Page 75 of In The Dark
“Ugh. Yes. That’s right, but I’m scared, Hunter. I don’t want to go fast.”
“We won’t go fast. Just around the neighborhood. I bought you a cute pink helmet I think you’re going to like.”
That perks her up. She smiles, dark eyelashes blinking open then closed. “You did?”
“Yup. And a new protective jacket that will keep you safe.”
“Okay.” Max gives me a slow nod. “Fine. If you win, I’ll go on your motorcycle with you.”
“This is the best night of my life.” I scoop her in my arms and spin her around. She laughs and pats my chest. “Not that it’s going to happen, but what do you want if you win?”
“Um.” She buries her face in my chest. “I’m embarrassed to say.”
“That means it’s going to be good. Whisper it in my ear, angel, so no one else can hear.”
“If I win… I was hoping you’d fuck me with your Ghostface mask on,” she says softly. “And after, I want you to chase me.”
“Chase you,” I repeat. “Like, through the woods?”
“Behind your house, yeah. And you can… you only get to have me if you catch me.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” My adrenaline is pumping. Fuck the motorcycle, I’m going to lose on purpose. “We both know I’m going to catch you.”
“That’s why I want you to do it.”
“Guess we better get to work.” I set her down and motion at the game. “Do you want me to go first?”
“Yes, so I know what score I need to get to beat you.”
“What happens if I throw the game? Chasing you sounds like the best consolation prize.”
“I’ll be very mad at you, because I want to win fair and square.” Max puts her hands on her hips, and the way she sticks her bottom lip out in a pout is adorable. “Please, Hunter.”
“Who am I to say no when you ask so nicely?” I put a couple quarters in the game and roll up my sleeves. “I’ll give it my best shot.”
Except my best shot sucks. Each of my throws is too aggressive, and I groan when my score only totals 100.
“If that was really your full effort, it was terrible.” Max giggles and nudges me out of the way. “You should stick to scare acting and killing people.”
“Thanks, baby. Your support means a lot,” I draw out. “I’m sorry I can’t be the Skee ball man of your dreams.”
“I’ll survive.”
Max, on the other hand, is brilliant at Skee ball. She sinks three balls in the one hundred point hole off the bat, laughing when I gape at her skills. Her final score totals 570, and I can’t believe I got my ass handed to me so supremely.
“That was impressive. Where the hell did you learn to play like that?” I ask, and she flips her hair over her shoulder.
“One summer, Skyler’s parents rented a beach house up in New Hampshire for the week, and I tagged along. It rained every single day, so we put ina lotof hours at the arcade. I got pretty good at this and the Whack-a-Mole game.”
“I’ll say. Forget teaching. You need to start entering in some leagues, angel.”
She collects her winning tickets and smiles, dangling them in front of my face. “Maybe when I retire.”
“What are you going to get with all your earnings? A pencil with a cool eraser? A miniature slinky?”
“I was hoping I could cash them in and see how long it takes you to chase me down.” Max slips the tickets in my front pocket, and I hum. “Want to play, Hunter?”
“That’s a game you’re not going to win, sweetheart. But fuck, I can’t wait to see you try.”
