Our town’s annual Fourth of July celebration was always held at Rose Valley Lake. There was a south side and a north side entrance, the only difference was one side had a boat launch and the other had a cement dock where you could just sit and fish off.
Once I got there, I found a spot to park and shut off the engine. Getting out, I took a good look around. Whoever was responsible for the decorating this year really went all out. Everywhere you looked wasdecorated in red, white, and blue. For it still being early in the day, there were a lot of people already here. I noticed they had a wide range of food trucks, rides and games. The smell of grilling hot dogs and cotton candy in the air had my stomach growling.
It didn’t take long to spot the Carter family stand. Ember wasn’t kidding when she said her mom went all out. They had a colorful array of jams, baked goods, and fresh produce.
Ember spotted me instantly as I approached, her face lighting up with a genuine smile that made my chest ache in the best way. Despite my reservations about being here today, Ember looked radiant.
“Colton!” She came around the stand to give me a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
She pulled back, her eyes scanning the crowd behind me. “Are your parents here? My mom’s excited to talk to her.”
“Yeah, they’ll be here a little later,” I told her, trying to keep my voice casual. “They had a few things to finish up at home first.”
“Oh, ok. Well come on,” she said as she took my hand, pulling me behind the stand.
I spent the afternoon helping out however I could. I waited on customers, carried their boxes to their cars for them, whatever they needed me to do. It felt good, being here, with Ember and her family. But every distant pop, every sudden scream from a kid, made me flinch internally.
Several hours later as the sun was starting to set, I knew Ember hadn’t taken a moment to catch her breath or grab something to eat, so I asked Garrett to hold things down for a couple hours so I could get something in her and spend some time alone with her. Now all I had to do was find her.
I searched everywhere I could think of, and I couldn’t find her. Just as I was about to head back to the stand, I heard someone call my name.
“Colton James? Is that really you?” A saccharine voice asked.
I turned to see Bethany, a girl from high school, all perfectly styled blonde hair and a smile that never quite reached her eyes. She’d always been… intense. I only went on a few dates with her, but it only took one to know that she was a real bitch. The only reason we had a few more dates was because at the time Cade was trying to get with her best friend and wanted to double. But no matter how much I told Bethany there was zero chance of anything happening between us, she never got it. She’d always had a crush on me, a fact she’d made abundantly clear back in the day. And her jealousy over Ember was enough to piss me off and not want anything to do with her. “Bethany,” I said, trying to be polite. Peoplecanchange, right?
“Oh my gosh, you look amazing!” she gushed, her eyes trailing over my body as her hand found its way to my arm, her fingers squeezing slightly. Ok, maybe some people can’t change. Bethany apparently hadn’t. She had a predatory gleam in her eye and before I could stop her, she wrapped herself around me.
“Bethany,” I said, pulling her arms from around my neck.
“Wow, Colton, you’ve really filled out,” she purred, her eyes once again raking over me. She laughed, a high, tinkling sound, and then, before I could react, she pulled me to her, and pressed a kiss on my lips. The smell of her perfume made me want to throw up.
Just as her lips touched mine, I saw Ember from the corner of my eye. She was walking towards us, a smile on her face, but when she saw Bethany’s hand on my arm, her lips on my lips, her smile vanished. Hereyes narrowed, and without a word, without seeing my immediate pull away from Bethany, she spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.
Fuck.
“Get the fuck off me, Bethany,” I snarled, my patience snapping. My voice was low, laced with a warning. “We’re not in high school anymore. Your behavior then wasn’t cute, and it certainly isn’t now either.” I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a harsh whisper meant only for her. “Let’s be clear. I never had any feelings for you, and I was never attracted to you. In fact, I found you appalling. I couldn’t stand you.”
For a split second I swear I saw hurt, but just as quick, it was gone, her eyes now narrowed, a furious glint in their depths. “Don’t lie, Colton. I know you were attracted to me. Stop denying it. And if it wasn’t for that little miss know it all, farm girl always trailing after you, always thinking she actually had a chance—”
“Don’t you dare,” I growled, cutting her off, my voice a low, dangerous rumble. I hardened my eyes, stepping right into her personal space, my gaze fixed on hers, unwavering. “Never breathe Ember’s name again. If anyone was jealous, Bethany, it was you of her. You’ll never be half the woman Ember is. You’ll never be close to the kind of beautiful person she is.”
Not wanting to stick around to hear any more of her bullshit, I spun on my heel, leaving her sputtering, and stormed away, my blood boiling. The surge of anger was quickly replaced by a desperate need to find Ember, my Firefly, and explain.
I spent the next hour scanning the faces in the crowd, trying to find her. The guilt gnawed at me, knowing how that must have looked to her.
Finally, I found her near the main stage, arms crossed, staring intently at the band. Her jaw was tight, and when she saw me approaching, her shoulders stiffened.
“Ember,” I said, my voice low, “please let me explain. It was not what it looked like. I swear”
She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I can’t talk right now, Colton.” Her voice was clipped, distant.
My own frustration, already simmering from the day’s anxiety and Bethany’s unwelcome attention, began to boil over. “Can’t talk, Ember? Or won’t?” I pressed, frustrated. “What was that? You just walked away. What you saw with Bethany… it wasn’t what it looked like. She threw herself at me, Ember. Before I could even stop her, that’s when you saw us. I never asked her to kiss me and I definitely didn’t want her touching me.”
Ember finally turned, her eyes blazing, shimmering with unshed tears. “Oh, I understand, Colton. Perfectly. Bethany always had a thing for you. I had to stand by in high school and watch her hanging all over you. I’m not doing it now as an adult.” Her voice trembled with raw jealousy, tears starting to leak from her eyes.
She still stood with her arms crossed as I pulled her to me. “Ember,” I said, softening my voice. She refused to look at me. “Look at me, Firefly.”
Finally she turned her head just enough to meet my gaze. “Ember, I swear to you, I didn’t want that. There’s only one set of lips I want on mine.”
