Second to Christmas, the Strawberry Festival is my favorite time of the year at Lake Wisteria. Everyone in town goes all out to make it the best event to celebrate the season. People from all over come to visit the park near Town Square and enjoy the carnival rides, pageants, and amazing food inspired by the fruit of the season.
Cami yanks on my arm. “Mommy! Look!”
I turn to where Cami points. “What?”
“It’s Cow-l!” She jumps up on her tippy toes to get a better look, making her strawberry print dress flap around her.
“Cal isn’t here.” At least I don’t think he is, since he never mentioned coming during the last few meals we shared together.
“It’s him!” She points toward the entrance of the festival.
At first, I think Cami must be imagining things. But then the person wearing a strawberry costume turns and looks at us with wide eyes.
Oh. My. God.
From the green leafy headpiece and oversized white gloves to the red strawberry-shaped body piece and green pants, Cal looks like something out of a cartoon.
I burst out laughing. My hold on Cami’s hand slips, and she takes off toward him.
Usually, the costume is reserved for an angsty teen in need of a punishment from their parents or an adult who lost a bet. I’m not sure how Cal ended up wearing it, but I have to personally thank whoever convinced him to put it on.
I pull out my phone and snap a photo of him. Cal grabs Cami and throws her in the air, turning my already-softening heart into absolute goo as she breaks into a fit of giggles.
So much for trying to avoid the warm fuzzies around him.
I wipe a stray tear that fell as I walk over to them. “How much did they pay you to wear that?”
He places Cami on her feet. “Sadly, I volunteered.”
“Why?”
A breeze pushes a leaf into his eyes. “I was bored.”
“And they set you up with this?” I flick one of the leaves falling over his eyes.
“I guess they wanted to make an ass out of me. Surprise, surprise.”
Cami sucks in a breath.
He looks down at her. “Remind me later, okay?”
She tries to wink, only to end up blinking each eye one at a time.
Just another thing she picked up on from Cal.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Meg was the one who suggested I go to Town Hall to volunteer for the festival.”
My eyes bulge. “Oh, no.”
“Yup. And since I have to protect my pride, here I am.”
“I’m surprised you have any left after wearing that.”
His leaf headband bobs with his shrug. “What can I say? Vodka makes me confident.”
My smile slips.
His eyes screw shut. “Wait, Lana. I didn’t mean—”
My chest pinches. “It’s fine. I get how it is.”
“No, you don’t.” He reaches out to clutch my arm, although the oversized gloves don’t allow for much of a grip.
I pull away. “We should get going. Got places to go and people to meet and whatnot.”
He huffs. “Just let me explain myself first.”
“Don’t bother. It’s not like it would change anything.” I take Cami’s hand and walk away before I let him do just that.
Cami and her friends laugh as they jump around the bounce house while I sit at a nearby picnic table with my friends.
Violet zooms in on the photo of Cal dressed in the horrendous costume. “Why didn’t you warn us about this, Lana? I almost peed my pants when I saw him out front.”
“I had no idea.” I sigh.
Her brows rise. “He didn’t say anything to you?”
“Nope.” I look away, focusing on the crowd of people making their way through the rows of vendors selling strawberry jams, desserts, and deep-fried food.
“Why would he agree to wear that in the first place?” Delilah asks.
“Because he is too buzzed to care otherwise,” I grumble.
“He’s drinking?” Wyatt’s jaw ticks.
“So he says.” I look down at my clasped hands.
“Let me go talk to him.” Violet rises from the bench, only to be dragged down by Delilah.
“Just leave it.”
“Why?” Violet frowns.
I speak up. “Because Dee is right. It’s not like he is bothering anyone, so there is no reason to make a show.”
Violet looks at something over my shoulder. “Really? Then why is he walking over here right now?”
My eyes widen. “He found us?”
“Yup.” Dee slurps on her strawberry smoothie.
My lips purse. “How?”
“Probably because this is always where we hang out every year.” Violet knocks back the rest of her drink.
