Page 45 of Family: Posy 4

I enjoyed the arcade a lot. Not the video games so much, although I didn't do too badly at the original Super Mario Bros. I liked skee ball, and the air hockey table quickly became my favorite. I even managed to score a couple times against him! Both times my puck slammed into his goal, his fists shot up to the sky and he shouted, "Yes!" Then he picked me up and spun me around.

"Ash! I scored against you!" I giggled. "Why areyoucelebrating?"

"Because you're doing great! And it makes me happier to see you successful than myself."

"Aww!" My eyes teared up and I threw my arms around him, making his broad chest rumble with laughter.

We could have easily stayed there the rest of the day, blowing through his cash, but I'd tried all the games I wanted to and was curious to see what other adventures he'd thought of.

The next card I drew was go-karts, and after he explained to me what they were, I reminded him that I didn't know how to drive.

"Oh, yeah! Wyatt and I are dying to teach you!" His eyes gleamed brighter than they had all day. "I mean, you don't really need to learn how since there are so many others willing to drive you at any time, but it's a good skill to have in case of an emergency or to just make you feel independent. And it's fun!"

So we agreed to put go-karts back in the deck box for now, and I pulled out mini golf.

"I've actually done this one!" I grinned up at him. "Once, when I was small, Mom took me and my brothers to the Chicken Hut for Aiden's birthday. The final hole was an enormous rooster who went 'Cock-a-doodle-doo!' if you scored a hole-in-one. I remember James did, and I laughed so hard, I fell over."

"You were probably adorable! I bet the club was bigger than you!" Ash teased and I glared up at him, which made him giggle. "Well, we don't have a course in our territory, but there are a couple in the human city. We're not too far away from one that has a theme of outer space. The last hole is a rocket ship that blasts off if you get a hole-in-one."

I told him it sounded perfect, and we headed there next. The course was set up inside a small park that also had a playground and sand pit, picnic tables and pavilions, and a walking trail.

"Ooh! Can we go on the swings afterwards?" I asked as we walked past the playground.

"Anything you want, my darling cupcake."

Ash paid at a little hut shaped like a space rock, and the clerk handed us two golf clubs, two balls, a score card, and a stubby pencil. The club looked like a child's toy in Ash's enormous hands, making me giggle.

The boy really was a giant. He actually got on his knees to try the first hole, which featured a green alien with a ray gun, but still managed to score a hole in one.

I pouted a little. It had taken me three shots.

"Don't be sad, baby. You played one time in your life, and that was years ago, right?" He patted me on top of my head. "You'll get there, cupcake."

"Waffle!" I whined and swatted his hand away. "You'll mess up my hair!"

Before he could reply, I heard someone scream, "Luna!" and turned in time to be engulfed in Thoreau's bear hug.

Archer, Wayne, and Spring trotted after him. Archer juggled three clubs, three balls, and the scorecard while Wayne had the pencil behind his ear and his hands in his pockets.

"Careful, Reau," Ash told him right as Archer grumbled, "I told you not to run, Reau."

Ignoring them both, Thoreau and I hugged each other, smashing our cheeks together as we grinned at them.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ash asked as he fist-bumped the other two boys, then patted Spring's back.

"Just hanging out," Wayne said with a shrug.

I waited until Thoreau set me on my feet before asking the trio if they wanted to join us. The course was empty except for a couple of groups far ahead of us, and no one was waiting in line to come after us, so it wasn't like they would be cutting ahead or holding anyone up.

The three boys' eyes clouded up as they linked each other, and I took the opportunity to greet Spring. Standing in front of him, his nose was nearly level with my chest.

"Hello, Spring," I murmured. "How are things working out?"

Lovely to see you, luna, and perfect. I could not have asked for a better second chance. Reau is so easy to love, although he needs a lot of protecting! He finds trouble everywhere he goes!

I bet he does!I laughed.Especially with these two pranksters at his side. How's it going with the other wolves?

I'm getting along splendidly with Firth and Ocean, which is good because all Reau wants to do is be with Archer and Wayne.

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