Page 48 of Indescribable
“Like, what are you celebrating?”
Corbin and I share a confused look. “I don’t get it.”
Paisley looks between the two of us like we’re morons. “The festival. What is it in honor of? Or celebrating?”
“Spring?” I guess with a shrug. “I don’t know. There’s always different festivals in town.”
“So… the town just has a festival for the fun of it?”
“Maybe? Isn’t that normal?”
She chokes on a laugh. “No. No, it is not. Typically towns have one ormaybetwo festivals a year but it’s always a big deal and in honor of something. Sometimes towns celebrate when or how the town was founded, or something they’re known for. Like, if they grow a bunch of sunflowers they’ll have a sunflower festival or if they have strawberry fields or whatever they’ll have a strawberry festival.”
“Huh. We just have festivals. Maybe because Red Oak likes to drink and eat and have fun?”
Paisley smiles. “Good enough reason for me. I’ll check with work and see if I can make it. How far away is it from here?”
“Only a couple of hours. It’s super fun, too. Then you can scope out the town and see if you think you could live there before checking out the schools if they have an opening.”
“That’s not a bad idea. I have one interview next week but the position isn’t exactly what I’m looking for and I haven’t heard great things about the superintendent. Apparently he’sveryold school and against a lot of the things that are standard in schools now. But I also know that beggars can’t be choosers, you know?”
“Finding a job is hard.”
Corbin laughs at me. “How would we know? You work for yourself and my brothers and I started our own company so we wouldn’t have to look for a job.”
“Well, from what I hear,” I amend with a laugh.
“Sounds like you guys have the right idea, though. Job hunting sucks.”
“If it helps making your decision about coming to the festival, Red Oak might be tiny, but our school system is great. We both went there and had no complaints. And our brother still has great things to say about it. We got a new superintendent a few years ago and he’s very forward thinking.”
“I’m in. As long as I can get out of work, that is.”
“Awesome! I hope you can. But if you can’t, you can come to the next one.”
“When’s that?” she asks, amused.
“Couple of months.”
“So that’s what your town is known for. Festivals.”
“Pretty much,” I confirm, diving into my dessert.
The night goes on much the same. Eating, drinking, laughing, smiling, sharing stories of our childhood and discovering a new friendship until the restaurant closes. We hug before we get into our separate Ubers, us to go back to the hotel and her to go home. I’m actually sad to have to say goodbye to her and hope she can make it to visit in a few weeks.
Corbin sighs in the back seat next to me. “I love her.”
“Me, too. Wouldn’t that be awesome if she got a job in Red Oak?”
“So awesome.”
“Thanks again for thinking of this vacation. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to get away.”
“Anytime. What did Boone say? About the fight, I mean?”
“Nothing much. Just Wyatt being his usual jackass self and Brock wasn’t going to stand for it.”
“Not surprised.”