Page 60 of Claymore
“Claymore, we still have so many other games to try. Come on,” she said, trying to drag me away.
“One more try, darlin’. One more try for that oversized LoveSac of a teddy bear,” I said and she nodded, grinning.
I gave it everything I had and that ball went barreling through the glass milk bottles while everyone around me cheered. The attraction assistant’s eyes widened and he gave me a clap before he got the fluffy, brown teddy bear down. It had a soft smile and a bright crimson ribbon around its neck.
“This is for you, darlin’.”
Ella took the bear into her arms, giving it a tight squeeze.
“Thank you, Claymore. Thank you so much.”
I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close while she dragged me over to the go-karts. Her eyes glimmered in the afternoon sun while she watched the karts whiz past us down the track.
“We need to do this.”
“We get plenty of road action on a daily basis. Why don’t we just go check out the arcade or that water gun game?”
“What’s the matter, Claymore? Scared I’ll wipe the floor with you? You may know your way around a bike, but this? This is my territory,” she asserted.
I pulled her in close, shooting her a smirk, and I could feel the confidence oozing out of her.
“You really think you’re gonna win, huh?” I teased.
“Oh, I know I will.”
“Then let’s do it.”
She squealed happily and we both lined up, waiting our turn. The ride assistant held onto Ella’s bear for her while she got strapped in, ready to rumble. I stretched my legs out as far as they could go in the tiny vehicle, waiting for the race to begin. Ella never looked happier. Her bright eyes, that smile, they were so prominent I could see them through the tinted glass of her dome.
“Three laps. Winner takes the real tickets. Ready? Three. Two. One. Go!”
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, flooring it, passing Ella by a landslide. Her giggle echoed through the air as she sped past the other riders, heading straight for me. Her front bumper rammed me hard and I grinned, knowing she wasn’t gonna give up until she passed me.
“I’m not going easy on you!”
“You better not! It’ll make things much sweeter when I win!” she shouted, ramming into me again and I was sandwiched up against the barrier.
She overtook me on the last lap, riding my slipstream until she passed the checkered finish line. I accepted defeat, completely floored by how good she was, and it was fucking hot.Maybe this really is her territory. I need to teach her how to ride a bike.
Ella hopped out of the kart and the people in line cheered for her. I approached, watching that smile curl up on her lips. The ride assistant handed her a wad of tickets along with the bear I’d won for her earlier.
“I told you I’d win,” she muttered.
“I have to say, Ella. I’m impressed.”
“You should be. It’s one of my many talents,” she teased.
“I know. You’ve got plenty of those.”
I pulled her in by the belt loops of her jeans, tucking her hair behind her ear before I kissed her. Her plump lips and the soft graze of her tongue drove me crazy. At that moment, it was just the two of us, underneath the whirring of go-kart engines and the cool afternoon breeze.
My cheeks hurt from smiling as the rest of the day was spent drowning in carnival games and fried food. We didn’t even realize the sun was starting to set until some of the booths started closing. The sky was a soft pink, orange, and purple hue when we started heading back to my bike. Ella hung onto her ice cream cone with its cake batter flavor, holding it up so I could take a lick.
“You have no idea how much I needed this, Claymore.”
“Oh, I think I do,” I said.
“I wish we didn’t have to leave.”
