Page 92 of Bad Bunny's Carrot

“This calls for a celebration,” she said, pulling out her phone. “I’m rounding up the troops.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant by that until we got back to Shelby’s farm. Several trucks and cars I didn’t recognize were parked by her van. Smoke rose from behind her house.

“Is something on fire?” I asked, fear running through me.

Shelby grinned. “I hope so.”

We walked around the house to find Shane standing over a charcoal grill, stoking the flames. Beside him stood a woman I didn’t recognize, who looked up at him with hearts in her eyes. Shelby introduced her to me as her friend Dora Lynn.

Lila and Jake came busting out of the back door, carrying a big metal tub filled with ice and what looked like soda and beer. Mrs. Presley followed them out, holding a platter of cookies.

The sight of some of my favorite people filled me with happiness. “So this is what you meant by rounding up the troops? It means you put together an instant party in the middle of the afternoon?”

“Welcome to life in Ferris,” Shelby said with a smile.

“Yeah,” Lila said, handing Shelby and me each a beer. “Down here, we know you can take an afternoon off without the world ending. Welcome back, Carter.”

“Thank you,” I said. “It’s good to be back.”

Shane stepped away from the fire to approach me. My hand tightened on my beer bottle, not sure what kind of greeting I was about to get.

“So it’s true?” Shane asked. “You seriously got my parents’ farm back in Shelby’s name?”

Everyone gathered around us stopped to listen.

“I did,” I said and looked around at everyone. “And we’re hoping to get it operating again.”

Mrs. Presley clasped her hands together. “That would be wonderful.”

Jake nodded. “That would breathe some life back into this town. Get people working again.”

“I was just trying to fix an old mistake,” I said.

Shane held his hand out to me and I shook it. “I misjudged you, Carter.”

“No need to apologize,” I told him. “You were just looking out for your sister. If anything, you showed restraint.”

Shane chuckled and rubbed his neck. “Yeah, I might have considered hitting you.”

“Why do you think I stepped in?” Jake said, shaking his head.

Everyone started laughing and talking over one another. I stayed silent and looked around at all the people there to support Shelby. And me, I supposed. Three weeks ago, they had all been strangers, and the name Allory was a curse word on the lips of the hungry and unemployed. Now they had opened their arms and their hearts to me, making this feel like home in a way Los Angeles never had.

Shane threw some burgers on the grill, filling the air with amazing smells. The sun was just starting to dip toward the horizon. Cool breeze fluttered my hair. I was surrounded by friends and laughter.

The life I’d left back in Los Angeles felt like it belonged to someone else now. It was already fading, like a bad dream. But the beautiful woman sitting next to me, holding my hand and my heart? She was my life now.

Shelby caught me staring and she smiled up at me. “So, my bad little bunny, are you glad you came back?”

“I’m never leaving your side again.”

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