Connell had arrived.
Dressed in a full-body ostrich costume.
His mischievous smile peeked out from what would be the ostrich’s neck, the giant head and beak bobbing above him. His entire body covered, the tight black fabric shaped his legs and arms, but the body of the bird filled out his usual carved middle.
“You didn’t,” I gasped as he bowed before me, the ostrich head nearly bopping me on the nose.
“Aye, but I did.” He stood up straight, hands propped on his hips. “You like?”
I laughed, nodding. “Love. But you’re going to be so hot.”
He stepped closer, towering over me as he slipped a hand around my waist. “Aren’t I always?”
I playfully smacked his chest.
“Hi Echo,” he said without breaking our gaze.
“Hi Connell,” she said, a mocking tease in her tone. “Love the outfit.”
“I’m committed.”
“That’s for certain.”
He squeezed me closer to him, planting a long, languid kiss on my lips. To my ultimate horror, the crowd cheered, Echo included.
Heat blazed on my cheeks, but I couldn’t stop my smile as Connell released me. “Don’t you have to kick us off, love?”
I blinked the lust from my eyes and nodded, heading toward the ticket booth where a microphone waited. My fingers trembled slightly as I gripped the mic, but I took a steadying breath, focusing on what this day meant for me, for Sweet Water.
“In the 1930s, Sweet Water was put on the map for its high stakes ostrich races,” I said, the crowd quieting at my voice booming through the speakers. “And today, while the races aren’t the same, the value of the bird is. To Sweet Water, the ostrich will always be our saving grace, and I’m beyond honored that with some hard work and a little help from valued citizens…” I glanced over at Connell in his ridiculously amazing costume. “The birds are back!”
A round of applause erupted, and only after they quieted did I speak again.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming out to today’s momentous event. After the 5k, I’d like to invite you to meet the new ostriches of Sweet Water,” I said, motioning to the building behind me that contained the entirety of the ostrich reserve—complete with proper living conditions, food, and rooms for medical needs if necessary.
“And,” I said, adding purely off-script. “If you could spare a second today, please find the man in the ostrich costume.” I pointed at Connell, smiling. “Without his generosity—and the entirety of the Carolina Reapers—none of this would be possible. So please seek him out, and thank him and the Reapers for their generous support of our community additions.”
I’d never seen Connell look humble or embarrassed, but I dare say he wore a combination of the two as he grinned back at me.
“Now, without further ado,” I said. “Let’s get this party started!”
I set the mic back on the table, ushering to the back of the line that had formed behind the starting mark. Then I nodded to Lacy, who stood on the stairs poised above the race. She nodded back and fired the pop-gun, the loud boom kicking off the race.
A mass of shirtless Reapers took off, followed by a slower trail of citizens who were not professional athletes. Connell hung back for a moment, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He planted a kiss on my lips again before taking off in the costume.
“If you die of heatstroke I’ll be very put out!” I yelled, and he spun around, innocently raising his arms before spinning back around and sprinting to catch up with his boys.
I met up with Echo, and we adapted a slow pace at the back of the line.
“I’ve never seen you this happy,” she said. “And I witnessed you get an autograph from JT after an N’Sync concert.”
I chuckled, remembering the moment from our childhood. “I am happy. Look at this place.” I motioned to the building we passed.
“Look at it indeed,” my father’s voice echoed from behind us, and we paused.
“You made it!” I said, throwing my arms around his neck. “I didn’t think you could?”
He hugged me back, then started walking with Echo and myself. “I couldn’t miss this,” he said. “I’m so proud of you,” he said.
“Thanks, Daddy.” Pride welled in my chest as we walked.
“And the man in the costume?”
“Connell,” I said. “You remember him from—”
“The barbecue,” daddy cut me off. “How could I forget?”
Echo snorted from my right, and Dad laughed from my left, no doubt remembering my insistence we were just friends. My how things had changed.
Dad’s eyes found Connell in his costume, eons ahead of us, dead center in a pack of shirtless Reapers. “I like him.”
I gaped at him, shock barreling through me. I don’t know if I’d ever heard him say those words in my life about a boy I liked.
“Me too,” Echo agreed.