Page 57 of Landon & Shay: Part One

“What was what?”

“The animalistic way you ate that candy. You don’t stuff the whole Laffy Taffy into your mouth like that. You savor it. What you did was very beastlike.”

“Well, I’m sorry, Beauty. Please, show me how to eat a piece of Laffy Taffy properly.”

She pulled out another piece of candy from her purse and opened it slowly, peeling back the wrapper from the yellow candy. “Banana is the best flavor, so I like to take my time with it,” she explained. “And then, you nibble at it, taking small bites so it’s not gone in an instant. You don’t rush the process. You take your time.”

“You’re insane. Just shove it into your mouth and eat it.”

“No. You have to take your time with it. The best things in life are worth taking your time with, like Laffy Taffy.”

“Just swallow it, Chick. I’m sure you have some experience with that,” I joked.

She rolled her eyes and playfully shoved me in the arm. I liked that. I like when she touched me even if it was followed by the words, “You’re such a pig.”

“Yeah, but I’m sure you like bacon.”

She smiled, that dimple deepened, and she nibbled at her Laffy Taffy like a gerbil.

“Come on. Let’s go meet some friends,” she said, walking up to the front desk. Before we were able to go into the back area with the animals, we had to sign waivers.

Red flag number one.

We were also led into the room with all the creatures and were told to never reach for the animal on our own due to their temperaments.

Red flag number two.

Then, we were told to take off all jewelry due to some animals grabbing onto certain items.

Red flag number freaking three.

“This is a terrible idea.” I grimaced.

Shay kept nibbling at her banana Laffy Taffy. “You’re being dramatic. This is going to be great.”

I snatched the Laffy Taffy from her hand, balled it up, and popped it into my mouth.

Without any hesitation, she reached into her purse, unwrapped another piece of candy, and began nibbling again.

Nibble, nibble, nibble. Bite, bite, bite.

It seemed she was Willy Wonka, and her purse was the chocolate factory with unlimited supplies.

Our tour guide for the afternoon was Oscar, and he seemed a bit too excited to wrap a snake around my neck. “Don’t worry,” he said, patting me on the back as we headed toward the snake cages. “They don’t bite, and if they do, you’ll probably be dead so quick you wouldn’t even feel a thing.”

It was meant to be a joke, but I didn’t laugh.

I was too busy being tensed up.

Oscar grabbed one of the creatures, and without thought, I took a step back. Shay laughed at my retreat, but she didn’t step any closer to the creature herself. She seemed as nervous as I was.Good. Equal playing field. She was acting all confident up until we were finally in the room with the creatures. Now, she was more wide-eyed and concerned as she slowly chewed her candy.

“Ladies first,” I offered, gesturing toward Charlie—the garter snake.

Shay took a deep breath, balled up her Laffy Taffy, and shoved it into her mouth, swallowing it whole.

Thatta girl.

She was quiet as she walked over to the snake. I watched as she flinched a few times as Oscar moved the creature in her direction, but she allowed it to be placed in her hands. She shivered and wiggled, I guess from the odd feeling of the thing.

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