brother
Chapter 72: Asher
Did I ever think I’d attend.
Not just any fair. A county fair. With hight lights and find everything and kids screaming bloody murder un rickety moder coasters held together Brom the 1990s. If you asked me six months ago where I’d be an a random Friday in spring, “County
of probable mitmes
Because the girl sitting next to me in the passenger
of stent.
like a firecracker
mention of cotton candy and Ferris wheels. And I’m not made
I mean, apparently, I am made of bad decisions, because let’s take inventory.
Did I think I’d ever willingly come to a
Negative
Fair? Nope.
(I’d gravitate – like a damn moon to a planet to a ballerinat
Did I think I’d live with said ballerina? And that she’d also be my brocker’s priend?
So, why the hell not?
Something is very wrong with me.
Because I could’ve just ordered a pizza. Put on some movie she likes – one with talking animals or wildly impractical romances, whatever her thing is – and called it a celebration. But she said for, and I… drove her to the damn fair.
Becane I’m under whatever spell
well she’s got spinning out of her fingertips.
And the worst part? Sering her smalle – like really
is even more addictive than her spell.
I pull into the gravel parking lot and kill the engine.
The second she opens the door, she’s practically vibrating with excitement. “I can smell the cotton candy from here,” she says.
Irane a bow. “That’s probably the exhaust fumes.”
She waves me off, already half out of the car.
The fair loom ahead a sprawling mess of color and noise and people. Way too many people. My stomach tighten immediately.
Crowds like this? They make for great cover. Pickpockett, grab–and–go criminals, even worse. I’ve seen it happen in every country I’ve set foot in. Doesn’t marter if it’s Kabul or Kansa avil thrives in the chaps of distraction.
–
uw close.”
I don’t even think.. I just reach for her hand and say “Stay
Her smaller fingers slide into mine without hesity. Her other hand grabs the hem of my hoodie like she’s counting on me to keep her site from everything dangerous in the world.
And I hate how much I Ake that.
Together, we weave through the cluster of people near the entrance, her hand warm and solid in mine, her steps smaller but somehow keeping pace. The metal gate creaks, ticket scanners herp, someone’s toddler starts crying loud enough to drown out the carousel.
1/3
Chapter 72: Asher
And I’m on high alre
Tension lines every muscle in my back. My eyes every lace, cery hand that reaches for close in a pocket or bag Old habits. I hear ty no
No, wait
my name again.
I glance down
Penny’s looking up at me, brows down, her lips moking. “Asher,” she says again, a little louder this time.
I realize I’ve been squeezing her hand. Way too tight.
I release it immediately. “Sorry.”
She rubs her fingers bat doesn’t pull away. “It’s okay,” she says. “Three’s a lot of people.”
She says it in that same careful tone I’ve ed a thousand times myself. When someone’s trying to tell you they see you. Not judge your fust see.
I look down at her again. She’s still holding onto my hoodie. Still right here.
“We can leave,” she says suddenly, gently. “If it’s too much.”
I shake my head. “No. The worst part’s done. Just don’t wander off. I haven’t put a tracker on your phone yet.”
Her eyes go wide. “Yet?”
“I put one co Tyler’s.”
“What?”
*1 don’t check it. But if something happens, I can find him. It’s not about trust, it’s about not dying.”
She looks half horrified, half impressed. “You’d put one on mine?”
I shrug. “It’s an invasion of privacy. But also could save your life. Prop and cons
Before she can respond, she gets distracted by something behind me and her entire face lights up. “Walt. Look!” She’s pointing to a game booth hacked between a chur stand and one of those spinning vortes rides that make you question physics and your last meal.
It’s the balloon–popping game–darts, prizes on shelves, the whole thing. The kind of setup that’s red to hell. But what she’s pointing at is on the second shell, tucked in the corner: a small, cream–colored teddy bear with a pink ballerina fata, satin ballet slippers, and a tiny crowlt.
“She actually gasps. “Oh my God. Look at it.”
I smirk. “That’s subtle.”
She spins to me, eyes practically glowing. “Isn’t it perfect? It’s me! You said I was a princess.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling now. Can’t help it.
“We need it, it’s perfect for us,” she says. “But I pick at these games. Can you win it for me?”
I rub the back of my neck. “Wouldn’t be fair.”
She frowns. “Why not?
thuy hears and pipes up. “Come on, man, everyone thinks that. But these ballons are trickier than they look. C’mon, try it. Five darts”
Chapter 72: Asher
I glance at Penny,
She clasps her hands together. “Please?”
And just like that, I’m out five fucks and holding handful of dar
| barely even aim, Just flick my
ist. One dart. Pop. Another Pur. Five times in a row. Quick, clean. Like breathing
The booth guy’s jaw hits the floor. Penny’s eyes are even wider than before.
I point at the ballerina bear. “That one,
He hands it over si
I pass it to her and start walking deeper into the fair. I know her enough by now to know she’ll follow
And she does, chasing after me, cradling the bear like it’s made of gold “Are w
going to teach me how to do that?
I shake my
head, smirking. “No.”
She groans dramatically. “You’re no fun.”
“You say that now. But wait until
entil you get y
get your popcorn.”
She skips to catch up.
And I wonder – not for the first time – just how deep in this spell I really
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