I finally stop to catch my breath when I find a massive tree to hide behind. I know Finn was hot on my heels because he called after me as I dashed across the park and he finds me with my hands on my knees, gasping for air.

"We are signing up for the relay," he jokes, also out of breath. The humidity that's keeping the heat wrapped around us isn't helping me cool down.

"Sorry, Finn. I'm so sorry for being rude - I just- that lady was just being a bitch."

"Why are you apologizing to me? That was fucking awesome. You just stood up for yourself. They were being rotten to you when they have no idea the relationship you had with your grandmother." I snap my head up and look over at him. Mark would have had my ass if I acted like that at a public function. Horrified at me for being rude and saying crass things. I can't believe Finn is just waving it off.

"I just yelled at a bench and made myself look like Asshole of the year," I tell him in between breaths. He drops into the grass and lays next to me as he shakes his head, "Remember how I said I never know what's going to come out of your mouth? That's what I meant."

I kneel down next to him and his breathing is finally back to normal. I look over at him and he just starts laughing. His hands fall onto his stomach and he is laughing loudly. His laugh is infectious and I can't help myself from joining in.

"You told off a bunch of seniors and then told Sadie that you hope birds poop on her," Finn reminds me and I drop my head into my hands. "You have some balls, baby."

"Finn, if you don't want to be seen with me today, I don't blame you," I tell him after our laughter dies down. "I'm sure what I did is going to get around fast."

"Sadie, you are not getting out of Strawberry Days. I've already been shit talking Cade and now that I know you can run, I know we are going to whoop his ass at the relay."

"What do we get if we win?" I ask and I look off toward the festivities that are now getting started. A cluster of people is lined up at the check-in booth and music has started up from somewhere.

"Depends on the game. Usually, it's jams or pies. Gift certificates or coupons. Random shit."

"And you are determined to win this random shit?" I ask and he quickly nods.

"You're gonna hear Cade and Wendy's shit talk and want to pummel them too. Wendy was a competitive swimmer growing up and her determination to win has never left her."

He lifts himself off the grass and slides his phone out. He quickly texts someone and then says, "Mel is coming by after Penelope's nap. So it will be a couple hours before they get here I guess." He sticks his phone back into his pocket and looks off toward the festival. We see more couples line up to check in and he looks back at me.

"I'm still game if you are." I feel like I am going to regret this but I drop my hand in his and he pulls me to my feet. He surprises me by dipping down and giving me a kiss. I snatch my hand out to grab his chin when he pulls away and give him another one.

"You okay?" He asks quietly and I shrug. 

"I think so."

"Good. Keep that sass up, you're going to need it," he tells me before giving me another kiss. I smile and he tugs me over to the balloon arch. I don't see any of the ladies from the garden club and I am going to do my best to avoid all of them like the plague.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and spin around to find Alyssa in cuts-offs and crochet crop-top with Ryan looking like he was forced here. She throws her arms around me as she says, "Wasn't expecting to see you here." She quickly pulls away and then waves at Finn.

"You suckered her into this?" Alyssa asks him and Ryan gives me a quick hug as Finn replies, "Dragged her here by her ear."

"That sounds about right," Alyssa agrees and then looks around the line.

"Shit. This is a big thing this year. Usually, it boils down to the Westons battling it out, but this year...you might have some competition," Alyssa teases Finn and I am also surprised at how many couples are signing up for games.

"Babe you can't fucking suck at the three-legged race this year. If you trip us up again I am not doing this anymore," Ryan tells Alyssa and she gives me a dramatic eye roll.

"The prize for the three-legged race is a strawberry tart from Peach's Bakery. It's the only prize worth fighting for," Alyssa tells me and I nod, trusting that the tart is just that delicious.

"Sign us up for the three-legged race then," I tell Finn and Alyssa dramatically glares at me. 

"You already won that mixer. The tart is mine."

I am turning toward Finn when I spot Matty striding over to the check-in table. He waves at me from afar and I give him a small wave back. 

"Is this gonna get awkward," Alyssa mutters out of the side of her mouth and I give her a tiny shrug. 

"Hey Sadie, hey," Matty says, loving his little rhyme. He then waves to the rest of our little group. "Came to sign up for the games?"

"Weston here finally found a partner who can give his brother a run for his money," Alyssa chimes in, trying to help the dynamics. 

"Oh? Didn't peg you for the competitive type," he says to me and I take a half step closer to Finn.

