Page 34 of In the Middle of No(ah)where
"If they're trying to distract us with this overstimulating scene… it's working," Noah says.
"I think they put all the themes together in one final battle. I'm not even sure what to do here." I whisper close to his ear.
"I think they were tripping on acid," he whispers back.
I'm not sure what to even say, so I say nothing. We stand shoulder to shoulder, watching the family.
"Your ball needs to go up the narrow ramp, which I believe is a drawbridge for the glittery castle. But you have to be careful because there are no edges, so your ball could go over the side into the water." Noah tells me. I look down into the water and realize there are a good number of balls of every color that didn't make it to the pink sparkle castle–because why not have another awkward thing added to this final hole.
"If the monkey hits your ball, it will send it over to the clown's mouth," I warn after noticing what happened to the mom in the group ahead of us.
"That thing's creepy," Noah says.
"Just that one or clowns in general?"
He takes a beat.
"Clowns in general." Noah steps up to the putting green. He lines up his shot, and I see his shoulders rise and fall with his deep breathing.
I step up behind him and snake my arm around his waist, pulling him to my chest. I bury my face in his neck and press a kiss on his soft skin. Noah lets out a soft moan, but his body relaxes. I release him, and he takes his shot.
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Noah
Marcus' lips on my neck send my body into orbit. His touch instantly calms me. Just like it did years ago. He releases his hold on me, and I instantly feel the loss. I pull back on the club and swing. The ball sails across the green and up the ramp. It makes it past the monkey and right into the glitter castle. Just when I thought this hole couldn't be more chaotic. The castle lights up, the sound of trumpets blasting in the air, and a voice with a British accent calls out, "Hole in one," right before large pieces of gold metallic confetti fill the air.
Well, this is a bit overkill, don't you think?
"You're so extra," Marcus says as he congratulates me and steps up to his spot on the green.
"You do know even if you get a hole-in-one, I still beat you." I tease.
"Doesn't matter. I've already won." He says with a grin.
I roll my eyes. "Can you be any cornier?"
"I have a list of dad jokes just waiting to be shared with you."
"Please don't."
He laughs and steps up to the mark. "Now, shush it so I can show you how it's done." He tells me with an air of mock arrogance.
"I believe I just showed you how it's done."He glares without much depth in it.
Marcus lines up his ball and takes his stance. His swing is perfect, but the angle is off just slightly, and I grin, knowing that his ball will never make it up the drawbridge.
And I was wrong. It goes up the drawbridge, but just before it reaches its target, the monkey swoops down and knocks it to the left. The ball flies through the air and right into the clown's mouth.
Marcus and I look in shock. The clown lights up while laughing. His eyes start to spin in a hypnotic rhythm, and he calls out in a creepy voice, "Thank you for the snack. It was delicious." I grab a hold of Marcus' arm and stare at the bizarre display. "Game over."
Marcus and I look at each other and start laughing at the insanity of this hole.
As we walk back to the shack to turn in our putters, Marcus slaps me on the ass. "Good game."
"You too. Better than I thought you would be."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
