Page 62 of Always Mine

“But my mind is so fun,” he pouts, giving me a deranged look, something similar to the Mad Hatter.

“You’re ridiculous,” I snort, shoving a bit of popcorn into my mouth.

After the parade, we went our separate ways, working at our family booths for most of the day. I was planning on taking a dinner break, but somehow—cough, cough, Nana—ended up being pushed in Paxton’s direction. So now here we are, walking around the carnival, eating our snacks and people-watching.

“So, did you buy any tickets?” he questions, pulling a strip from his pocket. “I was thinking of playing some games. You down?”

I bite my bottom lip, trying and failing to stop my smile. “You sure you want to play me? I seem to recall you being a very,verysore loser.”

He throws me a side eye, shoulders tensing slightly. “I’m notthatbad.”

Tossing my popcorn away, I turn back to level him with a glare. “One year you threw my winning prize away because you were angry I won instead of you.”

“Okay, one, you cheated.” He ticks off a finger as he rants. “And two, that dog was scary. I did you a favor.”

“Right.” I nod, heading over to the water gun race. “We’ll go with that.”

“Think what you want, but I’ve seenThe Conjuring. I basically saved you from Annabelle.” He sits down after passing the guy working enough tickets for us both to play.

“You’re impossible,” I grumble, sitting beside him.

“And you love it.”

It’s an easy tease, something he’s said countless times, but we’re not those people anymore and the words have my entire body freezing and my defense shooting up.

He jerks to look at me, wide eyes filled with worry and regret. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I shouldn’t have…” He trails off, pleading with me to understand.

The thing is, I do understand. It’s easy to fall back into our norm. Eighteen years worth of friendship doesn’t just disappear because we broke up. Even with a three-year separation, we’re still Paxton and Wyatt, no matter how much I wish we weren’t sometimes.

I clear my throat, trying to reign in my fight-or-flight instinct. It’s okay. I’m okay. Everything is okay!

I inhale deeply, letting it out slowly, and then force a smile on my face. “Don’t worry.”

“I really didn't mean—”

“I know. It’s all good.” I grab the water gun, shooting him a teasing look. “Now, are we going to play or what?”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, his eyes running over every square inch of my face. “Are you sure?”

I want to bring our carefree moment back. He’s been trying so hard lately, and I really don’t want to sour our night. We deserve this.

I toss him a wink before nodding to the game. “Stop worrying over it, okay? It’s fine. I’m more interested in seeing you lose. So get ready. I’m going to blow you out of the water.”

He looks gobsmacked and I take pride in surprising him. It only lasts a few seconds though before he’s back to his Paxton way, smiling like the cheshire cat. “Oh, oh, hoooo. Is that so?”

“Yeah, now come on. I’m not getting any younger.”

He makes a show of flipping around his hat, bracing his hands on the gun, and leaning in dramatically. “It’s on now. I hope you’re ready to eat your words.”

“More like you will be eating my dust.” I zero in on the board, waiting to hear the ding of the bell.

“Such confidence.”

“What can I say?” I smirk. “I love this game.”

He must have forgotten that or overestimated his skill, because five minutes, four games, and my four wins later, we’re walking away from the game and he’s avoiding eye contact with me at all costs.

“You know, you can always have one of my prizes, if you want. I don’t really need four stuffed animals,” I tease, arms full of plush, colorful bears.

---