Page 64 of Lessons in Heartbreak

Everything in me screamed to run in the opposite direction, but some primal part of my brain kept me rooted in place because he’d won something for me. He did exactly as he said he would and wasted all his money to win some ridiculous prize as a show of ... what, exactly? Chivalry? Ego? Effortless charm because he knew it would make me melt?

Marcus sidled up next to me, easing his arm around my shoulders. “I met your friend, despite all your best efforts to the contrary.”

Griffin rolled his eyes, knocking Marcus’s hand off my shoulder. Then he produced the stuffed bird—a large scarlet cardinal with anenormous fluffy plume on the top of its head—from underneath his arm. “For you,” he said. “I told you I’d get you one.”

“You did indeed.” I clutched the bird to my chest, wondering if it managed to cover the pounding of my heart.

Honestly, this was absurd.

Marcus perked up. “Lauren, I can get you an even bigger bird,” he promised.

She ignored him, serving up another funnel cake with a friendly smile. “Save your efforts for other activities, Henderson. I’m still not convinced.”

“Oh yeah.” Marcus smacked Griffin in the chest. “We’re doing the dunk tank.”

Griffin cocked an eyebrow. “What, now?”

“If we do the dunk tank and raise a fuck ton of money, Lauren will go out with me tonight.” Then he pointed at me. “And your good friend Ruby will be really happy. Don’t you want to make Ruby happy?”

Griffin’s eyes leveled on mine. “Always.”

The flutter in the pit of my stomach was beyond ridiculous, and I quashed it ruthlessly.

I’d quash those little jerks if it was the last thing I did on thisearth.

“Then it’s settled,” Marcus said, clapping his hands, the sharp snap of sound pulling me out of my mental self-flagellation. “Start spreading the word that the good people of Welling Springs can dunk the shit out of the two hottest Denver players.”

Lauren snickered. “Most humble too.”

He fixed her with a heated stare. “Just wait, sugar. I can back it up.”

“Oh boy,” I sighed. “I’m not so sure about this.” My eyes found Griffin’s again. “Didn’t you want to keep a low profile on this visit?”

“Yup.” Then he smiled. “Don’t you need to raise a lot of money?”

I let out a slow exhale, then nodded. “Land goes up for sale next week. We can put in an offer on Tuesday.”

With a wry lift to his brow, he gestured past the booth into the screaming chaos of the fair. “Lead the way, birdy.” Then he leaned downto speak close to my ear. “Don’t pretend like you’re not excited to watch me get wet for a good cause.”

A shiver danced down my spine, and the jerk noticed, laying his hand lightly on the lower part of my back as we walked. I sighed dramatically, but the annoyance was thin, a wobbly smoke screen for the real culprit—weak-kneed, head-spinning desire. Under his breath, he chuckled, and the two men followed me and Kenny as we led them through the crowd.

Word of their presence, as intended, spread like actual wildfire. Crowds edged their way toward the dunk tanks, which was the game closest to the school building, lines forming immediately.

Kids bounced up and down with unrestrained glee, their parents angling for a look at the two players with just as much excitement on their faces.

When it was time for Marcus and Griffin to climb up into the tanks and take their spots on the seated planks, Griffin toed off his shoes and socks, then handed me his phone, wallet, and keys for safekeeping. “You owe me for this one, birdy,” he said in a low, skin-tingling voice just next to my ear.

Marcus pointed at me as he climbed the stairs. “Is she the reason we were watching thatSense and What’s-It-Calledmovie last night?”

My head snapped toward him. “Sense and Sensibility?”

“That’s the one.” He shook his head. “That fucking Willoughby,” he said. “He did Marianne dirty.”

Using the tip of his finger against my chin, Griffin exhaled a quiet laugh as he pressed my mouth closed. “All right, birdy. Let’s make some money.”

Somehow, I snapped myself out of it, handing the microphone to one of our more gregarious library trustees, who was serving as emcee. She was hardly needed, though, because Marcus and Griffin worked the crowd effortlessly.

They talked trash with whoever approached to try to dunk them, always with a smile and a well-meant joke when the attempt failed.The kids all missed, but they told them to come back to the tank after their turn for a selfie, and they obliged each and every one. It took a bit longer to get through the line, but it made for a fun, buoyant atmosphere.

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