Page 9 of Make it a Double

I nodded. “Yup.”

“It’s bigger than you are.”

Squeezing his hand, I leaned forward. “You’re right. If you think you can’t handle it⁠—”

My words cut off as his other hand came up and gently pinched my side. “If that’s what my girl wants, that’s what she’s going to get.”

Before I could process what he’d said, I was jerked forward once again until we were standing in front of the booth. The attendant was a burly man with arms the size of tree trunks—faded tattoos disappearing beneath the fabric of his shirt and peeking out from his collar.

I understood why they had him manning the sledgehammer game. It was entirely misleading. The key to winning had nothing to do with brute strength, just a perfectly balanced force. He ignored Beckett entirely and stared down at me with an appreciative smirk.

“What can I get ya, sweetheart?” he asked, sweeping an arm behind him at the prizes. “Anything catch your eye?”

Beckett stepped in front of me, intercepting the man’s stare. “I’m going to win her that one,” he said, pointing at the giant bear at the back of the booth.

The attendant looked back and laughed. “You think you can win that? Maybe you should set your sights on something a little smaller. Like this one.” He reached up and plucked a small red duck from overhead. “This might be a little more your speed. Only cost you five tickets for one try. Think of it like a participation trophy.”

“It’s definitely cute,” I said, biting my lip. Beckett’s frustration was palpable as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Maybe we should⁠—”

“Nope. You said you wanted the big one, and that’s what you’re gonna get,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket. I reached out to grab it, but he slipped it over my shoulders instead. His scent replaced the aromas of fried dough and buttered popcorn. It was warm and inviting, reminding me of aged bourbon and burnt sugar. Familiar and yet wholly unique to him. “I don’t care if I have to stay here all night to get it.”

And then he leaned in, gently pressing his lips to my cheek before confidently shoving a handful of tickets that looked like a CVS receipt at the man. “You get three tries. Go ahead.” I stood there like an idiot, staring wide-eyed as he grabbed the sledgehammer and swung. The small light went almost all the way to the top, before it fell back down to the tune of disappointment.

The attendant smiled smugly. “One down, two to go.”

Beckett adjusted his stance and repeated the motion, only to have it fall short yet agin. The hammer hung limply at his side as his head fell back, and he let out a sharp exhale.

“Beckett, it’s f⁠—”

“Need me to show you how it’s done?” The attendant cut in, giving me a wink. “Could show you how a real man does it.”

“Not a chance in hell,” Beckett muttered. He tightened his grip once more and let it fall fast in the dead center of the pad. We both watched on bated breath as the light went up, up, up and let out an obnoxious sound that sent my pulse skyrocketing.

The attendant’s face fell slack as Beckett turned toward me, whooping loudly as he picked me up by the waist and swung me around. I placed my hands on his shoulders and laughed at the kaleidoscope of colors whirling around us. He slowly came to a stop, letting my body slip through his strong arms until my feet hit the dirt.

“I can’t believe you did it! I’ve never seen anyone win before,” I admitted. The wind kicked up, blowing my hair into my glossed lips. Beckett reached out and tugged it free before tucking the strands behind my ear.

“It’s all about timing and placement,” he whispered. “Just had to find the right combination.”

I was keenly aware of the fact that one of his arms was still wrapped tightly around my waist, especially as he tugged me into his side and turned toward the attendant with a cocky grin. “Can my girl get her prize now?”

The man wandered over and pulled the bear down before gingerly returning to us. Beckett stepped in front of me as he shoved it into the center of Beckett’s chest. “Here you go,” he muttered.

“Thank you, friend,” he said, giving him a salute before turning toward me. “My lady, your prize.”

He bowed his head, holding the bear out for me to take. “Ah, such a gentleman.” I raised my finger, ticking off an imaginary box. “And another one bites the dust.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your goading. It was truly the motivation I needed in order to prove myself capable of handling such a task,” he said, placing his hand along my back.

I curled in to face him on instinct, looking up at him through thick lashes. We were so close that I could make out the faint hints of red in his dark beard.

If there was one thing I was certain of, it was that I would always remember this. Him. Regardless of the years passed or memories lived, this moment in time would remain just as crystal clear as it was right now.

Beckett’s brown eyes heated as I ran my hand up his arm and shoulder, threading my fingers between his curls. His eyes slipped shut and he groaned as I skated my nails across his scalp. “You look happy.”

“I am,” he said, cocking one eye open and then the other. “Are you?”

That felt like a loaded question. I was happy, yes, but there was something else, too. Something warm that bloomed in the center of my chest. “I think I’m grateful more than anything.”