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“No, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” I replied, and they all looked at each other before thanking me.
“I’ll have six elephant ears, please,” I said once I looked at the menu and noted the discount you got if you ordered a half dozen or more. Besides, they were huge, so there would be plenty to share.
“Wait, what are you up to?” Leah asked.
“You’ll see,” I said, even though handing over all my cash made me second-guess my decision.
The order seemed to take forever, and when it finally came, I turned to pass one to each of my friends. Then I stepped out of line and headed toward Henry and his crew.
“Here you go, losers,” I teased. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.”
“Holy shit, your best buddy from childhood is awesome,” Bones said, reaching for the sugary treat.
“Wait a minute,” Emil said, taking the elephant ear from me and holding it out of reach. “We’ll need you to say that one more time—but about all of us.”
“Hell no.” Bones and Emil struggled a little before Emil relented and Bones stuffed a piece of it in his mouth. Flash and A-Train broke off different sections of the second one and gobbled them down while I held out mine to share with Henry.
“That was so nice of you,” Henry said, studying me.
“Maybe the dance program just won points with the football studs.”
“Studs, huh?” he said, and I laughed.
I took a bite of my dessert and had to stifle a moan because it was warm and soft and sugary goodness.
“See? I told you.”
“These might be better than the doughnuts Mom brings home every weekend.”
Henry was about to agree or maybe disagree but then bit off his words and looked around. The only one in listening distance was Spencer, but I understood why he’d stayed silent.
“Dude, let’s go win some prizes,” A-Train said, and his friends turned toward the games section.
Henry hesitated, and I totally got it because I had no idea what to do either.
“Did you…want to come?” Henry asked our group.
“Erm…” Emil glanced over his shoulder to where Bones was motioning to us.
“I bet I can win a stuffed animal before you do,” Bones challenged.
“Oh, I can’t pass up a chance to whoop his ass,” Emil said. “Come on.”
Emil, Leah, and Justin caught up to them while me and Henry stayed back, finishing our food.
“Well,” Henry said, “that worked out better than I thought it would.”
I breathed out. “I guess the elephant ears sealed the deal.”
“You didn’t have to—”
“Eh, I wanted to. I never get the opportunity to do something like that.” Guilt still clawed its way through my stomach, but I also felt good about it, even if I had no money left.
“Wanna get on the bumper cars with me? My treat.” Henry motioned toward the rides, the gigantic Ferris wheel acting as a backdrop against the night sky. “We can meet our friends in a minute.”
“Okay,” I said without hesitation because it was an opportunity to spend time with him again.
