She tried not to blush or think about how handsome he looked behind the wheel of the old truck. After tugging gently on the fishing line they’d used to make sure the mannequin family wouldn’t topple over, she headed for the truck’s passenger side. Sunlight bathed Levi’s grandparents’ yard in a golden glow. She climbed inside and slammed the door.
“Okay, I’m ready. Finally.”
“Let’s do this.” Levi shifted into gear, slowly tapped the accelerator, and eased the truck and trailer down the path toward the road.
Since she and her sisters had arrived at his grandparents’ place early that morning, she’d worried her efforts may have been a waste of time. She had gone all out on the Denali-themed re-creation and probably tested the limits of Levi’s dad’s patience and the store’s budget. But no matter how hard she tried, something still felt off about the float. Would she ever find the missing ingredient and make it as great as she wanted it to be? After all, a parade float couldn’t get her a teaching job...or could it? Her imagination was on fire with ideas, yet at the same time, she felt terrible for pushing Levi’s tolerance to the brink and exhausting her sisters. She had to try, though. This might be her only chance to stand out.
“You’ve done a fantastic job on this, Savvy.” Levi glanced over at her with an approving smile. “Thank you.”
“It was really fun,” she said, feeling warmth heat her skin as his praise settled into her bones. “Thanks for asking me.”
“If they don’t interview you for that teaching position after seeing this, then they don’t know what’s best for Opportunity High.”
A blush rushed to her cheeks, and she ducked her head and looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Hope you’re right.”
She’d obsessively checked both her email and her voice mail the last two days. No one had called to offer a job interview, though.
A few minutes later, they rolled down the side street in Opportunity, passing rows of clapboard houses that gave way to manicured green lawns before eventually leading to the designated spot for all the parade floats. As they approached their spot, gently wedged between two huge floats, Savannah tried to suppress her disappointment as she gazed at the sophisticated decorations adorning the tractor-trailer in front of them.
Levi’s whistle broke the silence. “If that’s the competition,” he said, “you should have no problem winning the award for Most Creative.”
His confidence contradicted her own thoughts. The thing was stunning. “Is that a real hot tub?”
“No.” Levi squinted and leaned closer. “How could it be?”
Savannah sighed. “But that’s Candace.”
Right on cue, Candace glanced down from her perch beside the brilliant blue pool and waved.
They had streamers, balloons and at least a dozen inflatable beach balls. Had Candace persuaded her in-laws to tow an oversize bathtub down Main Street? Sure, they owned a hot tub business, but since when were tractor-trailers allowed on the parade route? People in Opportunity had always taken the Fourth of July parade very seriously, and Savannah remembered some incredible floats from her childhood years. But right now, all she could think about was how her balloon arch and hiking-in-Denali idea seemed so lackluster compared to the mobile pool-party theme Candace had come up with.
“Don’t let her get under your skin,” Levi said.
Savannah scoffed. “Um, too late. She’s been getting under my skin since we were ten years old.”
A smile tugged at his lips. He glanced at his watch again. “The parents should be here with their kids any minute now.”
“Is your mom bringing Wren over?”
“Yep.” He drummed his thumb against the steering wheel. “Wren wouldn’t miss this. Although we’re going to have a hard time convincing her to throw the candy, because she’s going to want to keep it for herself.”
“Maybe the other kids tossing the candy will inspire her to go along with it.” Savannah shifted to face him so she didn’t have to watch Candace take yet another perfectly posed selfie.
“I’m still seeing her hoard food, Savvy,” he said grimly.
“I know, but you’re handling it well. We just have to keep making her feel like she’s secure and loved.”
A heavy silence descended on them both as they sat waiting in the truck.
Levi cleared his throat. “We’re still doing this, right?”
“Pretending we’re a thing?” She offered a bright smile. “Of course.”
He winked. “Good.”
Except she wasn’t sure she was pretending anymore. The tenderness of his words stirred something inside her heart. A warmth spread through her chest at the thought of her and Levi and maybe even Wren becoming a family. Ridiculous, really. He’d never implied or asked for that level of commitment. Besides, Wren might eventually go back to live with her mother once she finished rehab. In a couple of weeks, Tori would leave town, and their charade would be over.
But none of those facts discouraged her from imagining a future that included Levi.
“You did it,” Levi said, holding out his hand to Savannah for a high five. “I told you that your float was the best.”
“It’s our float.” Savannah smacked his palm with her own, then shook her head in disbelief. “This wouldn’t have happened without you and my sisters pitching in last minute.”
Savannah had pulled off the impossible. After weeks of hard work, countless hours of planning and a long night of final touches, their float had been unanimously voted Most Creative. He’d had his doubts when they first joined the line at the start of the route. Especially when Candace got the kids riding on her float to launch those inflatable beach balls into the crowd.
“We made a pretty good team after all.” Levi held up his phone. “Here, let me take a picture of you holding your award.”
“Okay, but hurry. I’m starving,” she said, tossing her head as a strand from her ponytail swept across her face.
He swiped to the camera and framed Savannah posing near the trailer’s wheels.
She tipped her chin up and flashed another heart-stopping smile. Man, he could stand here for another twenty minutes taking her picture if she kept smiling like that.
“That’s enough.” She held out the plaque the Chamber of Commerce had awarded her. “Can you lock this in your truck for now?”
“Absolutely.” He tucked his phone in his back jeans pocket, then unlocked the truck. Savannah opened the door and set the plaque on the front seat.
They rounded the back of the trailer and strode toward the festival booths lining Main Street. The midday sun wrapped them in warmth, and the smell of deep-fried food and sunscreen floated on the light breeze. On the makeshift stage nearby, a band played their opening song, a popular cover of a ’90s hit. The crowd clapped and cheered.
