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"Hmmm, that's tricky. I mean this is your win, technically, don't you get to pick?"
The smile on his face made my heart skip a beat. "You pick."
"I think it's got to be the rubber duck there." I pointed to it.
He laughed. "Really?"
"Of course. That way it's a nice reminder of the date," I said.
Damien turned to catch the attention of the stall holder, but not because I caught sight of the satisfied smile on his face. They exchanged a few words and he presented me with a small rubber duck.
"Thank you." I beamed and slipped it into my bag. "He's going to have pride of place on my bathtub."
Damien's amusement was easy to read. "You're full of surprises."
"Because I'd put a rubber duck on my bathtub?"
"Among other things," he responded.
"What's the next game?" I asked, looking around. "One that's maybe a little less prize-y."
"You're guaranteed to lose the ring toss," he said, gesturing to the stall a few down.
"Then the ring toss it is." I reached out and grabbed his hand in mine, pulling him towards it. I felt carefree in a way I hadn't very many times in my life, and I was going to make the most of every minute of it.
Maybe it was just because the whole atmosphere of the fair was infecting me. There were a good number of people around having their own Saturday afternoon fun, and it all just added to it.
I dug some money out of my purse and handed it to the stall owner, getting five hoops in return.
"So I just throw them over the sticks?" I asked, gesturing to the wooden spikes sitting at the centre of the tent.
"Pretty much," Damien said. "They have to sit flush to the bottom to count towards a prize, and the more you hook, the bigger your prize."
"So get them all on and I can have that giant teddy?" I nodded towards the stuffed bear being proudly displayed at the centre of everything.
"It'd probably take more than that."
"That's okay, I don't want a giant teddy bear, now that stuffed tortoise that kind of looks like you, that I want." I gestured to it.
He chuckled. "All right, tortoise-Damien it is." He stepped back so I had enough room to throw.
"How many do you think I need to get on to get the tortoise?"
"Three." He pointed to the sign behind me.
"Okay, let's do this." I pushed up my sleeves and got myself in position, determined to win the prize. I flicked my arm back and sent a hoop flying towards the spikes, only for it to shoot past them.
I let out a frustrated groan and readjusted so I sent the next one with less power. It fell short.
Disappointment filled me as my third hoop also missed.
Damien gestured for the stall holder and gave her some more money, handing me the extra rings. "And if more tries fail, there's always magic," he said.
"Damien! You can't do that, it's cheating."
Mischief sparkled in his eyes. "They've already got our money," he pointed out. "What's a little help?"
"Let me at least try a couple more." As soon as the new hoop left my hand I knew it was going to land in the right place. "Did you..."
