Page 52 of Adorkable

“Hand over the troll, Sal.”

“Never.” He had me trapped, pressed up against a tree in the Kent’s backyard, but still I clutched the trophy tighter. “Goldie’s mine this year. You can’t have her, Becks. I won’t let you.”

Becks’s eyes widened. “You named it?”

“Yes,” I said, “a few years ago, so what?” I figured if it was so important, ugly or no, why not give the troll a name? Goldie wasn’t much to look at, but this year she was going home with me. It was only the second time my team had won. He wouldn’t get her without a fight. “I’m not giving her up, Becks. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind.”

He grinned. “I believe you owe me a favor.”

Except that, I thought.

“Give her here,” he said, holding out a hand.

Frowning, I took one last look at Goldie, smoothed out her thinning hair, then shoved the doll into his chest. “You’re a poor loser, Baldwin Eugene. Anybody ever tell you that?”

He laughed breathlessly. I was glad to see I’d managed to wind him. “You guys play dirty, but I play dirtier. Cheaters never win, you should know that.”

“Whatever,” I mumbled, pushing past him.

“Sal,” he called, but I just kept walking. Even though I loved him, sometimes Becks really got on my nerves.

Becks was only seconds behind as I took a seat at the table, and wouldn’t you know it? They’d saved us two seats, side by side. Great.

“Don’t be mad,” Becks said, placing a hand on mine, setting Goldie on the floor between us. I took one look at her, met his eyes and looked away. “Aw, come on, Sal.”

“Hey,” Clayton said, pointing, “what’re you doing with that? We gave the Troll to Sally for a job well done. She earned it.”

Becks sighed, giving up. I was mad about the troll, and he’d just have to wait it out. “She gave it to me because she felt bad about tricking us.”

“That true, Sally?” Ollie asked, taking a sip of Coke. “I thought it might’ve been ‘cause you two are so in love.”

I snorted, ignoring Becks’s injured look.

“Who’s in love?” Leo walked out of the kitchen, plate piled high. “Oh,” he said, eyes landing on our hands. “You know, I knew about Becks, but I never suspected you, Sally. The crush he had was a big one that’s for sure.”

I felt my brow contract. What was Leo talking about?

“Yeah,” Ollie laughed. “He was a goner practically from day one.”

“Shut up,” Becks said to no one in particular.

“Did he ever read you that poem?” Clayton asked, smiling.

“Yeah,” Ollie said, “classic.”

“What poem?” I asked curious. I had no idea what they were going on about, but it definitely sounded interesting. Plus, it was making Becks pink in the cheeks and, being mad at him, I wasn’t above some well-deserved payback.

The answer came, but not from Becks.

As the parents and Thad joined us, setting food on the table, Mrs. Kent took the seat on my other side and laid a book out in front of me. It was thick with a flowery cover, and Becks sat back removing his hand from mind, running it through his hair instead.

“Jeez, Mom,” he said, “is this really necessary?”

Mrs. Kent shot him a look but smiled at me. “I just wanted to show Martha and Sally some pictures.” To my mother who was leaning toward us, she said, “I’ve been keeping this since they first met.”

“Oh,” Mom said happily, “we have a few shots at home but not a whole album. I’d love to get copies.”

“I’ll make you some,” Mrs. Kent promised and opened the cover.

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