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“Nah. We had a lot of fun, but we never made sense together. She’s a good friend. I’m so grateful for Lizzy, that we have her and get to raise her together, but neither of us wanted anything beyond that.” He shrugs as we continue to walk.
“Well, I’m glad that the two of you get along so well. And Lizzy is such a great kid.”
“Speaking of Lizzy.” I shift my eyes to where she and her friends are standing, doing a quick once-over to make sure everyone’s behaving themselves. Trix follows my line of sight and makes a little nod of understanding in my direction.
“We better hurry then so she doesn’t think we’re following her.”
“All right. Let’s go to the end. I want my own bear to take home.”
“I think you’re putting a little too much pressure on my nonexistent abilities.”
“Not pressure, faith.” I wink at her, and she looks up at me with something I can’t read in her eyes, almost bumping into a group of people walking in the opposite direction. She stumbles toward me in trying to avoid them, and I catch her by the arm, steadying her back on her feet.
“Sorry.” Color lights her cheeks.
“You’re good.” I run my thumb over the inside of her elbow. I’ll take any excuse I can get to touch her. Her skin is so damn soft, and she looks beautiful in the purple sundress she has on. I’ve been trying not to stare and only sneak glances when I can, but every moment the night goes on, it’s harder to do. Just like letting her go is, but I force myself to do it.
When we get to the booth, I pay the guy and hand her the three darts. She smiles at them and then up at me.
“Which one do you want?”
I glance at the wall of prizes and nod to the lion with the mane that looks like he’s stuck his paw in an outlet.
“The lion who took fashion advice from Einstein.”
“He has quite the look about him.” She laughs.
“Which is why I need him. All up to you.”
“I really am bad at this, and I haven’t tried since I was a kid. I hope you’re up for winning yourself one after these end up on the floor in front of the balloons.” She starts to line up at the marker and draw her dart up.
“I’m sure you’ve improved with age. Come here.” I step closer to her, putting one hand on her hip and gently pushing to swivel her body into place. “Stand like this and set your shoulders like this. It’ll give you better aim.”
“Oh.” I can feel her tense a little under my touch and then relax. “Okay.”
“Set your eyes on the target. Yep. Just like that and then here…” I slide my hand up her arm and around her wrist. “Use the dart, line it up where you want it before you pull it back. Set your aim and then pull back and throw.”
We’re standing so close I can practically feel her heart beating, and I can feel every breath as her chest expands. Her eyes shift to mine and then back to the balloon wall with a small intake of breath; she sets her aim. I step back to give her space, and she wields the dart like the weapon it is, aiming and then releasing it. It pops a balloon on the wall, and she lets out a little shriek of joy.
“I did it!”
“High five!” I hold my palm up for her, and she uses her free hand to reciprocate. “Now do it again.”
She goes again and hits another balloon. But her excitement is too much, and she draws back too quickly on the third and misses, groaning when she does.
“Two out of three’s not bad. But you need all three to win a prize.” The booth owner looks back at us to see if we want to play again.
“I told you. You’re gonna have to win your own.” She gives me a defeated look.
“Nah, you got this.” I lay down another five-dollar bill, and the owner takes it and lays down another three darts in front of her. “That was just a warm-up. You’re gonna get it.”
She looks at them doubtfully, but when her eyes rise to meet mine, I nod at her. “Go get ‘em.”
She grins and takes them again, stepping back and releasing each of them; one by one, she nails a balloon every single time until she’s jumping up for joy and high fiving me again. The booth owner hands her the small, frazzled lion, and she presents him to me, grinning proudly.
“Your small but mighty Einsteinian lion, sir.”
I press him to my chest. “My new cherished buddy.”
