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I hook a thumb in Laredo's direction. "My twin this time."
She crosses her arms in front of her chest, tilting her head. "I don't see it."
"Ohh, I like her." Laredo steps to the counter and extends his hand. "Laredo, the more handsome one."
"Penelope," she says, shaking his hand and then stepping back to the same pose. Arms crossed in front of her. "And your statement is up for debate." She gives an attitude, and Laredo lowers the ball from my hand. She's a tiny girl, but she's willing to go toe to toe with him. "What I said is I don't see the whole twin thing going on. You guys back for the music festival?"
I speak before Laredo fabricates a tall tale that he's a headliner. "Not really. Helping a friend with some music before the festival starts."
"Perfect," she whispers, and I have to ask.
"Why's that?"
She giggles and waves her hand at me. "Because you suck at this game yet feel the need to toss good money after bad. I can use the extra cash." She lifts her hand to cover her brace-filled smile but then halts. "You're not the type to take a hint, huh? How long before you figure it out? You're not cut out for this."
The mousey girl from last summer has developed an attitude. "I can adapt."
She nods. "A part of you knows that, yet you continue to do the same thing, the same way, over and over again."
I squeeze the ball tight and toss it to the stack of bottles. It flies right of the bottles making a woeful thud against the rubber padding. She doesn't flinch. She doesn't turn.
"And you missed, right?" she says with the confidence of a gray-haired mentor.
Laredo wraps an arm around my neck, bent over in laughter. "Oh my God, Penelope, please tell me you have a much older sister. I'll freaking propose to her tomorrow."
She grimaces and shakes her head. "I do, but she's only nineteen and can spot a player in a heartbeat. If anything, your brother would be more her type. My guess is he's most women's type."
My eyes flick to Penelope in time to catch the flash of a short smile before she steps to her right. "If he'd only open his eyes and follow his instinct, he'll be so much better off."
She waves her hand at the bottles behind her, and I exhale. I loosen the grip on the ball and extend my arm forward, allowing the ball to roll off the fingertips. It flies straight and true. The bottles flying off the stand.
"Bullseye," she says without turning. "Choose your prize."
Laredo points at a pink stuffed bear, which I ignore. I stride along the length of the counter, looking up at the prizes on the top shelf. "Nothing's jumping out."
"It shouldn't." Penelope laughs. "They're three-dollar knockoffs meant to entertain a six-year-old for about twenty minutes. Take this instead."
Penelope pulls a card from her back pocket with the words in large print: Free Game. "The best prize is always a shared experience. Bring her next time and not a relative."
She speaks like an old, wise sage, and I wonder how many other people she's had similar conversations with.
"Thanks," I say and push the card into my pocket.
"Can I ask you a question?" she asks.
I nod. "Sure." I expect her to ask who the card is for, and I'm not sure I'm ready to say Ariel's name aloud in front of Laredo.
"Your sister," she says, and I feel my body relax. "Last time I saw her, she raced out the back exit of my booth, and some guy she was trying to avoid was chasing after her. He caught her, right?"
"Yeah, they kind of caught each other." A smile pulls on my face as I think of Hailey finding her happily ever after with Marshall. "They're a happy couple."
Penelope gives me a confident nod. "I knew it."
She must read my face as she continues, "He had that look of determination. Nothing or no one would keep him from the woman in his heart. Your sister may have been running away at that moment, but when a good man makes his intentions known and comes for you… All I can say is…" I wait for advice from a wise kid because I'm too stubborn to follow my instinct. "She doesn't stand a chance."
Message received. I slip another twenty from my pocket, place it on the counter, and tap it. "Tip," I say and turn to walk away. I'm done with the games. It's time to end this Groundhog Day nightmare.
Chapter Fifteen
