Page 49 of Cherry Tree Ranch

“This isn’t right. You have a girlfriend.” I open the door to get into the truck.

“Wait a second—” Cash says.

“How about you wait a second?” says a new voice. Kaylee is suddenly charging towards us. “Where are you going? What the heck is going on here?” She puts her hands on her hips.

“Kaylee, this is Dahlia.” Cash crosses his arms. “I’m giving her a ride home because she borrowed my truck this morning.”

“She borrowed your truck?” Kaylee turns to me. “Why are you borrowing his truck?”

My cheeks flame, my eyes darting between her and Cash. This is exactly what I was afraid of. “I … Well, I needed the truck for the market, and there’s a competition I’m entering,” I ramble. “Cash let me borrow it, because, you see … I was supposed to get a truck from my dad, and—”

She vigorously shakes her head. “I don’t care why you need a truck. Why are you using Cash’s truck? Who even are you?”

“Kaylee,” Cash says, more relaxed than I’d expect. He gives her a pointed look, making her even angrier. “Kaylee, it’s my business who I let borrow my truck. I felt bad for her when her dad took hers away—”

He felt bad? Oh heck, no. I’m not one to take handouts easily, especially if it’s because of pity. Between Kaylee and his mom, I feel like some dirty little secret. Humiliation and anger flare inside me.

“I’m sorry,” I say to Kaylee. “I should have found help from someone else.” I point towards the road. “I’ll be leaving now. My mom’s picking me up instead.”

I start towards the road. If I were Kaylee, I’d be pissed too. I can’t wait to get home.

I look at my phone when it buzzes.

Mom: I can pick you up in half an hour.

I decide to walk to the grocery store and wait for her there.

Behind me from the fairgrounds, Cash calls after me. I don’t turn at first, but then he comes up behind me in his truck. Kaylee is nowhere in sight.

“It’s not what it looks like, Dahlia,” he pleads, slowly driving alongside me. Cars drive by on the other side, people rubbernecking us as they pass. “Please, you have to let me explain.”

I keep my gaze firmly on the white line of the pavement. “I don’t have to do anything.” I duck on to a path between buildings and get out of sight. Tears form in my eyes and grow larger by the second.

Chapter Twenty-Two

I haven’t talked to Cash since yesterday. He tried to call me, and he texted and asked if he could come over and talk. I refused. I told him I needed to focus on preparing for the competition. This isn’t the whole truth, though, of course.

I want to see him, but I also don’t. I can’t keep spending so much time with Cash. He’s too nice to me, too thoughtful, too good-looking, too made for me but belonging someone else. It’s messing with my head. I need some space. Feelings like this are only asking for trouble.

I need a distraction, a way to forget about how close we got to crossing a line during the storm, a way to forget what he said about meeting me changing everything. And I especially need to stop over-thinking what he meant when he said it wasn’t what it looked like. What was that supposed to mean?

So I threw myself into preparations for the competition, finalizing the pamphlets I’ve been making. And I finally accepted Wyatt’s invitation to go on a date.

I text Lani, hoping she can help with my nerves.

Headed down to meet Wyatt.

Yay! I can’t believe you’re going out with him.

Me either.

Call me after. I want every detail. Don’t think about Cash.

Right. Talk later.

Mom’s driving me to the bottom of our road so I can meet Wyatt there. Even if he has a vehicle that can handle it, something about having him come all the way up to the house just doesn’t feel right. I squirm in the passenger seat of her tiny car and rub my clammy palms on my jeans.

“Are you sure you want to go, honey?” A deep crease forms in the middle of her forehead.