Page 73 of Pretty Please Me
She nods her head and lets her smile loose. “You losing your temper to a group of fourteen-year-olds? Yeah, it was pretty funny.”
“Those little shits had it coming. They’ve been posted up here tormenting every customer I’ve had today.” The man working to booth says, and we turn back to face him. He holds up the ball, “How about a turn for the lady?”
“Thanks.” Maggie takes the ball reluctantly. She widens her feet and bends her knees as she waits for the word.
“Ready. Set. Go!” The man rings the bell and she fires off shot after shot.
My mouth falls open as I watch her sink ball after ball with practiced form as if she’s done this a million times. “Holy shit, you’ve been holding out of me…”
She shrugs her shoulders but doesn’t look at me as she keeps on shooting, only missing a couple of shots here and there. “One of my foster homes had a basketball hoop. I used to stay out there all night when I needed a break from the chaos. I may have also played a little rec ball in college.” She bites her lip and sinks her final shot just as the buzzer goes off.
The man behind the counter scratches his head. “You know, I’m usually pretty good at predicting things but I didn’t see this coming.”
He looks at his clipboard and points to me. “You can pick anything you want from here.” Then he turns to Maggie, “I’ve actually never seen a score this high before…” He gestures to the small assortment of gigantic stuffed animals behind him. “The lady can pick anything she likes from the champion pile.”
Maggie’s grin spans across her face as she narrows her eyes and taps her lip. “How about the one in the back right there?”
“One pink and purple teddy bear coming right up.” He passes her the giant stuffed animal and I snap a picture as she hugs it to her chest.
I don’t know if anything could have prepared me for this strange combination of emotions. Guilt rips through me leaving a giant hole in its wake while a wave of joy flutters around my heart. I’ll just have to lick my wounds when it’s all over.
She heaves the giant bear on my back, throwing an arm over each shoulder and I sink a little at its unexpected weight. “Jesus, is it made from actual bears?”
Maggie just giggles. “Can we eat chili dogs and hit the rest of the rides?”
I quirk a brow. “You know that’s a recipe for disaster, don’t you?”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know, Sam... I think I may surprise you.”
“You know what? You’re not wrong.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Maggie
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Sam asks as we stare up at the Twisted Splitter rollercoaster, the largest one in the entire park.
He’s got a giant teddy bear propped on his back in a piggyback carry, and he looks absolutely ridiculous with his polished cool guy appearance in light wash jeans, a fitted dark gray t-shirt, and aviators carrying the most obnoxious stuffed animal ever created. And yet the fact that he’s doing it at all has me covered in goosebumps from head to toe.
Seeing Sam laugh and let loose today has only made my confusing feelings for him grow stronger. I feel like I’m getting a sneak peek at the most intimate side of him, actually seeing the real Sam. He’s got this wall built up around his heart, and I didn’t even realize how high it was until I saw him opening up around his family. I can’t stop wondering why, though.
I know it’s not my business, so I don’t ask.
“Hell yeah, I want to do it. I have to redeem myself after that twenty-story drop back there.” I attempt to smooth my wild hair and twist it to the side.
Sam sticks his finger in his ear and squints his eye. “Yeah, I don’t know if I’ll ever regain hearing in my left ear after those blood-curdling screams.”
I shove him playfully. “My harness felt wiggly! What was I supposed to do, just accept death by rollercoaster? Am I really supposed to trust some sixteen-year-old kid to properly restrain me? I wasn’t even touching the seat during that fall.”
Sam laughs and shakes his head. “You sounded like you were being tortured. I think the people behind us really thought you were dying.”
“I could’ve died of a heart attack, and all you could do was laugh.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“You were fine. I checked your restraints before I even sat down. You were completely safe. It’s one thing to free fall and entirely different going upside down and spun through loops.” He hoists the stuffed animal up and nods toward the scary roller coaster. “This one’s a beast. I don’t know if you’re ready but if you think you are, let’s do it.” He winks.
“Oh, I’m ready. This time, you’re going to be the one squealing.” I suck in a breath and puff out my chest. “Let’s do this.”
Sam just laughs and follows my lead as we wind our way to the ride. We’ve been lucky to have a small crowd—Sam says anyway—and haven’t had to wait longer than a couple of minutes for each ride.
