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I dig my fingers into the bowling ball to stop them from tingling.
Deep breaths.
Sazuki gestures. “Now that I have your attention, feel free to throw the game.”
The spell breaks.
I scowl at him.
So much for being a gentleman. Was he just trying to rattle me?
“Watch and learn, old man.”
He scrunches his nose in distaste.
Good. I want him as annoyed as I feel.
Approaching the lane with more confidence, I fling the bowling ball.
It goes straight into the gutter.
Sazuki’s eyes burn into me and a slow, mocking smile spreads across his face, revealing his shameless evil.
My lips curl back in a sneer.
If it’s the last thing I do tonight, I’m going to make sure that he regrets messing with me.
* * *
Sazuki wins the game.
Which proves that Fate is against me.
The only thing that makes losing just a tad digestible is Niko’s excitement.
“I won,” she signs. If she smiles any harder, she just might explode. “I won!”
“Congratulations.” Yaya clasps her hands together and rocks them on either side of her head.
Niko hugs her dad around the neck. He lifts her up and spins her around.
I steel myself against any sweet feelings that are creeping up to me. Sazuki made a point to tell me he was divorced, so it’s not like it’swrongto feel the tug I do towards him and Niko.
It’s just not wise.
“Come on,” Sazuki says, holding out his hand for Niko. “Let’s get you a prize from the concession stand.”
Yaya pins me with her puppy dog eyes. “Sorry we lost.”
“Whose fault is that?” I tease.
She elbows me in the side.
Minutes later, our group stops in front of the concession stand. The boy behind the counter looks slightly petrified. I wonder what shocks him more, that we’re a mix of black and Asian people or that everyone keeps signing to each other.
“Take a look, Niko,” Sazuki says. “Choose any toy you want.”
Niko points to a balloon.