"Well, when a strawberry tart is on the line..." I joke and Matty chuckles like I am the most hilarious person. 

"Who are you playing with?" Alyssa asks Matty while looking around the line. He also turns to look behind him and then he answers, "Oh, uh Layla Haynes is supposed to be my partner this year. I think she's around here somewhere." 

As Matty turns to look down the line again, I grab onto Finn's hand and wrap my other one around his forearm. When Matty turns around again, he notices our stance and then says, "I should go find her. Good luck." He gives me another glance before spinning around and heading toward the back of the line. I glance up at Finn and ask, "Is it awkward?" His gaze is toward the back of the line and we watch Matty tap Layla on the shoulder. She's wearing a long maxi dress with white keds and her red hair is tucked under a beach hat. Matty gives her a chaste hug and the entire interaction looks friendly but not sexual. They seem like friends and not a couple. 

"No. Not as long as I beat him," Finn says with a competitive smirk. 

"Oh shit, that's right. Wasn't there a scuffle with you two last year?" Ryan asks Finn and there is clearly a part of the Finn/Matty story that Finn left out. He frowns at Ryan and before he can say anything, Alyssa says, "Oh yeah! During capture the flag!"

I snap my gaze to Finn and he drops his head back. Clearly annoyed that this incident was brought up. 

"There is more to capture the flag than you initially mentioned?" I ask and once he's done grimacing at Ryan, he looks at me and says, "I was the guard last year."

"And Matty snatched it out from under him," Alyssa interrupts, with a razzing smile on her face. 

"That's why you are so damn determined to win this year?" I ask, shocked that he left out that tidbit. 

"Finn tried to take Matty boy out and it got awkward fast," Ryan adds and Alyssa is holding in a laugh. 

"Awkward?" 

"Well, no one takes these games that seriously..." Alyssa jokes and I can tell Finn isn't thrilled that it's at his expense. 

"There was a bit of wrestling around," Finn mumbles and my eyebrows shoot up, amused at all of this new information. So that's why Finn is so determined to win that stupid game. Of course it boiled down to him versus Matty Quinn. 

The line moves forward and we are now up next to sign in. I look at Finn as I say, "Wrestling isn't usually a part of capture the flag then?" He gives me a look that says, clearly it is fucking not and I giggle. 

"Alright, Finn. I'll win you that damn flag then," I tell him as I poke him in the ribs. He turns around to sign us in and he signs us up for the three-legged race, strawberry spoons, capture the flag, the relay and the water balloon toss. The rest of the games were geared towards kids only including the jam mash and I was glad because five events already seemed like five too many and I didn't have to smash strawberries with my feet. He scanned down the list and I notice Cade and Wendy hadn't signed up yet, but Donna and Dotty had. Great. 

"Alright," Finn tells me after filling in our slots. "We're good. I need food. Let's go." He grabs my hand and as we leave toward the food trucks, I see a garden club woman waltzing toward the festival and she glares at me. Lovely. I have made enemies in a small town. 

We cross into the main festival area and two stands of nothing but green strawberry baskets flank the entrance. Finn quickly buys a small basket full of ripe, plump-looking strawberries and starts popping them into his mouth. 

"Please tell me there is something here that you can eat that fits your guidelines," Finn asks as we stroll closer to the food carts. I see pizza, gyros, burgers, ice cream, street corn, kettle corn and taco options and I glance up at Finn with my nose scrunched. 

"Seriously?" 

"Unless there are veggie burgers or tacos?" I tell him and he offers me a strawberry. 

"I know you eat fruit," he says when I don't immediately take one.

"Are these washed and ready to eat?" I ask and he frowns. 

"Yes, Sades. This whole festival is about eating local strawberries." I pluck a small one out of the basket and the sweetness is perfect. I wish I had sugar to roll these in. 

"Alright, that is a damn good strawberry," I say and then statch another one out of the basket. We land in front of the taco truck and am overjoyed to see avocado tacos as an option. Finn is thrilled that there is something I will eat here and orders us each some street tacos. After we are handed our order, Finn hands me my basket and says, "Games start in an hour. The first one is strawberry spoons, so you have some time to digest." 

"You didn't mention that whole Matty thing on our date. You seriously wrestled him?" 

"I tried to prevent him from leaving the boundary with the flag. That's the whole point of the game," Finn mumbles and I can tell he doesn't want to dive back into this story. 

