Page 120 of Forbidden You

“Are you going to buy me some cotton candy?”

I brush the back of my hands against her silky cheek, her blue eyes melting my insides as she looks at me with a hopeful face.

I’d do anything for her.

“I’ll buy you anything you want, baby.”

30

“WHOOH! One more, McKay. One more!” Kayla jumps up and down as the milk bottles fall to the floor, leaving one still standing. “Come on, win me that pink cheetah, baby!”

I laugh, kneading the softball in my hand while the carny gives me a knowing look. A look that saysyou’re fuckedbecause if I don’t pull it off this time, the chance is I will pay him more. Like I have numerous times before this.

“I need a good luck kiss.” I give her a serious look and she replies by shooting me a dull one. “I mean it. I need a good luck kiss. We haven’t tried it before. We gotta use all our resources.”

“Use all our resources?” She cocks an eyebrow defiantly. “You make me sound like a fucking software program.”

“If that program contains you naked, I’d definitely invest in it.” I snatch her wrist, yanking her against my body while a shriek leaves her lips. “Kiss me.”

Laughing, she does as she’s told, and I push my lips against hers until her back is arched before I break loose.

“Okay.” I pounce on the spot like I’m Rocky Balbao and she claps her hands in excitement. “Let’s do it.”

I roll my shoulders, pulling my arm back with my eyes fixed on that last bottle.

“Drop. Drop. Drop,” I mutter, right before I swing my arm forward. My eyes follow the ball and when it knocks off the last keg, I jump up in victory.

“Yes!” I roar, pushing my fist into the air.

Kayla squeals, jumping up and down, then launches her body at me. I catch her, wrapping my arms around her waist, while her legs fold around my hips, the essence of carnival sweets pushed away by her honey scented hair.

“You did it!” she shouts, followed by a kiss. “You won the pink cheetah!”

She doesn’t let go when the carny hands me the stuffed animal that’s as big as a normal-sized dog. A well over priced stuffed animal since I just spent $75 to win it for her.

“Here you go, babe.” I squeeze its head between us, and she leans back, grabbing at it like she’s four and it’s all she ever wanted. Her sparkling eyes make it all worth it though.

“This is my dream!” she cries with a beaming smile while I let her slide down my body.

“Your dream?”

“Oh, yeah! When I was little, I always wanted the biggest stuffed animal from the carnival. But I never won more than a foot-sized teddy bear.”

“Your dad never tried to win you one?”

“He did. He’s just clearly not as skilled as you.” She winks.

“Or not crazy enough to try ten times?”

“That too. Okay, what’s next?”

“Whatever you want, baby.” So far, we’ve been in the funhouse, the bumper cars, the haunted house, and the pirate ship before I threw out an insane amount of money to win her that pink cheetah.

As a child, I never really cared for the carnival. I only remember one time I went with my father, but only because my mother was sleeping off her hangover from the night before. Over the entire day, a cloud overshadowed all the fun.

But walking around here with Kayla feels good. It’s fun and I can see why she likes it so much. She’s beaming with an excited energy next to me, and just watching her having a good time makes it worth it to me.

“What about the Enterprise?” She points at the train that sits in a circle and lifts higher and higher until it turns upside down for a very, very long time.

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