Page 74 of Plight
“Win what?”
“The race.”
“It’s not a race, Lots.”
“Sure it is.”
The Merry-Go-Round cranked to life once again and started spinning, both Danielle and I simultaneously bobbing up and down with our horses’ movement.
“See? I’m winning.”
“You are not. I am.”
“NO, I AM!” some young boy behind us shouted.
We both glanced over our shoulders; he was probably no older the five.
“No, you’re not. You’re last,” I responded in my ‘ha-ha’ voice.
“Elliot!” Danielle scolded.
“What? He is. Clearly, he’s behind us.”
“Pretend he’s a lap in front.”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes.”
I wanted to prove I was just as good with children as I was with dogs, so I pretended the kid was miles ahead. “Oh, you are winning. You’re just about to lap us.”
“Ner ner nee ner ner!” the little shit taunted, eagerly bouncing atop his slow, white horse. “You’re gonna lose. You’re gonna lose.” Yeah, you’re gonna smell what I had for breakfast if you don’t shut up.
The kid was downwind. It was only fair.
Danielle giggled. “Yeah, you’re gonna lose,” she added, poking her tongue out at me, her eyes twinkling brighter than the sun glare bouncing off the bobbing horses surrounding us. She was so beautiful when she smiled. It near stole my breath every time, which was unfortunate considering I wasn’t a turtle.
Watching her look back over her shoulder and wink at the kid with encouragement, a kid she didn’t even know, a kid that was now beside himself with joy as he raced a couple of adults on a Merry-Go-Round, I knew that I’d just fallen in love with her for the third time.
I also knew I would never fall in love with any other person.
It was her.
It had always been her.
