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I approached a crowd gathered around the dunking booth and watched as a pimple-faced boy flung a ball at the target. He missed by quite a lot and frustration flooded his face. When he struck out two more times, the target mysteriously got pushed, and the already dripping woman in the tank fell into the water. The crowd cheered, and the woman climbed back up.
“If you keep standing on the sidelines watching life go by, you’ll die with too many regrets, Naomi,” Mia’s voice came from behind me.
“Mia,” I begin to protest.
I turned around to see Camilla and the two guys standing a little way off. Mia shook her head and put her hand up. “Give them a chance. They just want to hang with us.”
Mia stared at me with sheer worry like I was going to die if I didn’t do something out of my comfort zone. I pressed my lips together as the knot in my stomach returned. I knew it was the wrong choice, but I did it anyway.
“Fine,” I said. “But don’t try leaving me alone with one of them in hopes of something happening.”
“If that were to happen by some God-given miracle, I’m pretty sure you’ll get Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. Camilla already has her talons into Bones.”
“What kind of name is Bones, anyway?” I mumbled as we returned to them. I forced another smile, keeping my eyes away from Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.
“Give this a chance,” Mia said with a nudge.
I looked at her, and she handed my refilled wine slushy back to me.
I didn’t want to give it a chance. My emotions were running high, and I needed something to vomit in, not something alcoholic to cloud my judgment.
The five of us walked along the midway between carnival games and vendors. They led, and I followed, hoping the awkwardness would fade into the heat. I sipped on my drink and watched as Bones’ hand slid down to Camilla’s ass, and she responded by walking closer to him. After a few minutes, Mia sat on a bench underneath a large oak tree, and I stole the seat next to her. Camilla and Bones leaned against the vendor booth next to us, craning their heads together in a heated kiss.
“So, Devlin, are you from around here?” I asked in an awkward attempt to break the silence.
He stared down at me, a slight grin on his lips. “I am. Outskirts of town.”
“How long have you been here? I don’t remember seeing you around.”
“Not that she gets out much,” Mia said, leaning into me.
Devlin chuckled. “I’ve been here a few years. I try to keep a low profile. The less attention the better sometimes.”
“You wouldn’t know it by all the tattoos,” I scoffed. As soon as I said it, I regretted it. Why was I being so mean?
He turned his head and smiled to himself. Devlin then took a seat in the grass next to the bench and leaned in until his arm was just against my leg. His touch sent a wave of pleasure through me, and I froze.
“Why don’t we get out of here?” Bones said as he turned his head away from Camilla, his hands still sliding along her ass. “I have a pool we can cool down in.”
“I’m game,” Camilla said, curling her fingers around his arm. “Could be fun.”
They went back to kissing, and Mia looked at me. “Go ahead. I’m going to hang here for a while.” She turned away from me and smiled. I followed her gaze and noticed her making eyes with a woman standing under a large tent with several pool tables lined up. The woman holding a set of sticks was a blue-haired beauty and seemingly as interested in Mia as she was in her.
“Win a chance at a grand,” I read the sign aloud.
“I’d like to win a chance at her,” Mia smiled.
“Who’s that?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but I sure hope to.”
“Hmm,” Bones perked up and turned his head away from Camilla. “This party is getting more interesting by the minute.”
“Keep your pants buckled, cowboy,” said Mia. “I’m strictly clitly. Sorry to bust your bubble.”
“I’ll just watch then,” he growled, pulling Camilla’s head back. He feasted on her neck as she giggled.
“What about you?” Devlin asked.
I looked at him, and his eyes were glued to me. I shook my head and dropped my gaze. “I’m staying here.”
I kept him in my peripheral vision until the moment he looked away. As soon as he did, my eyes swept over him. He was raw, animalistic, rough, and sexy as hell. I absorbed every detail of him. His black hair feeding down his face into a trimmed goatee. His black T-shirt fit him tight, his muscles traceable underneath the cotton. Tattoos fed up his arms and hid underneath the rolled-up sleeves. His watch looked expensive. A hint of another tattoo was peeking out underneath his collar. His eyes were as blue as an icy lake and were staring directly at me.
