AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s not fair,” she whispered. “You’re playing dirty.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, and she returned the gesture before they were interrupted by a loud and exasperated voice, “Come on, Mommy. We’re here!”
“So we are.” She started towards the entrance, but the little girl tramped over to Aidan and took his hand. “Have you ever been here?” she asked, pulling him to the door.
“No, I haven’t.” He allowed himself to be dragged along by the little girl. “Is it a good one?”
“It’s decent,” she replied, and he chuckled at her adult tone. Such a little lady. “There’s a bigger one in the next town, but the food here is better. So it just about evens out.” Reaching the entrance, the little girl pulled hard to open the big door, waving off his hand when he tried to assist her. Just like her mother, she wanted to be independent. Finally, she hefted the door open, and they entered the boisterous, neon wonderland.
Consisting of two large game rooms, a dining area and bumper cars, the arcade boasted an underwater theme with fish decorations, marine life photographs and mermaid sculptures, which Jeanie proudly told him had been modeled by real mermaids. Flashing games and toddler rides were scattered about, including classics like Skee-Ball and air hockey. A small carousel took up a corner, and a row of pinball machines flashed along one side. Laughing families filled the space, which smelled like buttered popcorn and piping hot pizza. Ringing, dinging, banging and clapping echoed from every corner.
They took a booth in the corner with puffy red seats and a clear resin table with 3D clownfish and seahorses. A waitress with wavy blond hair gave him a menu and a coy look, but like the model at the carnival, it didn’t affect him. The only woman he desired was sitting across from him, biting the ruby red lips he so recently kissed, lips he planned on kissing again very, very soon. He forced his attention back to the menu. “Jeanie…” He regarded the little girl with an expression of utter seriousness. “Do you think we should order forty-five pizzas?”
She giggled. “I think that’s too much.”
“Ahhh.” He made a show of studying his menu once more. Putting it down, he inquired, “Forty-four?”
Jeanie giggled again. “I think you’re being silly,” she accused.
He held his hands to his heart, placed an exaggerated look of horror on his face. “Me?!”
Jeanie broke into a fit of laughter, enthusiastically bobbing her head up and down. “Yes, you!” she squealed.
He winked at Laura. “Seems like I’ve been found out,” he confided. “If we’re not going to get forty-four pizzas, then how about we share one? I like earthworms and frog legs on mine. What about you?”
“Ewww!” the little girl groaned, wrinkling her nose. Then, realizing she was being teased again, she laughed hysterically. The funny bantering continued – before the waitress returned, during the waitress’ visit when they orderedonelarge pizzawithoutearthworms and frog legs and after she left. There wasn’t silence until the pizza came and they were munching happily. Even then, it was a comfortable silence, relaxed and natural as if repeated thousands of times before. The hungry group ate quickly, and soon the entire pie disappeared. It had been exactly the right amount.
“Mommy, can I play now?”
Laura smiled at her daughter. “All right, honey.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a roll of tokens. “Here you go.”
“Thank youuuu!” Jumping up, Jeanie raced to the first game.
Discomfort soured Aidan’s stomach, even though Jeanie was only a few feet away and well within sight. It wasn't his daughter, so he really shouldn't say anything. Two seconds later, he asked, “You’re letting her go off just like that?”
Laura turned towards him, but kept her eyes on Jeanie. “She's never out of my sight, and I only stay a few feet back. I move anytime she does." She rose and followed Jeanie as she hopped to the next game.
He exhaled lowly, as he also rose. He was definitely overreacting – they had a direct view of the little girl, and he could reach her in seconds if there was a problem. Why was he feeling so protective of a kid he'd just met? “She’s a great kid. She seems quite intelligent.”
Laura lit up as she told him about how the preschool teacher recommended a special program for gifted children, eliciting unfamiliar pride within him. He’d known right away she was smart, but hadn’t realized how talented she was. Though he conversed with Laura, he always kept Jeanie in his sight. The same strange familiarity as before arose. “Why don’t we join her? She looks so alone out there.”
Laura smiled brightly, as if she'd been waiting for him to suggest it. “Sure,” she agreed, and they walked over to the little girl. “Hello pumpkin.” Laura playfully ruffled the girl’s shimmery hair. “How are you doing?”
“Great!” The little girl threw a foam ball inside a rainbow-colored can. The lid moved up and down, a life-size mechanical clown peeking out from underneath. She squealed in delight as the lid moved faster, cheering every time she got a goal. The game finally ended, and she exuberantly plucked her winning tickets. “Let’s play again!” she exclaimed. “Only this time you guys help me!”
Aidan winked at Laura. “Up for it?”
“Absolutely.”
Laura never looked so happy or beautiful as she placed a token in the slot, and the game sprung to life. Grabbing balls as quick as they could, the trio vigorously lobbed them into the target like an Olympic gold medal basketball team. Thirty seconds, twenty tickets and endless laughter later, they emerged from the game victorious.
“What’s next?” Laura asked Jeanie, who was hopping up and down like a little jumping bean. The excited child led them to the pinball games, where they took turns with the circus machine. After that, they tackled Skee-Ball, where his jackpot inspired an exuberant squeal, and the racing games, where they sped next to each other on a virtual Indy track. He actually held front row seats to the real race last year, yet somehow it paled to this moment. They traveled from game to game, from one joyful encounter to another. It was an unusual night of entertainment for him, but somehow more fun than the big society events and exclusive clubs he usually attended, bringing pure joy he hadn't felt in a long time.
Not since he'd anticipated his own family.
They reached the air hockey table, and Laura inserted two tokens. A puck popped into the slot as swishing air hummed. Laura held the handle to her daughter, but Jeanie shook her head. “I want you two to play.” She pointed to her mother, then to Aidan.
He rubbed his hands together. “What about it, partner? If you're scared, I understand.”
