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Coop is having an absolute blast, and Clay looks more carefree and relaxed than ever. I try several times to sprinkle some flirt dust between him and a couple of women I thought would be great matches for him. But my efforts are rendered useless. Clay seems to have his attention only on us and the activities we’re doing.
I admit defeat halfway through our time here and just enjoy the day instead. Especially when we stop to get some hot dogs and funnel cake. My stomach had long since settled after the first ride, and hunger quickly took over.
When we’re done eating, we make our way toward the last bit of booths and the swinging ship ride.
“Uncle Clay, look! Darts! You should try and win something there!” Coop points out. There are a bunch of balloons pinned to a wall, with each participant getting three tries to pop some.
“Why not? Been a while since I’ve done this,” he agrees, heading over to the attendant to get some darts.
“You any good at this?” I ask him, having not known about this particular skill of his.
“Actually, yeah. I went through an art phase where I liked trying different methods to paint, and one I really enjoyed was filling balloons with paint and taping them to the canvas. Messy work, but the effect was cool. I got pretty good at it.”
I’m a little impressed and make a sweeping motion with my hands.
“By all means, show us what you’ve got.”
Clay stands at the edge of the counter and lines up his shot. With little to no effort, he pops the first balloon. Then the second. Then on his third throw, he leans down toward me and points at his cheek.
“How about a kiss for a bit of luck?” he muses with a coy grin.
My heart skips a beat at his request, but he just looks so adorable in the way he waits for me, that I just can’t deny him. I probably should, though.
I lean forward and gently press my lips to his cheek, pulling away fast. I feel my own cheeks burn red at having done that, but it was getting steadily harder to deny the guys anything.
With a flick of his wrist, he throws the dart and hits his mark. Cooper shouts excitedly and gives Clay a big high five. For his prize, Clay chooses a white stuffed bear holding a little pink heart, and holds it out to me. He’s standing close when he does, and I can smell just the faintest hint of his cologne.
“For the pretty lady,” Clay states sweetly, making my pulse run rampant.
“Thank you, Clay,” I respond quietly, taking the bear from him. I don’t remember the last time someone gave me something, and the fact he won this for me does things to my heart I know shouldn’t be happening.
“Let’s do that ship ride before we have to go. Please!” Coop begs, ruffling my shirt.
“Lead the way,” I tell him absently as I stare between the bear and the man who’s currently looking at me like the world revolves around me.
We’re both silent as we follow after Coop, his hand brushing mine as we walk. I know all of this is wrong. I care for the guys, but it’s not my job to start falling for them. I’m supposed to be finding them love in other people, not tangling my own emotions into the mix. I thought I was in trouble when I allowed Milo to kiss me, but just feeling the way I do when Clay glances at me from the corner of his eye shouldn’t be happening.
I’m becoming the worst Cupid ever.
I try not to think about it as we finish the last ride and Coop lets out a big yawn, signaling that it’s time to go.
“This was the best day ever. Thanks, True,” he says to me, cheering me up from my dark thoughts instantly.
“You’re welcome, Coop,” I reply, pulling him into my side for a hug as we walk back to the car.
When we make it to the car, he barely gets his seatbelt on before he’s falling asleep. Poor kid used up all his energy today. He’s fast asleep by the time we arrive home, and Clay has to carry him inside and tuck him into bed.
Milo had texted he’d be working late tonight earlier in the day, and Bellamy usually isn’t home from the club til well after one am. So it’s just me and Clay all alone together when he closes Coop’s door, and all the previous traitorous emotions come flooding back to me.
And I know from the look he’s giving me, that I’m in so much trouble.
10
True
“Well, have a goodnight!” I say, rushing toward the bathroom because I need a shower. A long, hot shower. I pause because if I’m taking a shower to hide from Clay, I also need to grab my vibrator.
I’ve been too scared to use it in my room, nervous someone might hear it, but in the shower, I should be fine. It’s waterproof, after all.
