Her Imaginary Husband (Contemporary Romance) by Lia London Page B

on if everyone’s going to show off? Do we have to watch the cooking class bake a soufflé?”
    Gayle buried her face in Nikki’s shoulder to laugh. “Sshhh! Don’t give them any ideas!”
    The horrific screech of microphone feedback jolted everyone to silence, and all eyes turned to Principal Geoffreys at the far end of the gym. “Well, now that I have your attention…” He chortled at his own joke, but most people were still rubbing their ears and didn’t hear him.
    As he continued, Nikki leaned in close to Gayle. “Oh my gosh, he’s giving the same corny speech my principal used to give at pep assemblies.”
    “It’s part of their administrative training, I think,” said Gayle with mock seriousness. “Hot Air 501.”
    A whistle sounded, and then a hearty “Yeeee-haw!” Nikki gaped out at the court to see four of her American Lit students standing on hay bales and posturing like roosters at one another. Josh and David, in their football jerseys and helmets, beat their chests and grunted like apes. Adam and Cody, in cowboy hats, boots, jeans and plaid shirts rolled to the elbows, stomped their feet and clapped in rhythm. The students in the bleachers laughed, cheered and hooted. Two competing boom boxes blasted the school fight song and a country western song.
    Nikki could not contain her delight. “This is either going to be really fun, or a total blood bath. What do they have to do?”
    “It’s different every year,” said Gayle. “But the cowboys and the jocks have a long-standing feud at Riverview.”
    “So why are we promoting that?”
    “Oh, there’s no stopping it. Even before this new building went up, the townies and the hicks of Eastmont have been trying to top each other. You should have seen it in the old days!” Gayle winked. “I’ve been watching these showdowns since before you were born. It’s all in good fun.”
    “As many of you know,” blared Mr. Geoffreys’ voice through the loudspeakers, “Coach Carlin’s football team and Mr. Craft’s FFA club have unfinished business from last year. The battle was inconclusive.” Roars and boos. Mr. Geoffreys raised his hands to quiet the crowd. “Last year, the football team picked the challenge. It involved strength and agility. Most of you will remember the spectacular hurdling portion.” Cheers and whistles. “That’s right! Well, this year, the FFA gets to set the challenge. Strength and speed are involved.”
    Nikki shook her head. “The football players are buff. How are Adam and Cody going to stand a chance?”
    “They’re not,” said Will.
    He had appeared behind her unnoticed in the commotion, and Nikki hid her surprise behind a whooped holler for the kids. “You been training the boys in farm skills?”
    Will stepped forward and placed his hand gently on her back. “You just watch, pretty lady,” he said in a countrified drawl. “Them cowboys are goin’ down.”
    The challenge was a simple relay race wherein each boy had to maneuver a wheelbarrow laden with a hay bale through the obstacle course and stack the hay at the end. There were four bales in all, so each boy would go twice.
    Adam and Cody pulled on thick leather working gloves, but Josh merely spit into his palms and rubbed them on his jeans. A buzzer sounded, and both Adam and Josh shot into motion, Josh leading in speed, but as soon as he grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow, he fumbled. He couldn’t keep the wheelbarrow from veering wide and crashing into the bales that marked the course. Meanwhile, Adam moved with an unhurried ease through the markers to the end. He lifted the bale from the barrow and tossed it against the wall where it would be stacked. As he made his way back to Cody, he leaned over to the struggling Josh and called, “Keep trying. You’ll get there!” There was no encouragement in his tone.
    “Oh my gosh,” said Nikki, the grin on her face stretching her cheeks. “This is hilarious. Adam looks like he’s just out walking