Page 80 of A Country Kind Of Love

“I didn’t know.” He uses his finger to cross his heart. “I swear.”

“Hmmm.”

“What is she wearing?” Jesse stands on the wooden picnic bench; thankfully it’s not occupied, but he doesn’t seem to care.

“Jesse, get down.” Peyton holds onto his pant leg, tugging like a child trying to stop their parents from embarrassing them.

“I’ll find her for you.”

Please don’t start shouting.

“Where was she stood?”Jesse asks.

“By the tree to the left ofthe stage.”

“What tree?”

People arestaring now.

“The big tree.”

“I can’t see... hold on.” Jesse adjusts his stance. He wobbles. Peyton envisions him on the floor with bits of wooden table tangled between his legs, followed by an expensive trip in the ambulance.

“Jesse Owen Clark you better get your backside down here right now.” The music is so loud she has to shout for maximum impact. The queue of people waiting for drinks whisper and laugh in their huddles.

“Sorry.” He stumbles on the step down. Peyton catches him, but his weight almost carries her into the crowd.

“I think we should go home,”Peyton says.

“Don’t you want to see Cleo?”

“She probably already left.”

“Nope, she’s over there.” Jesse points in the direction of the smaller saloon.

Peyton spins around; she frantically juts her head from one position to the next. “Where? I don’t see her.”

The crowd parts like the Red Sea, and there she is. She throws her head back. Her laugh is infectious. She finds something the girl next to her said amusing. Peyton wants to make her laugh like that again. She wants to run over and kiss her. She wants to run her fingers through her hair like they belong. She wants to bury herself in Cleo’s arms, inhale her scent, and tangle in the bedsheets until her legs cramp. The thought of eating in bed makes Peyton cringe. The idea of crumbs in the bedsheets and takeaway stains on the duvet, it’s a pet hate, but for Cleo, she’d do it. For Cleo she would eat, sleep, live, work, and bathe in bed if it meant she could be with her. The last one might be difficult, but she’d be willing to try, and that was the point.

“Shall I go over?”Peyton asks.

“Hell yes,” Jesse answers. He nudges her in the right direction. “Go.”

Cleo doesn’t notice her approach until she’s within touching distance. The girl who is making Cleo laugh turns towards Peyton first, and her eyes widen. She knows who Peyton is. She turns back to Cleo, whispers something, andwalks away.

Suddenly, they’re alone.

“Hi.” Peyton attempts a smile.

“Hey.” Cleo’s tone is unnerving.

Cleo looks at her so intently. Peyton spends the first thirty seconds staringat her feet.

“I...” Peyton has no idea how to start the conversation. She’s thought about seeing Cleo again, what she would say, how Cleo would respond, but in the moment she’s frozen. She already feels defeated.

“You did great up there,” Cleo says withoutexpression.

“Thank you.”