Page 49 of Bring me Back

I scoffed, but Hallie looked at Mark and then at me, like she was actually comparing us both.

“Can you correct him, please?” I asked when she said nothing.

“Be more confident, Daniel,” she said. “It comes from the inside out, you know?”

I burst into a laugh. She was beyond sassy today and it was a joy to see it out in front of Mark and Abby. Everyone laughed, and I tried not to react too much to how happy I was. Eventually, she touched my arm, calling my attention. “You can go relax with your family,” she bounced on her heels. “I can have the booth from now on.”

“You sure? Do you want me to stay a little longer and help you out?”

She scoffed. “I think I can manage. Go have fun.” Turning to the other two people in the circle, she smiled. “It was great to meet you.”

“Ok, I will be around anyway. Just text me if you need anything, Cricket.”

The term of endearment slipped off my lips, and I knew I should’ve held that one. Hallie nodded, joking. “Yes, of course, the many emergencies that happen at a Carnival.”

But my eyes were on Abby. Her eyebrows rose, and she mouthed“Cricket”to me and elbowed Mark.

I was going to kill them.

I rolled my shoulder back, looking at Hallie and ignoring my family. “There’re plenty of horror movies starting at Carnivals.”

To that, my two nieces gasped.

“He’s joking,” Abby said quickly. “Aren’t you?”

“I’m just messing with Hallie,” I confirmed to the scared children.

April crisped her lips. “You shouldn’t mess with Hallie. She’s cool.”

I turned to Hallie, and she had a priceless expression on her. “Don’t mess with Hallie, she’s cool,” Hallie mimicked.

I chuckled, stepping back. “See you soon.” The girls raced toward us, April and Rose taking my hands while waving goodbye to Hallie. Abby and Mark waved too, and soon we were moving from the booth, the girls jumping up and down and telling us all the things they wanted to do.

I felt a slap on my stomach, and I looked at the woman responsible. “What?”

Abby’s lips curved in a smile. “Tell me everything aboutCricket."

People were trying on my costumes.

Mycreations.

I tried to keep it together, but I had a silly grin was splattered all over my face for the whole day. Yes, sometimes I got a little fearful with the most delicate dresses, but when I saw the look on people’s faces when they put it on? There was nothing like it. The wonder of the kids when I had them ready like their favorite character? I couldn’t stop myself. I was…happy.

Twenty minutes before Helen was due to come for her shift, Daniel was back with an easy smile and two ice-cream cones. He handed me one; I mouthed thanks while taking two tickets from a woman and shoving it in our money box.

When the woman stepped away with her kids, he said: “What’s the first thing you want to do when Helen gets here?”

I arched an eyebrow at him. “Go home and sleep for twelve hours?”

“Aw, Cricket!” he looked disappointed. “Just one ride?”

I looked around, taking the Carnival in. For what it was worth, Sharon and the PTA did an amazing job. The bulky fairy lights were on now, making everything even more magical. I chewed on my bottom lip, tempted. There were bumper cars, a vintage-looking carousel and a big Ferris Wheel right in the middle.

“Which ones did you go to already?” I asked, knowing it was many if April and Rose had a say in it. They were the absolute cutest.

“All of them, But I’ll go again with you. Actually, I’m insisting.”

I chuckled, shaking my head at his silliness. I knew he got a weird satisfaction in pushing me more each time. I licked the ice-cream and dodged his question. I was weighing how tired I felt and how excited I was to spend time with him away from the school.

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