Page 50 of The Rebound
“Closed at three,” he continues, checking the sign up forms.
“But that was five minutes ago.”
“Which doesn’t make it any less true.”
“But I want to—”
“Closed.”
“Andrew, this is a family emergency.” My hands go to my hips as a short line forms behind me. “And this is afamilyevent. Are you seriously going to stop me, a paying attendee of the Clonard Easter Family Fun Day, from entering the Clonard Easter Family Fun Day Easter Egg Hunt just because—”
“Why is it that at every village celebration there is a Reynolds sister around to ruin my day?”
“Andrew!”
“Fine,” he snaps. “Join the hunt, just keep your voice down.” He smiles cheerfully at some wide-eyed children in the petting zoo beside us and shoves a signup page toward me. “Who’s your partner?”
“My what?”
He sighs loudly. “You can only enter in a pair.”
“Since when?”
He drops his voice. “We had a child go missing one year, only for a few minutes, mind you. She was found safe and sound but her parents threatened to sue and now I have to print out waiver forms. Also I’ll need you to sign a waiver form.”
“I’m an adult. I don’t need a partner. I’m not going to wander off and get lost.”
“I don’t make the rules, Abby.”
“Yes, you do!”
“I’m sure there’s some introverted child who doesn’t have a friend you can pair with.”
“But—”
“I’ll do it with you.”
I freeze at the familiar voice and glance over my shoulder to see Luke standing right behind me.
“There now,” Andrew says as I stare at him. “Thank you, Luke. It’s nice to see you taking part for once.”
“I don’t need a partner,” I repeat, turning back to him.
Andrew glares at me. “No partner. No egg. No money.”
“Not that pairing with me will give you much luck there,” Luke says, stepping past me to sign the form. “This will be the fifth year in a row without anyone winning the grand prize.” He frowns thoughtfully. “Almost like it’s impossible to find.”
“Yes, well. It wouldn’t be any fun if it were easy now, would it?” Andrew doesn’t meet his gaze, fumbling with the microphone. “Don’t forget to take a basket.”
“You don’t have to do this with me,” I say to Luke as Andrew starts calling people to the edge of the woods.
“I could really use the money.”
“So could I.” And the last thing I need is to be distracted by him. “Unemployed and broke, remember?”
“Graduate student living in a studio apartment with no heating.”
I ignore him and take a map from the table, examining the cartoon drawing of the forest and the winding paths interlocking inside it. A dozen clues are listed on the side for spot prizes. The last one is for a golden egg, which doesn’t have any clue at all. You just have to find it, simple as that.