"How irritated were you really then when you found out I was going on a date with him?" I ask with a wide smile and then dig into the avocado and slaw taco. "Did you have any interest in me then?" 

"Oh, I wanted to throw him through the wall when he saw you at the hardware store. I was clearly standing there with you when he got all giddy. That fucker." 

I laugh and Finn finds us a spot at a picnic table near the vendors. We settle in to devour our food and he slides his phone out after he's finished. He glances at it and then says, "Cade is coming over here. You'll get to meet Wendy." He looks behind him and then raises a hand when he spots his brother wandering toward the picnic area. His short wife is wearing a cute tan sunhat with a red ribbon around it and it matches the red shorts and lipstick that she's wearing. She smiles when she sees us and Cade says, "Hey losers."

He's wearing short athletic shorts and an Under Armor tee, looking ready to take field day seriously. 

"Cade, you remember Sadie?" Finn says irritably as he rises from the table to greet his brother. He reaches his hand out to me and I shake it as he says, "Of course. How is the house?"

"It's a work in progress," I tell him and Finn shifts my attention over to Wendy, "This is Wendy, my brother's wife." She pulls me in for a hug and the motion is unexpected, so it takes a moment for my hands to wrap around her tiny shoulders. I am not a hugger but she says, "I'm a hugger! I was so excited to meet you!" I notice she has an accent so I ask, "It's so nice to meet you too. Where is your accent from?" She smiles and I hope that wasn't offensive. Maybe it was? God, I am an asshole.

"Oh god, sorry. Was that rude? My mouth just says things sometimes," I start but she waves her hand at me and her smile only widens. 

"Of course not! I'm from the Philippines. I've been here for over ten years and speak English, but I can't shake the accent," she says with a laugh. That explains why she is naturally tan with dark hair and is stunning. 

"Oh wow, that's amazing. I've always wanted to visit there, I just haven't made it yet," I tell her. 

"We're headed back in September to go visit her family," Cade says and Wendy looks ecstatic at just the mention of visiting home. 

"Must be a huge change to go from the Philippines to Arkansas," I say to her and she gives me a huge, dramatic nod in return while giggling. 

"Oh yes, but Cade here was worth the move," she swoons and then puts her arms around her husband. 

"I brought her over here after I saw how fast she could run. She was sprinting after me before I deployed home and was like, this woman could win me the relay. The rest is history," Cade jokes and Wendy swats at him. 

"He brought me over here after he returned home and was crying every night for me. Seriously, he was the clingy one," Wendy jokes back. 

"Best decision Cade ever made," Finn says. "We only hang with Cade now to hang with Wendy."

"Yeah, Cade is just whatever," Wendy says with a smile, and the way Cade looks at her has my heart squeezing. 

"I'm sure that's how we'll be with you," Cade says to me, "Because Finn is just whatever too." 

"I think it's very obvious that Sadie is much cooler than I am," Finn tells them and then drops his arm around my shoulders. I can tell Finn and Cade are close by their interactions and it's different than how Mark is with his brothers. Maybe it's because they still live in the same town. Mark, Pete, and Tom are scattered around the U.S and only talk on birthdays and holidays. Wendy is also already so much more pleasant than Tom's wife Ashley. I just have to meet Mel now and hope she doesn't remember me. 

"Well, I have to feed my wife. I see you already ate, which is good because you are going to need all the sustenance you can get to beat us," Cade teases and Wendy flexes her arm. 

"I've been lifting in case I have to wrestle you for the flag later," Wendy tells Finn with a laugh and Finn just shakes his head.

"Ha ha," Finn mutters back and then drops his arm from my shoulders to gather up our trash. 

"I'm gonna go buy this one stuff," Finn says over his shoulder to his brother, "We'll meet you at the games area." 

I look at Finn, "Oooh, you wanna go buy me stuff?" 

"It's part of forcing you here."

"Well, I wouldn't have been so hesitant to come had I known there was going to be shopping." 

"Were you hesitant to come because you knew you were going to lose at every event?" Cade smack talks and I laugh, caught off guard of it being directed at me. 

"No, I was hesitant because I was worried I was going to have to listen to you smack talk Finn all morning and then have to watch us walk away with all of the prizes. I know how fragile men's egos can be," I snide back with a playful smirk and Cade stares at me for a moment. He then lets out a loud laugh and looks over at Finn, "You're right. She's too good for you."