Page 28 of That Kind of Guy

The teenager shrugged. “Yep. Anything.”

Emmett pointed at a mushroom toy with a big hole in it. “Even that hat?”

Oh my god. A strangled noise came out of my throat. It was a mushroomhat. Oh my god. No. I could feel myself grimacing. Wearing that would be complete humiliation.

The teenager nodded. “Sure, but no one ever wants that one.”

“I wonder why.” My gaze bored into Emmett, but he threw me a winning grin.

“Go ahead, Adams. You’re up.”

Behind us, a group of people formed to watch. I took a steadying breath and threw the dart. It hit the board near the edge.

Better, but not good enough.

Emmett whistled. “Close.”

“Shut up.”

He aimed his dart and tossed it like it was nothing. It hit the bull’s eye, and the crowd applauded behind us. I could feel my mood souring but wouldn’t give Emmett the satisfaction of it. I rolled my shoulders.

Emmett threw it so easily, so casually. I just had to throw it like he did. I shook out my arm before I let the dart fly.

It nearly hit the teenager’s shoulder, but he jumped out of the way. “Hey!”

“Sorry.” I winced. There were murmurs in the crowd behind us, and more people stopped by to see what the fuss was about.

Emmett shook his head. “Adams, you punch above your weight, and I like that.” He threw the dart and again, it connected with the bull’s eye.

The crowd behind us erupted, and I rolled my eyes.

He looked like a kid on Christmas. “One mushroom hat, please.” Delight dripped off his tone.

The teenager pulled the stupid thing down and handed it to Emmett. He shook it out to fluff it up and took a step towards me. It was red and brown and white, all poofy. It was horrifying. This was the stuff of nightmares.

I took a step away from him. “No.”

His grin widened. “Adams, I thought you were a woman of your word.”

“I am.” I looked between him and the hat.

“Put the hat on so I can take a picture, and then I’ll go get us some mushroom ice cream.”

I made a face.

“We can leave as soon as you put the hat on.”

I sighed and grabbed it out of my hand. The second I yanked it onto my head, I regretted it.

“Avery, don’t you look adorable!” Miri trilled, her phone in front of her as she snapped pictures. “This is going to go straight on the Queen’s Cove blog.”

“I will make you pay for this,” I murmured to Emmett as he wrapped an arm around me, posing for Miri’s picture. I glared at her camera.

“I look forward to it, Adams.”

8

Emmett

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