Page 68 of Beauty and the Boss Man

“Oh, sorry. I was just looking around for who you were talking to.”

His laugh booms loud enough to make a few people turn around to look at us.

Each of us takes a spot in front of a machine and puts in our tokens. The machines spring to life, and the gate opens, sending the balls flying down the chute.

We both pick up one of the smooth brown balls. We pull our arms back and release them at the same time.

Mine flies into the top right corner, sinking into one of the 100k point pockets.

Aiden’s clips the side of one of the smaller holes, but it flies out, and he gets zero points. He looks over at me, and I try not to smile.

Each of us picks up another ball. This time, I hit for 50k. And Aiden? He gets 5k.

The rest of the games goes on like that, and I win by a landslide. I tell myself not to gloat, but I can’t help but do a little victory dance.

He turns toward me. “Okay, what’s the deal? How did you get so good at Ski Ball? I think I just got hustled.”

“When I was younger, my parents weren’t around, so I would walk down to the local arcade and play. I was there every day after school, playing Ski Ball. I got so good that kids would bet me a dollar they could beat me. I’d face opponent after opponent, but I’d win every time. Kids from all around the neighborhood would come to watch.” I use my hands to gesture as I talk.

Aiden’s eyes are as big as saucers. “Whoa! Seriously?”

The dam breaks, and I can’t contain it anymore. My lips curl into a smile, and I bust out laughing.

“No, Boss Man, none of that is true. I’m just freakishly good at Ski Ball.”

Those wide eyes of his? They’re now rolling at me. “Oh, you’re so full of shit.”

We both laugh, and he pulls me in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

With a quick smack to my ass, he says, “Come on, beautiful. Let’s go find something I can beat you at.”

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