Page 59 of Claymore
“Claymore. I would’ve come down to grab some. Thank you,” she said, her hands wrapping around the hot cup.
“Well, today you’ve got a different babysitter, one that definitely warrants coffee in bed.”
“Is that so?”
“Tank and the others are out following a lead and that means I get you all to myself. Now, we could stick around here all day, but I’ve got a better idea,” I said.
“I’m all ears.”
She gulped the coffee down like it wasn’t scorching, and I chuckled. She didn’t even flinch, probably burning her tongue and the roof of her mouth, but I imagined she did that quite often down at Crystal’s. Her curls were frizzy, her face flushed in the morning light, and everything about the way she looked captivated me. I had to fight the urge to crawl right back in bed with her, staying there all day.If there’s one thing she needs right now it’s out of this damn clubhouse.
“The Mascid Street Festival is in town. I think it could be a good time. I’ve never actually been, but some of the guys have,” I said.
“Now that sounds like fun. A chance for some fresh air and to kick your ass at some carnival games.”
“Nice try, but I’m a self-proclaimed champion of every game they’ve got. Except for that one with the ridiculous ball and bottles.”
“Uh-huh. You sure it’ll be safe to go?”
“I’m sure you’ll be safe with me.”
“Then I’m in,” she said.
She tossed the duvet from her legs, heading over to the bathroom for a shower. I sat there, enjoying the rest of my coffee, feeling like we were finally finding a way out of all of this chaos. I just hoped that Tank and the others would find a way to Fang. The closer we get to unraveling her, the closer we get to destroying her little hybrid club.
An hour later, Ella had her arms wrapped around me, and we were speeding down the highway, nearly heading right out of town. The Festival was right on the outskirts of Mascid, deep out west, and it gave me a little peace of mind to know we were far enough away from Sedona. I gripped the handles of my bike tightly, whizzing past cars, trucks, and a few other leisure bike drivers.
I could spot them just about anywhere. Their bikes always looked fresh, a coat of paint that hadn’t seen a single chip, and their helmets weren’t tinted as darkly as ours. I could still see their eyes when I passed them by, noticing just how much they enjoyed being out on the open road.
The Mascid sun was hot on our backs when we approached the festival. The place was already filled with laughing, giggling children. The parking lot was full as men in their sunglasses and women in their sunhats trailed about. I parked across the street, hearing the sound of carnival games and music wafting through the air. By the time we made it to the front gate, the sun had hidden, casting a cool shadow with thick, gray clouds.
“I can’t remember the last time I was in a place like this,” she said, her eyes wide as she took in the sights.
“No festivals in Sedona?”
“None I had any time for. The only thing I ever did was just work. I never took a day off, I never wanted to be anywhere else because I loved Crystal’s. I’m not even sure the place will ever feel the same, but I know now I was missing out on so much,” she said.
I wrapped my hand around hers, feeling her fingers squeeze mine and we headed toward the ticket station.
“Here’s to making new memories, Ella. Trust me when I say, there’s no better way to live.”
She beamed, her blushing cheeks made me stir inside, and I leaned in to kiss her.
“Come on, you two love birds. You buying tickets or not?” asked the woman behind the counter.
I pulled out my wallet, paying for the day pass. The woman strapped two bands around our wrists and we were let in. Ella pulled me toward the ball and bottle game first, chuckling as we lined up for our turn.
“So we’re starting with this one, huh? Prepare to be amazed,” I said, wrapping my fingers around the ball, ready to down all of those bottles.
I missed my first shot, my second, and my third. Ella couldn’t stop laughing at me, and I tickled her, hearing that giggle grow louder. I smiled, taking in how beautiful she was when she was happy. She had a different light about her now, like the darkness was finally lifting, even though we were only in the eye of the storm.One day, every day will be like today. That’s all I want for you, Ella. That’s all I want for us.
The attraction assistant handed me my next ball, shooting me a sympathetic, understanding look for my shit performance.
“It’s a lot harder than it looks, man. Trust me. It’s rare anyone ever gets the big teddy bear,” he said, but I was still determined to win it for her.
“You guys really rig these things, don’t you?” I asked.
“Nah, we don’t.”
