Page 109 of The Bet
Chapter 32
It was a few days into the New Year that she met Jacob and Xavier at Bryant Park, refusing Xavier’s offer to pick her up along the way because she and Cara had gone into town for brunch.
“Izzy!” Jacob came running towards her as soon as he saw her. He gave her a big, tight hug—as tight and as big as his little arms would allow.
“Hey, Jacob. It’s been a while.”
“Xavier said he had an awesome surprise for me!”
She looked at Xavier, and nodded.
“He means you,” Xavier explained. “Not the fairground.”
“I’mthe surprise?” she asked, laughing.
“I didn’t tell him you were coming.”
It had been almost a month since she’d last seen him, and it was as if she was seeing him for the first time again. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t excited to see him. She’d felt like a teenager leaving home for a date, trying on a few outfits, jeans with different tops while Cara had waited in the living room telling her to hurry the hell up because she was starving.
The quiet, gentle thrill inside her re-ignited when her eyes locked with Xavier’s. All of a sudden, that feeling of irritation she often had when he was around, was no longer there.
“Are you babysitting me again?” Jacob asked as they walked towards the fairground.
She wasn’t sure what to reply to that because Savannah hadn’t mentioned anything.
“Izzy’s having a day out,” Xavier explained. “She’s got exams, and this is her break. So, she’s not babysitting you today, kid. I am.”
“Exams?” Jacob asked her, earnestly.
“Yes. A whole week of them.”
“I would hate that.”
“I do,” she agreed.
“That’s why we’re going to make sure she has a good time,” said Xavier, taking her by surprise. She wondered why he was being so nice. Things seemed different between them, now. There was no more hate-hate, no quips, no sarcasm.
For the next few hours they wandered around, going on the rides Jacob wanted, sometimes the three of them, and at other times she and Xavier took turns. They bought hotdogs, and candy floss, and hot chocolate and Xavier refused to let her pay.
“My treat,” he told her each time she pulled out her purse.
They followed Jacob to the fairground shooting range, and saw him staring at one of the big cuddly Monkeys that was hanging on display. It was a poor rip-off of Mickey Mouse, but he seemed in awe of it, and squealed with delight when Xavier took a shot and won it.
“Can we get that one, too?” Jacob asked, pointing to another identical toy next to it. Izzy thought it odd, on two counts. Firstly that Jacob would ask for anything, and secondly that he would ask for a toy that was identical to the one he already had.
“Another one, buddy?” Even Xavier seemed surprised.
“I’ve got spending money.” Jacob pulled some coins out of his coat pocket.
Xavier shook his head. “I’ve got this, kid.” He peered in her direction. “How about we let Izzy take this go?”
“Me?” She shook her head. “No. No thanks. Not me. I can't shoot to save my life.” She was no good at these things, had never tried before, but knew without a doubt she would be useless.
“Relax,” he said, slanting a look at her. “It's not a real gun.”
Jacob chimed in. “Have a go, Izzy!”
“Oh, you guys. Can’t you let it go?” She hated all things gun related, even fake guns at a fairground rifle range, even with toy targets.
