Chapter 12 #2
I swear there’s the tiniest hint of a pink blush on Harlow’s cheeks, but she looks away, facing the street and I can’t be sure. The wind whips her blond locks around her shoulders; her eyes squinted from the brightness of the sun.
I’m staring and I shouldn’t be. Clearing my throat, I force myself to look away.
“That might be … fun.” Meredith is the first to respond, but her tone implies she thinks it would be anything but fun.
“We’d go easy on you,” I assure her. “No crazy tricks.”
Harlow shrugs. “Sounds fun to me.”
I can’t help but grin at the genuine enthusiasm in Harlow’s voice.
Reaching the beach, we continue on to the pier. Since it’s the weekend, it’s crowded with tourists and locals. I don’t mind it, though. It’s just how it always is. I don’t think the pier would be the same if it wasn’t packed.
I spot one of my favorite games—the kind where you play against an opponent, trying to score the most points by getting the basketball in the net. “Anyone want to play?” I pause beside it, eyeing the three girls to see if any of them will volunteer.
Harlow gives a tiny smile, and I can’t help but grin when she says, “I will.”
I’m quickly becoming a pathetic loser when it comes to this girl.
I pass money to the dude working it, not about to let Harlow pay—not because I’m prideful and think she can’t, but it feels like the right thing to do since it was my idea.
The game resets and a bell sounds. Harlow stands beside me, throwing balls at her net.
I shouldn’t be paying attention to her, but I can’t help it.
Suddenly watching her, the way she stands on her tiptoes in her white converse, her tongue poking out of her mouth with every shot she makes, is far more important than winning or even playing the game.
I’m not surprised when she beats me by twenty points.
“Take your pick.” He sounds bored out of his fucking mind.
Harlow thinks for a few seconds and then points to a giant blue gorilla. Or maybe it only seems giant because she’s so small. The guy passes it over and she squeezes it in her arms with a bright smile, her cheeks flushed.
I can’t help the laugh that climbs out of my throat seeing her squeeze the stuffed animal to her body. “Good game.”
Her cheeks pinken further. “I really wanted the gorilla or I would’ve gone easy on you.”
I dismiss her words. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
And I’m secretly glad she was oblivious to me checking her out.
We move to another one of the game booths on the pier, this one the annoying ones you shoot water at and hope your little fish or whatever climbs the highest. Totally rigged.
“I’ll meet back up with you guys.” Willa’s eyes dart to a store down the way.
“Are you sure?” Harlow is the first to ask, concern for her sister clear in her voice.
“Yeah, I won’t be long.” She walks away before any of the three of us can say anything more.
“Want to play ladies?” I sweep my hand toward the game.
“I’m in,” Harlow is quick to chime.
Meredith purses her lips and gives a tiny shrug. “Sure, why not.”
Paying the fee, the three of us get set up to compete against each other. The sun is bright and hot. Sweat beads on the back of my neck and I reach up to wipe it away.
Harlow grins at me, sticking her tongue out slightly. “Ready to be beat again?” Her gorilla sits between her legs.
“I love good healthy competition. Bring it on.”
Meredith huffs at my other side. “You’re both going down.”
The bell dings and we aim the water at our various targets. Mine starts in the lead, then is over taken by Harlow’s, but Meredith’s flies up out of nowhere to win.
“Told you.” She shoots finger guns at us. “Pow pow.” She then pretends to blow off smoke from her fingers.
“Pick your prize.” The girl working the booth pops her gum, crossing her arms over her chest as she waits.
“That one.” Meredith points to a pink croissant looking thing or maybe it’s a shrimp.
She grabs it and passes it over, waving us out of the way so the next group can take our places.
“I’m getting hungry. What about you guys?” Harlow squints from the sun, shielding her eyes with her hand. Her nose is scrunched adorably and I can’t help but feel pathetic for the way I want to reach out and take her face in my hands and place a kiss on her lips.
“I could eat.”
“Me too.”
We each grab what we want from one of the various booths and manage to snag one of the picnic tables on the pier. Willa ends up rejoining us and eats the sandwich Harlow got for her.
After we’ve eaten, we hang for a while longer at the pier until it’s close to sunset.
Walking back with the three girls I find myself feeling like I’ve made two new friends and when it comes to Harlow my crush still threatens to suffocate me.
I’ve never been big on dating, haven’t been interested or wanted to put the time into a girlfriend.
Whatever it is about Harlow that draws me in won’t let me go.
Meredith gets into her car first and I wave as she backs out and leaves.
Harlow stands a few feet away from us near Willa’s car with her gorilla and a goldfish she won, like she’s trying to give us privacy.
“I had fun today.” My hand goes to the back of my head, my eyes threatening to stray to Harlow.
“I did too, it was nice. And, uh, thanks for this.” She holds up the stuffed bunny I won today. I also got a turtle and gave that to Meredith. I didn’t get a chance to win anything for Harlow, but I’m not certain she would’ve accepted it anyway.
“Don’t mention it. Maybe I’ll see you again?” I look between her and Harlow. “We could go to the skate park if you guys want to learn.”
Willa shrugs and tucks a piece of hair a few shades darker than Harlow’s, but still blond, behind her ear. “Yeah, sure, maybe. We’ll see.”
“Um, right, then … bye.” I glance between the two sisters, wanting to say something more to Harlow, but unable to think of anything worthwhile.
With a shake of my head and a silent curse I get in my ’94 Mustang and drive away.