Page 109 of His to Cherish
So walking through the carnival, constantly running into parents who knew both Aidan and me, it was essentially the equivalent of the recurring nightmare where I showed up at school in my underwear and bra, a mismatched ugly cotton set at that, and late for a calculus final.
In other words, complete and utter hell.
But as the night went on and we gorged ourselves on cotton candy and corn dogs, a gyro for good measure, and more sweet treats, the tide began to change.
Aidan inspired confidence. It was in the quiet way he composed himself, his ability to answer questions about Derrick and shake hands with everyone who stepped in his way with a small smile and quiet acceptance of their condolences. It was in the way that no matter who threw themselves in his path—single moms, and on purpose, most likely—he held my hand or kept an arm wrapped around my waist, not letting anything or anyone pull us apart.
Between the way he held on to me, clearly showing the entire town that we were together, and his confession in the truck on the way over, I was practically preening under not only his attention, but others’ as well.
My smile was wide. My laugh was loud and genuine as I stood back, trying to watch Aidan win a stuffed bear for me by shooting a water gun toward a stack of metal bottles.
I tried to convince him the carnival games were rigged, but he shushed me with a look that said,Oh please.
I’d now spent the last twenty minutes watching him pay dollar after dollar, and I had yet to be able to pick out a bear.
“Winner!” The bell dinged and Aidan jumped out of his chair, fists pumping in the air.
“You did it!” I shouted, clapping. My cheeks heated as everyone stopped to watch Aidan grab me around the waist, lifting and spinning me in the air.
“Told you I’d win,” he said, smiling when he set me on my feet.
“Yup. You did. Games aren’t rigged at all.”
He guffawed. “It’s all skill, baby.”
“After fifteen games, I’m not quite sure what kind of skill it is you’re implying you have.”
He leaned down, gritting his teeth in a mock growl, and planted his lips in the crook of my neck. “Be nice,” he rumbled, “or you’ll pay later.”
I laughed. “I’m not sure there’s an incentive to niceness with that kind of threat.”
“Come on.” He hooked his arm around my neck and pulled me toward him. “I need more food. But first, pick one.” He pointed to the three-foot-tall stuffed bears, and I chose the one that was the most atrocious and tacky looking. The one with the lime-green foil ears and mismatched orange nose was so ugly that an unattractive snort escaped.
I pointed to it. “That one.”
“That one’s ugly.”
I turned to Aidan and pushed him off me slightly. “That one makes me laugh,” I protested, a smile growing on my face. He glanced from me to the bear, a question in his eyes before conceding. “As you wish.”
“I like the sound of that,” I teased.
We left the water gun game and headed toward the tents that lined the edges of the carnival. They held advertising for business, churches, as well as more food.
As if my stomach and Kate’s Kakes were connected by invisible fishing line, I felt the pull toward her tent as soon as we saw it.
Next to me, Aidan noticed what had caught my interest and let me pull him along.
I didn’t think it was a hardship for him. He had as much of a soft spot for her cupcakes as I did. Almost.
It was just another checkmark in his positive column as far as I was concerned.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Latham Hills’s most beautiful new couple gracing me with their presence.”
A snicker fell from Kate’s lips. Her arms were opened wide, a mischievous grin on her face and a table full of frosted cupcakes in a vast range of colors in front of her.
My eyes homed in on the ones labeledCHOCOLATECHIPCARAMEL.
“What are you talking about?” I asked. My stomach cramped with the need for sugar. My cheeks heated with embarrassment at the title she bestowed upon us.
