Page 160 of Fame & Chaos

Neither of us says a word.

The carnival noise around us seems to fade beneath the weight of one ridiculously overdramatic deciding shot.

I take aim.

Steady… steady… I pull the trigger.

The pellet whistles past the duck without touching it. “No!”

Beside me, Indi fires a split second later.

Ping.

The duck topples backward.

The vendor throws an arm toward her like he’s announcing the winner of a world championship. “We have a winner!”

I stare at the target, then at Indi, then back at the target again.

“No bloody way.” Indi bursts into laughter, bending forward so hard she has to grab the counter to hold herself up. I set the rifle down, mourning my shattered ego in complete silence. “I had something in my eye,” I mutter.

“Oh no,” she says, biting back another laugh as she pats my shoulder with exaggerated sympathy. “Poor Caleb.”

I narrow my eyes before smacking her ass lightly. She yelps and jumps while the vendor bursts out laughing beside us.

“Okay, okay. Mock the man publicly. Fantastic.”

Despite losing again, I can’t stop smiling because everything’s better when I’m with her.

Even losing.

“Pick your prize, caveman,” she says while wrapping her arms around my waist.

Scanning the prizes, I choose the giant pink teddy with a rainbow stitched onto its belly. “That one.”

Indi raises an eyebrow instantly. “I really thought you’d pick the Minion.”

The vendor hands over the giant bear, and I immediately pass it straight to her.

She laughs. “Nope, that’s yours. I won it for you.”

“But I want you to have it.”

Her smile softens.

“I know how much you love pink and rainbows.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” I grin at her. “I love you, Indi. Therefore, you deserve giant rainbow teddy bears.”

“I love you too.”

Afterward, we head toward the food stalls because I’m starving after spending hours being publicly humiliated by my tiny pixie girlfriend at carnival games, which feels mildly emasculating.

I carry the giant teddy for her while we order the greasiest, most unhealthy food imaginable before settling onto the grassy area nearby. Sitting down with my legs spread in a V, I grin when Indi immediately gets the message and settles between them with her back against my chest.

She fits perfectly.