Page 63 of Inescapable Ties
He rested his hand against my cheek, and I leaned into it. We sat there quietly for what felt like hours, the silence between us now filled with a bitter-sweet understanding.
Chapter thirty-three
Luciana
Thefairwasintown, and I had somehow managed to convince Emilio to come with me. He was a hard sell; his blatant disapproval of ‘foolish entertainment’ was made clear to me when I suggested the idea. But, I suppose the combination of my nagging and the promise of funnel cake helped change his mind.
As we neared the entrance, the sounds of laughter and excitement grew louder. The bright lights from the Ferris wheel illuminated the sky and highlighted Emilio’s grumbling expression. I nudged him playfully, feeling a sense of victory wash over me. "See? It’s not so bad," I said.
“We’re not even inside yet. How can you say for sure?” he responded. He let out a deep sigh that stirred amusement within me.
“Because I know.”
We walked past countless stalls - an array of games designed to test skill and luck in equal measure - and I could see Emilio’s curiosity piqued at every turn. He watched as children ran around with balloons, their faces painted with an array of vibrant colors.
He simply followed me around as I eagerly darted from stall to stall. It was during the whirlwind when my eyes caught sight of it; a tower of cuddly prizes towering above a stall. The grand prize, high atop the plush pyramid, was an enormous octopus.
Emilio followed my gaze up to the plush beast. “You want it?” he asked, an amused grin on his lips.
I shook my head. “Nah, it’s the milk bottle game. It’s like, impossible to win. The carnies add weights to the inside of the bottles so you can’t knock them over.”
“I guess I’ll just have to test that, then,” he walked up to the attendant. “How many balls do I get?”
“Three for a dollar,” the man replied nonchalantly, absorbed in counting his change.
Emilio nodded, pulling out his wallet from his back pocket. The attendant took the dollar bill and handed over three small, hard balls. Emilio quickly weighed them in his hand, studying their size and texture. He tossed one up in the air and caught it swiftly, testing its weight.
He then glanced at the bottles, his eyes moving up and down, mapping out a strategy. I could almost see the gears turning in his head, each cog spinning in tandem with his analytical mind.
Emilio’s arm moved in a fluid motion, his eyes locked on the target as he released the ball. It soared through the air, cutting through the rows of bottles like a knife through butter. The satisfying sound of the thick plastic bottles hitting the floor echoed through the area as Emilio’s grin widened. He had effortlessly conquered the rigged game, leaving onlookers in awe of his skill and precision.
“How the heck did you do that?!” I asked. “I’ve never seen anyone win.”
“I guess no one is as skilled as I am, Jaws.”
The octopus prize was ten successful throws. It was amazing that Emilio had won once; he had defied all carnival logic. There was no way he could win another nine times.
“What prize should I get?” I said, looking at Emilio.
“What are you talking about?” he pointed at the octopus. “We’re not leaving without it.”
His second throw was as masterful as the first. Emilio’s tall frame bent back slightly, his arm swung with an uncanny elegance as he launched the ball. It followed a perfect trajectory, knocking the bottles over as easily as he had the first time.
He did this eight more times. Each throw became more precise with each attempt, and the bottles would crash to the ground with ease. On the tenth pitch, a triumphant grin spread across his face as he celebrated his victory.
“That was amazing, Emilio!” I said.
“Anything for you, Jaws,” he said.
The carnie handed over the prize I had been desiring, and now that I had it in my hands, I realized how massively oversized it was. The octopus’s body was damn near the size of my torso, and the legs almost touched the dirty fairground floor.
“Here,” Emilio laughed, taking it from me. “I’ll hold it for now.”
He tossed the plush over his shoulder with ease.
“Let’s go on rides!” I said enthusiastically, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the area filled with hastily put together machinery.
“I don’t have a death wish,” he said, although he didn’t resist as I dragged him by the hand.