“Hey.” Cal’s voice makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
Violet and Delilah shoot daggers over my head while I remain frozen with my fists clenched in front of me. Wyatt is the only person to acknowledge his presence with a small tip of his chin.
“Lana, can I talk to you for a second?” Cal’s soft voice makes me frown.
“She’s a bit busy right now.” Violet scowls.
“I think she can talk for herself,” Cal replies with a light tone.
I rise from my seat. “Will you watch Cami for me?”
“Sure. I’ll go let her know now.” Wyatt takes off toward the bounce house.
I turn to find Cal no longer dressed in the strawberry costume. I’m unsure if he burned the monstrosity or returned it to Town Hall.
“Thanks.” He leads us away from the loud music toward the walkway surrounding the park. A few people I know spare us a pinched look, but I wave away their concern with a small smile.
“So…” I kick a rock.
“Mind if we walk and talk?”
“Okay.”
Cal leaves space between us as he walks beside me. “I wanted to talk about what happened earlier and get something off my chest.”
“What for?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Except isn’t it? I’ve seen the bottle of vodka you keep in the freezer, so it’s not like I didn’t know you were drinking.” Day by day, more of the clear liquid disappears, so I’m well aware of his habits.
He tears his eyes away from me. “I’m not proud of it, you know?”
My stomach drops.
“It makes me feel like a weak piece of shit knowing I need to carry a flask on me at all times, just in case I get anxious or wired. Just the thought of going somewhere without it makes me feel all panicky, especially when I might be forced into a situation that makes me uncomfortable.” He tucks his clenched hands behind his back.
My mouth opens, but I struggle to form any words.
“I haven’t gotten drunk since I broke your mom’s vase.” He looks at me out of the corner of his eye.
“So? You’re still drinking daily.”
“Taking sips throughout the day to cope isn’t the same as getting shit-faced. Trust me on that one.”
“But they’re both part of the same issue regardless.”
“True. But can’t you see I’m trying to cut back here?” His voice cracks.
My head shakes. “Yes, but who knows what will happen the next time something difficult happens? I’ve already been through this with you before.”
“This isn’t like the last time.”
“Of course, it isn’t.” A bitter laugh crawls up my throat.
He stops walking to look me in the eyes. “For starters, I’m not on Oxy anymore.”
I break eye contact first. “I know.”
“I’m not going to make that mistake again. That much I can promise.” His deep sigh makes me tense. “It took me a long time to let go. Too long. But I swear I will never ever go back to that shit or else I give you permission to shoot me.”
My lips twitch. “Anywhere I want?”
“If you want to aim for the dick, make sure to land a bullet in my skull first.” He smiles.
I begin walking again to escape the tingle in my chest. “Do you ever think about getting sober?”
“Lately, all the damn time.”
I want to believe him. I really do, but something still holds me back.
You don’t trust him.
No, I don’t. And I’m unsure if I ever will after everything we have been through together. I’ve been through enough life lessons to learn that the more someone lets you down, the higher probability there is of it happening again.
I clear my throat. “I’m proud of you for getting off Oxy. I know that must have been hard.”
“Not nearly as hard as coming to grips with how badly I hurt you while on it.” He reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze.
My chest aches when he lets go. Cal continues walking, so I fall in step with him as comfortable silence surrounds us.
Cal is the first one to break it when someone glares in his direction. “Do you think people will hate me a little less now that I’m going to be featured on the front page of the paper wearing that costume?”
I bite back my laugh. “Nope, but it was a good try.”
“It must be nice to have so many people who care enough about you to give me nonstop hell.” His lips twitch.
“You could say that. Although they’re a bit overprotective at times.”
“Only because they love you.” His voice matches the warmth in his eyes.
I look away. “You know, I can spread the word that you’re no longer a persona non grata.”
“Please don’t go out of your way to be so nice to me. I might read too much into it.”
I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow. “Jerk.”
He laughs. “I’ll get them to warm up to me eventually.”
“By proving I won’t hurt you, no matter how much they expect me to.”
And just like that, Cal snatches another piece of my heart to add to his growing collection.
