by Love, B. T.
“What?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. You know, I was thinking about taking you and the kids to that amusement park we were talking about next weekend if it’s not raining. Does that sound fun?”
“You mean Great Adventures? With the big scary rides and stuff?”
“Yeah,” he laughed. “I know you don’t like the big roller coasters but we don’t have to go on those. I just want to do something fun with you guys.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “That sounds like fun. The kids will really like that.”
“Good.” He smiled and gave me another kiss. “Drive carefully.”
“I will. And I’ll call you when I get home.”
“Okay.” He closed my door and stood away from my car so I could back out. We waved one last goodbye to each other and I left the parking lot to head toward home.
Eight
“You’re seriously going to make me go on that?” I said with a cringe as I stared up at the gigantic wooden roller coaster in front of us.
James laughed and stuck a wad of cotton candy in his mouth. “No. Well, not if you win the game. But if you lose the game then yes.”
“You know, I could have sworn you said I wouldn’t have to go on any roller coasters. Do you remember that conversation at all?”
“So don’t lose the game then.”
I shot him a friendly glare. “Oh you are so enjoying this.”
“Enjoying what?” he asked with an innocent wittiness.
“You’re enjoying tormenting me.”
“At least let her pick the game she’s going to lose at, Dad,” Tyler cut in.
My mouth dropped open with a smile. “And what makes you think I’ll lose, huh? Because I’m a girl?”
“No, it’s because I’ve played video games with you and you always die.”
James laughed at his son’s remark. “He has a point, Katie.”
Hailey laughed next to me. I nudged her arm. “Are you on their side too, daughter of mine?”
She crossed her arms and smiled. “Sorry Mom. You do always die when we play video games.”
“Oh I see how it is,” I chuckled. “Well, I guess I’m on my own to defend my reputation. And just for all of your information, these games are not video games. They require a different type of skill, one that I have.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Tyler smirked.
“Okay, okay,” James cut in. “Let’s back off of her for now.”
“Oh don’t worry about me. I won’t let these kids break my spirit, or you for that matter.”
“What? Me?” he smiled. “I’m not trying to break your spirit.”
“No no, don’t try and make up for it now.” I held my hand out in front of me. “Now give me some money, please.”
He smirked, his handsome face lighting up at our playfulness. “I ain't sayin’ she's a gold digger . . .” he sang while pulling out his wallet.
I laughed loudly into the air. “Hey now, you're the one who's forcing me to prove my awesomeness to you. It's only right that you pay.”
“Gladly.” He handed me a twenty dollar bill. “Now you pick whatever games you want to play. I know you’ll beat all of them.”
“Oh you are so full of it!”
He laughed and stuck another wad of cotton candy in his mouth. “What? I’m being supportive of you.”
I shook my head with a smile. “Darts. Now.”
“Okay. Lead the way.”
The three of them followed me over to the booth with all of the colorful balloons that were stuck to the back wall. I gave the man who was running it the money and he gave me three darts along with my change. “Do you know how to play?” the man asked.
“Do I know how to play . . .” I repeated him, puffing out a breath of air. “Of course I do. I just hit the balloons with the darts. Easy.”
“But you have three darts,” James cut in. “So you need to pop three balloons. Not one, not two. Three.”
I turned around to face him. “So you’re saying I will only win if I pop three balloons?”
“I mean that seems fair, right?” he asked, looking between both of our kids. They nodded happily back at him.
“Oh you are just going to do whatever you can to get me on that coaster, aren’t you?”
His cheeks lifted with a grin. “I plead the fifth on that one.”
I turned back around and faced the colorful wall. Taking my first dart I aimed it steadily at a green balloon and then threw it, popping it perfectly on impact. “Yes!” I yelled. “How do you like me now?”
“I’ve always liked you,” James said.
“Don’t try and back pedal now, boy.” I took the second dart and aimed carefully at a yellow balloon. When I threw it I almost missed but it pierced the edge and it exploded. “Yes!” I yelled again, throwing my hands up in the air.
“Good job, Kate!” Tyler said.
“Yeah good job, Mom!”
“See I knew you were good,” James added.
I sucked in a heavy breath and steadied the aim on my last dart. This time I aimed for a red balloon. When I released it I completely missed and it stuck in the cork board next to it. “Dang it!”
“Awe,” James said behind me. “I guess you lost.”
I turned to face him and put my hands on my hips. “I haven’t lost yet; I still have fifteen dollars.” I pulled the money out of my pocket and handed a five to the man. “Three more darts, please.” He took my money and handed them over promptly. I readied myself and threw another dart, only to miss my target entirely. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Our kids laughed at my failure, and I was sure I could hear a chuckle from James as well.
“Mom that means you already lost because you can’t pop three now.”
“Here,” I said, facing them and sticking the darts out in their direction. “You kids might as well use my last two since I burned this round anyway.” They happily complied and took the darts from my hand.
“I’ll show you how it’s done,” Tyler said before throwing a dart, which missed its target.
