Page 35 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

Dejected, Gemma sighed. “I see it hasn’t gotten any easier with time.”

As much as I didn’t mind the idea of her not winning a fish, the longer I looked at her, the more I realized just how happy she would be if given the chance to take one home. It was a small, simple thing, but I could already anticipate the look on her face.

With resolve, I pulled out more change and handed it to the man. “Another round, please.”

He gave me the smug smirk of an individual who was well aware of the easy money he was making simply by standing there next to a stack of half-alive fish that likely cost less at the pet store, but for Gemma’s happiness, I was willing to take that hit.

I handed two of them to her but kept the last one for myself.

She brightened again and graciously accepted the two extra opportunities to win. “That’s very kind of you.”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “We’re here to get one of those damn fish, right?”

Smiling at me, she nodded and tried again.

As she went through her two turns faster than anything, I couldn’t help but wonder if the game really was rigged or if Gemma just didn’t have the best depth perception, but with that last ball in my hand, I assumed the position.

“Alright,” I murmured, lifting it before me as I focused. “You’re coming with us, fish.”

Concentrating on my target, I gave the ball a slight toss given its lightness, and sure enough, it splashed into one of those glass bowls. The red beta fish startled in the water and swam to the bottom in an attempt to hide.

Gemma gasped with delight and reached for my arm. “Ben, you did it!”

Pleased by her awe and excitement, I chuckled. “Would you look at that. Someone gets to bring a little friend home now.”

Beaming as the man reluctantly scooped the fish into a small plastic container, she gladly took it from him before we headed off, disappearing further into the boardwalk crowds. She looked down at it and laughed to herself as she carried the beta fish, careful to not block the air hole at the top. “I can now say that childhood dream of mine has been successfully completed.”

I couldn’t fight the grin on my lips as I walked alongside her, amused by the idea of such a simple, unnecessary thing being that important to her even in adulthood. “I’m just glad the little guy doesn’t have to suffer with all those other poor fish. I’m pretty sure the one behind him wasn’t even swimming anymore.”

“We’ll take good care of him,” Gemma said, smiling softly as she looked over at me. “Thanks, Ben. You really didn’t have to.”

Shrugging again, I didn’t mind how my heart warmed from her gratitude, even over a small gesture. “It was no problem. Getting to watch you carry it around now makes it worth it.”

The faintest blush appeared on her face as she continued, and despite how she tried to hide it, it wasn’t missed by me. I thought it was endearing.

After grabbing some food and spending more time on the boardwalk, we set a gentle pace as we meandered around, moving alongside the water to take the sights in. It was nice to be able to slow down and appreciate everything that was going on around us.

Before, I wouldn’t have thought twice about spending my Friday night on the boardwalk, but after experiencing it for myself with her, I was glad the idea crossed my mind.

“You know,” I began, interrupting the momentary silence between us. “Growing up, I always wanted a pet—a dog more than anything. I begged Dad, then begged Ari, and honestly, I’m surprised he never gave in just to shut me up.”

Gemma smiled at that as a curious gleam filled her eyes. “You never got one?”

I shook my head. “A dog? No. I would mope around about it and bring it up every chance I could. We didn’t have a family pet like most people, but I did have Aleksandr. He was a stray black cat I found not far from our house one day and decided to start sneaking him some dinner scraps. He was an ugly bugger—one bad eye, mangled front teeth, and he wasn’t afraid to lay a claw into you if he felt like it.”

She cocked a brow at that and stifled a laugh. “That’s a bit of an intense name for a cat, don’t you think?”

I grinned. “Nah, it fit him pretty well. I was out in the woods one day when a big, nasty dog had me cornered in the snow. I knew I’d never outrun the thing, and I was too far away from the house to call for help. Before the dog could attack me, Aleksandr came to my defense and laid into the old mutt. Ever since then, he earned himself an honorary spot in our family, but from a distance, of course. Ari never let the fleabag inside. But he was a good companion, nonetheless. He might as well have been a dog.”

By the end of my story, Gemma was smiling fondly, as if touched by it. The sight alone made me want to tell her more and more until I ran out of things to say.

“He sounds like a solid friend to have in your corner.”

I nodded, vaguely amused by the memory of a stray cat throwing himself between me and a dog. “I was very lucky to have known him. Although, he could’ve smelled a little better, at least.”

As we laughed and walked around the boardwalk, we fell into a natural rhythm, almost like we had known each other for years. By the end of it, I was grateful to see just how happy and at ease Gemma looked.

On the drive back home, I couldn’t help but sneak glances over at her while she held the prized fish in her lap, noticing how the city lights made her look even more beautiful than usual as they lit up her eyes and splashed colorful streaks across her skin.

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