Page 41 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
I’m not surprised when she beats me by twenty points.
“Take your pick.” He sounds bored out of his fucking mind.
Harlow thinks for a few seconds and then points to a giant blue gorilla. Or maybe it only seems giant because she’s so small. The guy passes it over and she squeezes it in her arms with a bright smile, her cheeks flushed.
I can’t help the laugh that climbs out of my throat seeing her squeeze the stuffed animal to her body. “Good game.”
Her cheeks pinken further. “I really wanted the gorilla or I would’ve gone easy on you.”
I dismiss her words. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
And I’m secretly glad she was oblivious to me checking her out.
We move to another one of the game booths on the pier, this one the annoying ones you shoot water at and hope your little fish or whatever climbs the highest. Totally rigged.
“I’ll meet back up with you guys.” Willa’s eyes dart to a store down the way.
“Are you sure?” Harlow is the first to ask, concern for her sister clear in her voice.
“Yeah, I won’t be long.” She walks away before any of the three of us can say anything more.
“Want to play ladies?” I sweep my hand toward the game.
“I’m in,” Harlow is quick to chime.
Meredith purses her lips and gives a tiny shrug. “Sure, why not.”
Paying the fee, the three of us get set up to compete against each other. The sun is bright and hot. Sweat beads on the back of my neck and I reach up to wipe it away.
Harlow grins at me, sticking her tongue out slightly. “Ready to be beat again?” Her gorilla sits between her legs.
“I love good healthy competition. Bring it on.”
Meredith huffs at my other side. “You’re both going down.”
The bell dings and we aim the water at our various targets. Mine starts in the lead, then is over taken by Harlow’s, but Meredith’s flies up out of nowhere to win.
“Told you.” She shoots finger guns at us. “Pow pow.” She then pretends to blow off smoke from her fingers.
“Pick your prize.” The girl working the booth pops her gum, crossing her arms over her chest as she waits.
“That one.” Meredith points to a pink croissant looking thing or maybe it’s a shrimp.
She grabs it and passes it over, waving us out of the way so the next group can take our places.
“I’m getting hungry. What about you guys?” Harlow squints from the sun, shielding her eyes with her hand. Her nose is scrunched adorably and I can’t help but feel pathetic for the way I want to reach out and take her face in my hands and place a kiss on her lips.
“I could eat.”
“Me too.”
We each grab what we want from one of the various booths and manage to snag one of the picnic tables on the pier. Willa ends up rejoining us and eats the sandwich Harlow got for her.
After we’ve eaten, we hang for a while longer at the pier until it’s close to sunset.
Walking back with the three girls I find myself feeling like I’ve made two new friends and when it comes to Harlow my crush still threatens to suffocate me. I’ve never been big on dating, haven’t been interested or wanted to put the time into a girlfriend. Whatever it is about Harlow that draws me in won’t let me go.
Meredith gets into her car first and I wave as she backs out and leaves.
