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Looking up at Jake, I pursed my lips together. I was miffed at how that whole situation went down. Menacing bumps and calculated hits had been my plan; all I had accomplished was becoming the victim of a three-car-gang-up. It wasn’t my best moment.
“Come on,” he suggested, placing his hand at the small of my back, leading us out to the tamped down grass. “What’s next? Perhaps something a little more your speed?” He was openly teasing me.
And I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Alright, Captain Amazing, since that didn’t go exactly to plan, I get to pick the next one, foryou.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond, but instead started scanning the area for the most difficult game.
“That one,” I pointed and began walking. He fell in line behind me as we wove in and out of the crowd.
When it became obvious which attraction I had chosen, Jake opened his mouth to say something.
“Uh—” I cut him off. “No protesting. This is what I chose and this is what you shall do.”
He smiled imperceptibly. “If you say so…”
After the attendant had taken his tickets, she handed him the gun. Yes, I chose the target practice game. The bullseye seemed far enough away to be just difficult enough.
“Good luck,” I heckled.
Standing back with a smug smile, I waited for him to take the first shot.
“Very nice!” the game attendant praised. “Just left of center. Aim right next time.”
Excuse me, but Jake didn’t need to be coached to win this. This was supposed to be a game of sheer skill. And a game of pride between us.
The next shot was a bullseye, smack dab in the center of the yellow circle.
I threw my hands up, knowing he had one more shot. “Next time aim right,” I mocked in a snarky tone under my breath.
Jake took the last shot and hit the center again.
“Choose from the bear or the dog,” he was instructed, looking at the oversized stuffed prize options. In the end, after much deliberating, he chose the bear.
“Look at how cuddly he is,” Jake crooned.
“That was rigged,” I complained.
“Why, because I won? How does that make it rigged? For all you know, I could just bethatgood.” Why did he have to be so reasonable?
I huffed, following the scent of cotton candy like a bloodhound. “Because, nobody is everthatgood.” We passed by a booth selling scones and lemonade, making my mouth water.
Jake stopped in his tracks with the giant bear hugged to his front. It looked ridiculous the way he was holding it like it was in a Baby Bjorn. “I might’ve had a slight advantage,” he sheepishly told me.
“Did I miss a movie where you played a sniper?” I laughed at my own joke, finding the odds to be rather in my favor.
“Well, actually, not a sniper, but I played a private in a war movie and to prepare for it, we were sent to boot camp. We spent nine weeks training with firearms…” Jake rested his chin on top of the bear’s head. The round ears framed his face and he offered me a grin that saiddon’t be mad at me. He was irritatingly adorable.
“Ugh,” I fumed. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
His eyes practically sparkled at my compliment, as ill-intentioned as it was. “Come on, Luce. I’ll buy you some artery-clogging fair food.”
Why did his offer have to placate my annoyance instantly? I needed to work on how easily I was bought with food.
For the time being though, I’d enjoy the grease, sugar, carbs and cholesterol until my sides felt like they were going to burst.
Jake andIwere both reluctant to leave Boston. We had created a sort of cocoon that unbeknownst to us at the time was something that wouldn’t be repeated the rest of the duration on the circuit.