“Ha!” James said. “See what being cocky gets you?”
“Oh like you aren’t cocky,” I joked while wrapping my arms around his waist.
“I’m not cocky at all. Although I'm pretty sure I can beat all of you with my eyes closed . . .”
“No, you aren’t cocky in the least,” I laughed.
Just then Hailey threw her dart and popped a balloon. “Yes!” she yelled while jumping up and down.
“That’s my girl! See, she gets it from me.”
“I’m sure she does.”
“Do you guys want another round?” the man asked.
“Sure,” I answered. “But he’s playing this one.” I gave James a squeeze before letting him go, and then stood back with a grin.
“Me?” he smiled in return.
“Yep. Go ahead and prove yourself. I mean, you can beat us all with your eyes closed, right?”
His eyes narrowed into a friendly glare. “Oh I have no doubt in my mind about it. You ready to get whipped?”
“I am,” I flirted. “And then I’ll be ready for you to beat me at the game . . .”
His handsome face lit up and he dropped his head with a laugh. “Good answer,” he said, looking up to lock eyes with me once more.
I flipped around and handed the man another five dollar bill. “Three darts, please.”
James came forward and took the darts from him. “Thank you. Now get ready for me to win the biggest stuffed animal you have.”
“You’d have to pop five balloons for that,” the man told him.
“Oh that won’t be a problem at all,” I said, pulling out the last five dollar bill from my pocket. “Go ahead and give him three more darts; he’ll pop six balloons. With his eyes closed, even.”
James crossed his arms and faced me with a smile. “Okay,” he sai
d with a nod. “Get ready to be amazed by my talent.”
“Please, go right ahead.” I held my hand out toward the wall of balloons. “Eyes closed.”
The man handed him three more darts. James bundled them all in his left hand and took a single one in his right. He studied the board in silence and then readied his aim before closing his eyes and throwing the first one. He popped a balloon.
“Yeah Dad!” Tyler cheered.
“Good job, James,” Hailey added.
James looked over at me. “See? Told you I could do it.”
“Oh yeah, one dart. Let’s see how the rest go.”
He nodded with confidence and readied himself for his second throw. When he released it, eyes closed, he hit another balloon. And then another, and another, and another.
“Yes!” he praised himself after his fifth success. “I officially won the biggest stuffed animal in this booth.”
“But that’s not all six darts,” I told him matter-of-factly. “You only win and prove your awesomeness if it’s all six.”
“That won’t be a problem,” he said, giving me a wink. He studied the board one last time, closed his eyes, threw the dart . . . and missed.
“Dad!” Tyler shrieked. “You missed!”
“Dangit,” James huffed. “I was sure I had that one.”
I wrapped my arms around his side and looked up at him. “Babe, I have to admit that what you did was amazing.”
“I didn’t get all six though,” he pouted jokingly while hugging me against him.
“No, but you got five with your eyes closed which is very impressive.”
“Well I’m glad I impressed you.” He smiled down at me and gave me a tender kiss.
“Pick your prize!” the man chorused next to us. “You get your pick of the booth!”
“Go ahead,” James said, motioning to the dangling stuffed animals above us. “I won it for you. But you’ll have to hold onto it tight while we’re on the roller coaster.”
“What? You lost too so we’re even. I shouldn’t have to stick to the bet.”
“Nope, you lost fair and square. Just because I lost it doesn’t mean you got out of your bet with me.”
“Oh fine,” I gave in as I pointed to a large stuffed banana. “I’ll take that one.”
The man grabbed it off of the hook and handed it to me. “Here you go.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” James chuckled. “Out of all the stuffed animals you chose the humongous bright yellow banana.”
“Pretty embarrassing, huh?”
“Yeah, you can say that.”
“Good,” I said as I pushed it into his arms. “Because you’re going to be holding it a lot today.”
* * *
“Aaah!” I screamed wildly as we rode the coaster down its tallest peak. The kids were in the cart in front of us and were screaming their heads off louder than I was. James was next to me, with the large yellow banana sandwiched between us, and he was laughing the whole time.
When we reached the bottom the safety bars flung up so we could get off. “How was that, babe?” James asked, looking over at me.
I brushed my tangled hair out of my face. “Horrible.”
He laughed and stood up, extending his hand out for me to take it. “Oh it wasn’t that bad. You did great.”
“That’s easy for you to say; you didn’t scream once.” I grabbed the banana and took his hand, steadying myself as I climbed out of the cart. “But I guess I have to admit I had fun.”
“That’s my girl. I can’t wait to see the picture.”
“Me too!” Hailey said happily next to us.
“Did you have fun?” I asked the kids. “You were screaming the whole time like I was.”
“Yeah!” they said in unison.
“Man you guys are really pumped up,” James added happily.
We made our way over to the photo booth and waited for our photo to pop up on the screen. “There we are!” Tyler pointed out. “Look at the banana!”
We all laughed at the image of me and the kids screaming, James laughing, and the giant yellow stuffed fruit riding right along with us.
