Chapter 19 #2
With her, nothing was done half assed. She went full throttle in pretending she was riding a live horse, which of course brought another round of highly illicit ideas.
I jumped on, trying to remember if I’d ever been on one. The music was loud, certainly nothing I would ever enjoy listening to, but she was already having an amazing time.
“You look stiff,” she mostly yelled over the organ music.
“I’m just getting used to the… horse.”
Her laugh was loud and full of joy and the way she had her hand wrapped around the pole stabbing the horse wasn’t white knuckled.
She tossed her head back and forth as the sheer joy exploded from deep within.
“Let your imagination flow. I’m going to teach you how to live a little instead of being a stuffed shirt. ”
“A stuffed shirt?”
“Exactly. You own amusement parks, but let me guess, you’ve never been on a single ride. Have you?” Now she was crucifying me with her eyes.
“I’ve found no need.” For whatever reason, I laughed.
She pointed her finger toward me. “Stick with me, kid, and by the end of the night, you’ll be an old pro with how to wrangle a fair.”
“Alright. I’ll see if you’re as good as you say you are.”
“Oh, sugar,” she purred, offering a Southern drawl, “you haven’t seen anything yet.”
“Then I’m very much looking forward to seeing how you can influence me. Just remember, that’s very difficult.”
Why was it that even her wink suggested salacious offerings?
From the carousel, we moved to teacups. Teacups, for fuck’s sake. I had no idea what the ride was called but evidently, she had full control of how much the neon pink cup we were in moved from side to side.
And she was laughing the entire time, likely from the expression that I knew had been plastered on my face.
“Come on. Get into this,” she encouraged.
The only thing I did was bump into her on purpose, which caused her to kick me in the shin. In turn, I was the one laughing.
By the time we stumbled off, she noticed a cotton candy stand. Thank God I’d ensured a few dozen employees were being paid a hefty paycheck given how fast she was moving from one destination to another, obviously determined to enjoy as much of the fair as possible.
“Cotton candy. Now, please tell me you’ve tried it before.” She was already drumming her fingers on the counter.
“I can’t say I have. What is it?”
She slowly turned her head toward the young man behind the counter, both shaking their head as if sharing a private joke. “We’ll take two. Blueberry in flavor.”
“Blueberry?”
“Absolutely. Wait until I make you try a blue raspberry Slurpee.”
“What in God’s name is a Slurpee?”
“What kind of family did you grow up in? Slurpees come from a corner convenience store where these vats churn the most delicious flavors with crushed ice. On a hot day, there is nothing better. Although I must admit since I’m an adult, I do prefer the kind laced with rum.”
When the guy offered her two strange-looking balls of spun air on what looked like a toilet paper holder, she rolled her eyes almost instantly.
“You are going to eat this.”
I accepted the gesture, watching as she pulled off a hunk with her fingers, shoving it into her mouth. In the crazy swirl of neon lights coming from every direction, I was allowed to see a sparkle in her eyes.
She was enjoying the hell out of making me uncomfortable and I’d pay her back tenfold.
I finally gave in, taking a pinch and putting it on my tongue. “I didn’t taste anything.”
Every time she shook her head as if in disgust, I knew she was up to something. “Open your mouth.”
“If I don’t?”
Her smile was truly wicked. “Try me.”
As she pulled off a hunk, a bad feeling rolled through me. What had I gotten myself into? She was kind, shoving the wad of flavorless sugar into my mouth instead of rubbing it all over my face. But she still did a little dance as if she was fully in control.
When I’d swallowed, she lifted both eyebrows. “Be honest.”
“I’d prefer champagne and lobster.”
She poked me with her elbow, walking away and toward a row of games of some sort. In remembering the details about her father, I’d seen such a look of sadness on her face, which of course led me to being determined to win a stuffed animal for her.
“Blue raspberry was a staple in going to the fair?” I asked as we walked, taking our time.
She nodded. “Always. My mom loved blueberry cotton candy. And candy apples too.”
“What happened to your mom?”
Penelope glanced away, taking several shallow breaths. “She died when I was eleven.”
“I’m sorry.” We shared one too many things in common. Including pain that never left.
“People die. You learn to reshape your life.”
“But death affects you in ways you never fully understand.”
With a tip of her head, she nodded several times. Always searching my eyes.
The guys behind every counter started shouting to come play their game. Only two dollars for a chance to win big. The mood shifted away from sadness.
Penelope eyed me with even more curiosity than before. No, she was challenging me.
“Alright,” I told her, using the game as an excuse to toss the rest of the cotton candy. “Let’s see what I can win.”
“Go for it.” She stood off to the side, enjoying the tasteless air as I paid the guy twenty bucks. He plopped down several beanbags.
“All you need to do it get them in one of the holes over there. Two out of three wins.”
The guy’s voice sounded like every carny movie I’d seen. Which was one to be exact.
“This will be easy,” I told her. “Stand back so the expert can work.” I’d never claim to be a baseball pitcher, but when I couldn’t get one in after trying six times, I felt humiliated.
I also found myself getting pissed off, as if it was the game’s fault I sucked at it. I tried again, getting in one.
Now I was really getting to the point.
Four more tries and I almost tossed the last beanbag at the guy thinking he’d rigged the game.
When I turned, I realized she’d already slapped down two dollars. Two lousy dollars for three balls.
She offered a look, a swivel of her hips and simply tossed them one after another.
And all three went sailing toward the top hole, which of course provided the largest prize, and flew into the open spot with ease. All while keeping the cone of sugary slop in her other hand.
She nodded in satisfaction and offered me another look. “That’s how it’s done.”
As she pointed toward a medium-sized stuffed bear, I came this close to ripping the guy over the counter by his throat given how hard he was laughing.
All at my expense.
Before I lost my cool, I stepped away. Losing hadn’t been on my agenda.
I suddenly felt her hand on my arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“You found something you aren’t good at.” She took another massive bite of the cotton candy before finally tossing the rest into a trashcan.
“There are reasons I’m highly successful, Penelope. I never lose. Never.” When she remained quiet, I moved in front of her, keeping us from walking any farther.