Page 25 of Smitty

“Wow, that was pretty definitive.”

“Not a fan of the fair.”

Baylor looked wounded by my response and gasped, “They have games and prizes.”

“I’m aware.”

“And rides.”

“Too hot for rides.”

“Corn dogs made outta cheese!”

“Tempting, but still too damn hot.”

“Oh, come on,” Laken pushed. “It’ll be fun… A couple of girls from work are going to meet us there, too. I think you’d like them.”

“Ah, there it is.”

“What?” she asked innocently.

“The setup.”

“It’s not a setup,” she lied. “It’s just a couple of friends coming to hang out.”

“Not interested.”

Laken shook her head, then turned to Grim and said, “And that’s why he’s still single.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Might as well tell her you’ll come,” Grim groaned. “Or she’ll keep at it.”

“He’s right.” Laken smiled. “I can be very persistent.”

A couple of hours later, I was weaving through a crowd of sweaty parents chasing their sweaty kids and regretting every life choice that landed me at the county fair. The place was packed, and I don’t mean a little crowded. I’m talking shoulder-to-shoulder, hope the fire marshal doesn’t show up kind of packed.

It was rough, and it didn’t help matters that it was hot as blazes. The sun had started to go down, but it hadn’t helped to cool things off. The air was thick and humid, and it clung to my skin like a wet blanket that I couldn’t shake. Sweat was dripping and rolling into places it had no business rolling.

Skid and Grim were walking right next to me, and they both looked equally miserable. Grim didn’t care who heard him when he announced, “I hate the fair.”

“Same.”

“I hate people, too.”

“Same,” Skid and I replied in unison.

“Why’s it gotta be so damn hot?”

“I believe I mentioned the hot thing when we were at Skid’s.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

Grim huffed as he adjusted the giant stuffed dog he had tucked under his arm. I had no doubt it wasn’t helping with his sour mood, and I couldn’t help but give him hell about it. “That thing is almost as big as Luna.”

“It’s bigger than her.”

“And you spent twenty bucks to win it.”