“It’s on!” Jake said, handing over cash to buy a game.
“Go! Go! Go!” Each of the girls and guys banged their mallets frantically down on the moles. No one held back.
“Wow, competitive group,” the carney said. “And the winner is... this young lady right here.”
Harper looked shocked. “Me?”
“You! Pick your prize.”
“Oh, wow. Ummm... I’ll get that little panda. For Pippi.”
“I’m not sure that’s a dog toy,” Tommy said.
“Yeah, he just wants you to give it to him. He still sleeps with his stuffed animals,” Jake said, and Tommy play-tackled him.
“Let’s try another game,” Danny said. “Dot, you choose.”
“Okay,” she said, looking around. “How about that one?” She pointed to a football game where you had to throw a spiral into a small hole. “You three compete.”
“Great call. Boys, you up for it?” Danny handed over the money and he, Tommy, and Jake grabbed a football each.
“Okay, play nice!” The carney started the clock.
The guys talked smack to each other as they tried to show they still had it.
“Come on, Danny, didn’t you used to be on scholarship for this?” Jake jeered.
“Jake, you’re embarrassing yourself!” his twin said.
“Shut up, Tommy, you throw like a girl... No offense, ladies!”
“None taken!” Mary shouted, cheering him on.
In the end, Danny won by a point. The carney asked them if they wanted to go one more time to try to win a bigger prize. Challenge accepted.
Danny blew them away this time, and Dot was impressed. She felt like she was in high school and dating the quarterback.
“Which one of these beauties do you want?” the carney asked.
“I’ll take that one,” Danny said, pointing to a black and white stuffed cow with big blue eyes. He gallantly passed it to Dot.
“My hero!” she said, hugging the cow and acting like it was best gift she’d ever received. She shot up on her tiptoes and kissed him. It was a little surprising to publicly display their affection, but they’d gradually become much more open about their feelings for each other.
Mary and Jake looked at each other in a way that said, “This is getting interesting.”
“Let’s eat!” Tommy said, pointing toward the food court. Jake led the way.
Tommy bought them a bunch of things to try. Deep-fried mashed potatoes on a stick, enormous barbecued turkey legs, glazed donut ham sandwiches, cheese curd tacos, and flash-fried lemon bites. The guys washed it down with Solo cups of Spotted Cow beer, and the girls had margaritas.
“I’m throwing in the towel,” Dot said. “I’ve going to need a juice cleanse from this fair.”
“Don’t give up on us now. The night is still young,” Danny said. Their chemistry was so obvious it practically radiated, impossible for anyone to miss.
“Hey, I want to go on the Ferris wheel,” Mary said.
“Ferris wheels are for girls, Mary,” Jake said.
“Perfect. Send the three of us up and you can wait for us on land.”