“Who’s the fat ass now?” Rowan asks as he leans against the golf cart before I can make it there.
“Yeah, yeah,” I mumble as I make my way to the rear of the cart. “The whole world knows about my fat ass. No need to rub it in.”
His hands fist as he backpedals. “I wasn’t. I didn’t mean...”
I ignore the pain in my chest at the reminder of how my body is not attractive to him. It’s not anything I didn’t already know. I gesture in the general direction of Electric Vibes.
“To the bar, Jeeves.”
Rowan sighs, but he doesn’t bring up my unattractive behind again. Good thing, too, since I can feel my eyes itch. Wouldn’t that be the height of embarrassment? Crying in front of my crush who thinks I’m a little girl who needs to be taken care of.
When we arrive at the bar, there’s no music pouring out of the building and the lights are dim. I scan the area in confusion. It’s Saturday night and quiz night. This place should be hopping about now.
I allow Rowan to help me off the golf cart and follow him to the door.
“I know you don’t want to stay. You go ahead home now. One of my sisters will bring me back later. Don’t wait up for me.” I give him a saucy wink.
He ignores me to open the door. “After you.”
I enter the quiet bar and come to a screeching halt when I realize it’s pitch black inside. What the heck is going on here? I feel Rowan place a hand on my lower back. His hand is big and strong, and I want to lean into it, but why is he touching me?
“Surprise!”
The lights flash on and people pop up from their hiding spots.
“Happy birthday!”
Rowan leans down to whisper in my ear, “Happy birthday, Ash.”
I shiver and goosebumps break out on my skin from the feel of his breath against my skin. I lock my muscles to stop myself from arching my neck to give him better access. He doesn’t want better access.
“I’m sorry I fought with you about coming,” he says in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “They weren’t finished with the decorations and asked me to stall you.”
Before I have a chance to thank him for bringing me, my sisters attack.
“Happy birthday, babycakes!” They shout in unison before dragging me toward a chair in the middle of the room. It’s decorated with streamers and paper flowers. We don’t do balloons in Winter Falls. Even those ecologically friendly ones are banned.
Juniper props my foot up on a stool, and Aspen places a crown made of fabric flowers on my head. “For the birthday girl. You only turn twenty-four once in your life after all. Twenty-four and all grown up.”
“Why do you keep emphasizing her age?” Lilac asks. “Everyone knows how old she is. We grew up in the same house as her after all.”
Aspen elbows her and nods toward Rowan who I’m surprised to find hasn’t left the bar. I figured he’d return home as soon as he dropped me. He’s not much of a bar person. Of course, I can’t fault him for it since he usually has to get up two hours after the bar closes to start baking delicious treats.
“Rowan knows how old she is,” Lilac explains to Aspen. “He grew up here, too.”
Juniper sighs before explaining to our relationship-studded sister, “She’s trying to matchmake Rowan and Ashlyn.”
Lilac’s mouth purses as she considers the situation. “Is it too late to place my wager?”
“Yes!” I yell at the same moment Ellery yells no. I glare at her. “No betting on my relationship status.”
Aspen leans close to hiss in my ear. “Not as much fun when you’re the target, is it? Told you payback is a bitch.”
I thought she’d pay me back for pushing her and Lyric back together by pranking me. Maybe placing some mayonnaise in my frosting jar. Not by matchmaking me with the one man in Winter Falls who I desire with all of my being but can never have.
“You’re cruel.”
“And you’re narrow sighted.”