Sweet Contradiction Read Online Free PDF Page A

away, years I’d never get back to tell her how much I appreciated everything she’d done for me. I hiccupped and let Jen pull me into an embrace. “I think you’re right,” she whispered.
    “Of course I am,” I said without missing a beat. “But what exactly am I right about this time?” Jen pulled away and picked up the flier I’d sat on the table.
    “We should definitely go to the fair,” Jen said with a mischievous grin on her lips. I grinned back and clapped my hands. I did love going to a county fair.
    “Yay! I get to pick out your outfit!” Jen’s mouth popped open to protest, but we both knew it was an argument she’d never win. I held up a finger. “Let’s go see what you have in the closet.” I drug her back to her room and began rifling through her closet. It was never too early to plan an outfit for a night out.
    Tonight we would have fun and pretend that neither of us had a care in the world.

can’t do this. What was I thinking? What will people think?” Jen stopped just inside the entrance to the fair, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. I wound my arm through hers and pulled her away from the gate.
    “They will think you have been through a very rough time and are in need of a little relaxation and fun to take your mind off of things. No one will say anything, Jen,” I said reassuringly. And if they did, I’d kick ‘em in the teeth , I thought to myself. I smiled over at Jen and patted her arm. “Close your eyes for a second,” I said with a grin.
    “There is no way I’m going to …” I glared at her until she rolled her eyes and made a pouty face. “Fine,” she huffed as she closed her eyes.
    “Now tell me what you hear,” I said with a smirk.
    “Really? Is this your idea of some kind of …” I growled over at her and she sighed. “Fine. But, let it be known I am doing this against my will.” She crossed her arms to drive her point home. “I hear a lot of noise,” she said quickly.
    “And?” I asked, resisting the urge to pinch her.
    “I hear people talking and laughing, carnies hollering out to people passing by, and I also here Sweet Home Alabama playing in the background.” I smiled and closed my own eyes.
    “And what do you smell?” I asked in a conspiratorial whisper. She made a sound of protest before I elbowed her gently.
    “I smell cotton candy, popcorn, fried corn dogs, and—I smell … candied pecans.” She made a sound of annoyance and my eyes opened to find her glaring at me with an affronted look on her face. “No fair that you know how much I adore candied pecans!” I smiled widely and began weaving us through the growing crowd towards the alluring scent of fried fair food.
    “Candied pecans coming right up!” I announced cheerfully.
    An hour later Jen was laughing and enjoying herself and we were finally headed off to play games and get on some rides.
    “I can’t believe how much we just ate,” she laughed.
    “I know. Who knew I’d love fried pickles so much?” I turned around and began walking backwards so I could face Jen as I spoke. “There should be someone manning the fried food booth. Like a bouncer … or … oh! One of those bartenders who cut you off when you’ve had one too many.” I nodded my head, thinking of the whole bag of candied pecans Jen and I had polished off by ourselves.
    “Yeah, I’m thinking I should definitely have stopped before that second double battered corndog.” She groaned and tossed her empty cup in a nearby trash can. Jen’s eyes grew round as we closed in on the ride I had in mind. “You aren’t serious.” She began shaking her head with a stubborn look on her face. “Maybe in an hour or two or … um, never.” I smiled and jumped in line before it could get any longer, pulling Jen with me.
    “Come on, Jen, life stands still for no man, you’ve got to seize the moment.” I flung out my arm, making a dramatic statement, when it promptly collided with someone standing behind me. A