, knowing they would be together.
“Lily’s your girl again? Good job. I wasn’t sure you were going to win her back with that asshole she came into town with,” Dave slaps my shoulder and I grumble.
“Well, I haven’t exactly won her back yet.”
“And you think this will do the trick?” Jo is barely holding back her laugh.
“You know, you should support me and my conquests,” I direct to her.
“You’ve had enough conquests to not need support,” she retorts and I glare at her.
“That’s not nice. I’ve changed my ways.”
There’s only one woman I want; it’s her or it’s no one for me. I tried filling the hole she left in my chest when she walked away from us, and no one even comes close. Lily’s my once in a lifetime.
“You guys ready?” one of the cops calls out and we all get in a line on the other side of the rope.
I stand in front, taking the lead spot. The guy directly in front of me nods. “You ready to lose?”