Chapter 21 #2
“Come on, I got that last one in. The machine’s clearly rigged,” Asher mutters, slapping the ten into my palm.
The crowd breaks apart just as Madison and Halle stroll toward us, their faces bright and glowing.
“Who won?” Halle asks.
I hook an arm around Asher’s neck, pulling him down. “Tell the girls who just whooped your ass.”
“You won by one point, you clown.” He scoffs, shoving me off and glaring at me.
“Halle, your brother cheated.”
My stomach tightens as pressure builds behind my ribs, and then Madison snorts behind her hand, making me lose control as a laugh bursts out of me.
“Sure,” Halle deadpans. “Hunter definitely rigged the arcade basketball machine.”
Asher sticks his tongue out at her, and she grins right back at him.
“Someone come race me on the bikes,” Tessa announces, taking a step toward them.
“I’ll race you,” Jace says, stepping in beside her.
“Big man, you sure you wanna lose to me?” she challenges.
His gaze drops down her body, heat smoldering in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth curls.
“Please, I could beat you blindfolded.”
They take off with everyone following, laughing, and placing bets. Halle hangs back for a second, nudging her shoulder into mine.
“This is perfect,” she says, her eyes glossing over as she looks at me. “Thank you.”
“You two coming?” Madi calls.
I bump Halle’s shoulder back, grinning. “Come on, let’s go be kids for the day.”
The morning blurs by in the best kind of chaos. My cheeks hurt from smiling, the feeling unfamiliar, like my face isn’t used to this much good. Remi’s hands overflow with everyone’s tickets as he watches his momma play air hockey with Madi.
“Score!” Madi shouts, throwing her hands up.
“Come on, Momma! You can win!” Remi bounces next to me.
But I can’t take my eyes off her.
The way Madi leans forward, just a little.
The sharp focus in her eyes as they track the disk on the table.
The way her hips sway when she shifts from side to side.
Her smile is breathtaking, impossible to look away from.
She radiates sunshine, buzzes with this electric kind of energy that makes you want to get closer.
Makes you want to keep her all to yourself.
Every guy who walks past her does a double-take.
Their eyes drop to her hips and drag their way back up her body.
Not in a subtle way, in an obvious way, like they want her to see them looking.
Something hot and ugly coils in my chest.
“Yay, Momma!” Remi shouts, clapping his hands so hard the tickets go flying everywhere.
Madi pulls a dramatic pout, lower lip sticking out, and I bite back a laugh as Sarah swoops in, scooping Remi into her arms.
“Where’s everyone else?” Sarah asks.
“Claw machines.” I nod over my shoulder. “And Ash snuck off with Halle. Pretty sure he’s asking her to move in with him.”
“I’m hungry,” Remi pipes in.
“Same, little man. Let’s go find everyone and get some food,” I say, ruffling his hair.
Madi drifts to my side, her hand sliding onto my arm. “Ash is asking Hals. You okay?”
I look down at her, a smile pulling at my mouth. “Happiest I’ve been in a long time. This…” I gesture around us. “This feels right.”
I lean in, my lips brushing her ear. “The only thing that’ll top today is if I get to take you home tonight.”
Sarah clears her throat a little too loudly. “We’ll, uh, meet you guys at the diner,” she says, then takes off before either of us can say anything.
Madi starts after her, then stops, turns, and steps back into my space.
“Have you touched yourself?” she asks, her voice just loud enough that only I can hear.
I shake my head once. “You told me not to.” My voice drops, rougher. “But baby girl… please don’t make me wait any longer.”
Her eyes flash with heat and mischief. She has full control here, and she knows it.
“Say please again.”
“Please.” I lean in closer. “Fuck, please let me take you home tonight.”
Her mouth curves into a wicked smile. “We’ll see.”
Then she runs off, leaving me standing there in the middle of the arcade, trying to get air back into my lungs.
I spot everyone tucked into a booth at the back of the diner the second I step inside.
The place is all chrome and checkered tiles, red vinyl booths, and the smell of fries and onion rings hovers in the air.
The girls have their heads bent together, chatting and squealing about something, and Asher…
He’s not even pretending to listen to the conversations around him.
He’s staring at Halle like she’s the whole world, a smile stretched across his face.
“Hunter!” Halle calls, waving me over.
“I take it you said yes?” I ask, dragging a spare chair from the next table and planting myself at the end of their booth.
“You knew?” she says.
“Sweetheart, I wasn’t going to blindside your brother into this,” Asher says, leaning back.
“Is… is this okay?” Halle asks me, worry lacing through her tone.
“Shit, Halle. Of course it is. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m happy for you.”
Everyone lifts their milkshakes, cheering in celebration for them.
The waitress comes over with a cake, setting it in front of Halle. Her eyes instantly fill, tears spilling before she can blink them back.
“Aunt Hals, whys you crying?” Remi asks, lip pouting out in confusion.
“These are happy tears, Rem-Rem. I promise,” she says, wiping her cheeks.
“Happy tears because I picked out the best cake there is. Right, Halle baby—”
“Swear to God, Con. Stop.” Asher smacks the back of his head.
“You know he does it to get a rise out of you,” I say, leaning in closer.
“Yeah, I know.” He sighs. “But I can’t help it. What would you do if he called Madi baby every time?”
Something sharp and territorial flares in my chest. The muscles in my jaw tick. I’d lose my damn mind. I already struggle with every guy glancing her way.
“My queen and I tasted all the cakes, and this is the one we settled on, right, Madi?” Connor continues, grinning at my girl.
“Your what?” I blurt, narrowing my eyes at him.
Asher snorts beside me. “See?”
Connor leans back. “What? She is a queen.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“Can we eat cake now?” Remi asks, bouncing on Sarah.
The tension breaks, and we all laugh. Halle jumps into action, slicing the cake and handing out pieces to everyone.
I glance around the table—Madi giggles at something Tessa says, Asher’s still stealing looks at Halle like he can’t believe she’s actually his, Remi wipes frosting off his nose, the whole crew is piled together in one cramped booth—and something warm settles in my chest. It’s a content feeling, quiet and steady.
For a moment, it feels like we’re in our own bubble.
No bruised pasts. No expectations. Just us. Nothing but love and laughter.
You can’t live here forever, man.
The thought hits me hard. Fear slides its cold fingers around the edges of my heart, a weight dropping onto my shoulders as the moment presses into me, and I try to steady myself.
I know when I walk out of here, reality is going to come crashing down.
Those letters hidden in my room, they’ll shatter this moment.
Tear down the happiness we’ve found. Madi will want me to hand them over to Halle.
Asher will be pissed I kept them from her.
And the sadness that’s stalked us our whole lives will find its way back in.
I shove my hands under the table, hiding my trembling fingers. I can’t let that happen.
Not yet.