Page 76 of Cherry Tree Ranch

Emery and I got snacks and drinks, yard games, volleyball and blankets set up all afternoon. Cash spent the day cutting down dead junipers and I split it into firewood. The left-over logs are going to stay long to put on the fire as it grows. It will truly be a bonfire.

Music floods my ears as I open the mudroom door. I walk up the road, the gravel under my feet less and less audible as I get closer to the party. Cash said to take my time coming out, as he and the guys would be getting the fire going for a while, so I did. But now it’s clear I’ve been oblivious to what’s happening. A zillion voices boom in the distance and parked cars line the road as far as I can see. Emery said it would just be a few friends.

I hold tightly to the cool metal handles of the pitchers in each hand, my palms growing slick with fear. In an effort to be a little fancy, I made sour cherry and honey spritzer, but it doesn’t sound like that type of crowd.

“What the hell?” I mutter to myself, unable to see over the crest of the hill.

I make my way through the pasture gate. As I turn to pull it shut with my foot, someone bounces up behind me and grabs it.

It’s Kaylee. She looks like the stereotypical country girl – her blonde hair has been braided to the side, she has on jean shorts, a red tank with scalloped sleeves, and her brown cowboy boots perfectly compliment the outfit with bright red stitching. I gulp, realizing our outfits mirror one another – mine in green, hers in red.

“What are you doing here?” I ask in surprise.

She roughly pulls the gate closed. “A friend told me about this party. Why do you care if I’m here?”

“Um, because it’s my place?”

She holds up two bags of giant marshmallows and slaps them against her legs. Her lip curls and she snarls, “You’ve got to be fricking kidding me. This is supposed to be the best party of the summer, and it’s just my luck it’s yours.”

“Just your luck?” I scoff. “It was only supposed to be for a few people. For friends.”

She looks around the ranch, taking in the barren fields, the cliffs and the orchard. “How is it I didn’t know you live here? My ranch is on the next mesa over.”

“Don’t know. I didn’t know that either.” I shrug. “Cash only said yours is closer to Pinesridge.” My arms are getting tired from the drink pitchers, so I start towards the party. It grows louder by the second, the beat of the music thrumming in my chest. Damn Emery – she took this party thing and ran with it.

Kaylee comes up behind me and huffs, “Look, Dahlia. That’s your name, right?”

I turn back reluctantly.

“Hang on, OK?” she sighs. “All of this is super awkward. I’ve just been needing to blow off some steam.”

I flick my eyes to the side and bite the inside of my lip. “OK…”

A girl catches up to us and takes Kaylee’s hand.

“Hi!” she says in an overly enthusiastic voice. I look to the two girls, obviously friends, and long for Lani.

Kaylee’s silent for a moment, giving me a look as if to say I’m sorry she interrupted. It throws me off, especially when she cracks a small smile. It’s like airing out her feelings cleared the tension between us.

She breaks the silence and says, “You haven’t missed much, by the way. The guys have been entertaining themselves like cavemen. It’s like they’ve never seen fire or something. They do this every time.”

Her statement makes me wonder how many fires she shared with Cash. A giant pang of jealousy hits me square in the chest.

As we get to the party, I watch as she says hi and waves to people standing around with drinks in their hands. She’s being genuinely personable, making me think maybe she’s not quite as bad as she seems. Maybe I’ve seen the worst sides of her. My eyes dart around, but I can’t see Cash. I set my pitchers down on a folding table and slide my hand down my braid, raking my nails through the loose end.

I send Lani a video, circling around, showing her Emery’s birthday party. You at the luau? I ask.

She sends me a text. Not yet, remember the time?

Right! Sorry.

What happened to just having a few friends over?!

Not sure. Cash and I haven’t been seen in public yet though. I felt like I was ready for that, but … this is a lot of people.

No joke. Good luck. Let me know how it goes!

Will do. Have fun at the luau with your guy!