James pulled out his wallet. “There is no way I’m leaving without buying this picture.”
* * *
I smiled at the sight of our kids passed out in the back seat of the truck. “Man they are worn out.”
“Yeah they are. I’ll carry Hailey inside.”
I got out and waited for James as he unbuckled Hailey’s seatbelt and scooped her into his arms. Watching him carry her so carefully really tugged at my heart. He was such a gentle and kind man, a man who I was falling in love with.
I unlocked my front door and he followed me to her room. I pulled back the covers on her bed and he laid her down, pulling the covers back in place so she was warm.
“Thanks,” I told him. “You are a very sweet man.”
He smiled as we left her room. “I’m sweet because I carried her inside?”
“You’re sweet because you are a kind person with a very loving heart.”
“Well it’s easy to love the both of you.”
I dropped my head shyly; I was a little taken with his words. Was he saying he loved me? Technically he was referring to me and Hailey both. Still, maybe it was a bit of a confession from him.
We stepped back outside into the cool night air. “I had a lot of fun today, James. Thank you for taking us.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And thank you for convincing me to ride the coaster. As much as I hated it I’m glad I faced my fear.”
“I’m glad you did, too. Wasn’t it awesome?”
“Awesome is a bit of a stretch,” I chuckled. “But I’ll get better at facing my fears. Maybe next time we go I’ll ride two roller coasters.”
“Two roller coasters, huh? Think you can handle it?”
“Well maybe we’ll just have to play another game or two so I can lose a bet. Then I’ll have no choice but to ride them.”
He laughed and brought his hand to the side of my face, his thumb stroking my chilled skin. “You know, you did have a choice to ride that ride today. I would never make you do anything you didn’t want to do.”
“Oh, I know. A really big part of me wanted to ride it anyway. Even if I had won the game I probably would have still made it on that ride one way or another.”
“That’s good to know.” He glanced over at his truck where Tyler was sleeping. “Well I guess I better get him back home.”
“Yeah, okay.”
His eyes locked back onto mine and he moved his thumb from my cheek to my mouth, slowing grazing it across my lips. “You’re so beautiful, you know that?”
I smiled against the warmth of his hand. “Thank you. You make me feel beautiful.”
“Good.” He leaned in and kissed me, his tongue slowly entering my mouth. I responded instantly to his affection. My body, my soul, everything that was a part of me wanted him, wanted to be a part of him. How was I going to wait any longer to make love to him? He pulled away and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ll call you when I get home.”
“Okay, yeah. I need to hear your voice again. I, I really need you.”
His gaze softened. “Yeah, I need you too.”
Nine
“I still can’t believe you haven’t jumped his bones yet,” Mary said as she chomped away on her gum.
“Believe me, it’s hard not to.”
I turned onto the street where the new department store Sharlton’s was. Mary and I had been itching to go there since its grand opening a few weeks earlier. It was in Lexington, the town James lived in, and was supposed to be an awesome place to shop. Our plan was to spend the day shopping, pigging out, and getting pedicures before going home.
“Hey, you know those pictures of Matt I had that were hanging up in my bedroom?”
“Yeah.”
“Did I tell you I took them down?”
Her eyebrows lifted. “You did? Wow.�
��
“Yeah, I just figured it was time. Especially now that I lie in bed and talk to James; it felt weird talking with another man while Matt was looking at me.”
“That makes sense; I would feel weird too.” She paused and blew a bubble that popped loudly in the space of the car. “You know what I think you should get at the store today?” she asked.
“What?”
“Some nice lingerie.”
“Oh yeah? And why is that?”
“Oh you know why. So you can strut your sexy self around James and get his blood flowing, if you know what I mean.”
“You’re too much, Mare,” I laughed. “Just let me do my—”
A siren blared behind us.
“Is that for us?” Mary asked.
I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a cop car in the reflection. “Yeah, it looks like it. I wasn’t doing anything wrong, though.” I pulled off to the side of the road and looked into my mirror again. When the cop pulled up behind me and stopped I smiled. “It’s James.”
Mary turned around in her seat. “Ha! Yep, you’re right.”
James got out and casually walked up to my car, tapping on my window with his knuckle.
I rolled down the rain-speckled glass. “Is there a problem officer?”
“License and registration please.”
“Good one,” I chuckled. “Like every movie that was ever made with a cop pulling over someone he knew.”
He leaned down and crossed his arms, resting them on my door. “Oh, so I'm not funny enough for you today?” He smirked, and I just knew his blue eyes were sparkling behind his aviators.
“You're always funny, Sir.”
“Sir. I like that.”
“I'm sure you do.”
He moved his aviators to the top of his head and winked, melting me to my seat. “So what are you ladies up to today?” he asked.
“Shopping,” Mary answered.
“At the new place they opened, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, my eyes shifting to his protruding arm muscles. “Do you need anything while I’m there?”
“Nah, I don’t think so.”
“I’m trying to talk Kate into getting some lingerie,” Mary said, leaning forward in her seat. “What do you think about that?”