Page 224 of The Path to Loving Him
“It’s not?” I ask.
Her brow crinkles, and it’s so cute. “I think so?” She says it more as a question than anything.
I chuckle. “Well, this will be fun to watch play out.”
I can feel Gabby thinking next to me as we head toward the Ferris wheel where Wyatt and Mac stand. Mac has a giant thing of sugar on a stick, and I just hope that it makes her pass out later rather than hyper as shit.
Wishful thinking, right?
“Uncle Dad, come on the Ferris wheel,” Mac shouts, waving her hand at me.
I turn to Gabby and say, “Got to ride the wheel with my other girl.” I kiss her gently on the lips. “Don’t get any food without me.” I pat my stomach. “I’m starving.”
“Promise.” She kisses me back just as Ethel walks up.
“We’d love to get Bennett on stage to say a few things.”
“Oh, sure. Bennett,” Gabby says, calling him over. “This is Ethel O’Donnell-Kerr. She coordinated the event with Hattie. Think you could say a few things up on stage?”
“I have confetti cannons,” Ethel cuts in, looking immensely proud of herself.
“Uh, sure, Mrs. O’Donnell-Kerr,” Bennett says.
Ethel gushes. “Oh, such beautiful manners on a young man.” At that, he blushes.
“I can wait to go on the Ferris wheel,” I say, not wanting to miss the speech.
“No, it’s cool, Coach,” Bennett says and then mutters to me, “The fewer people watching, the better. Go on the damn wheel.”
I chuckle and pat him on the back. “Good luck, dude.”
I take off toward the Ferris wheel just in time as Wyatt and Mac get in a chair. I take a seat as well, fitting Mac in the middle, and then the lap bar is lowered against us.
“Yay!” Mac says.
“Can I have some of that?” I ask, eyeing her cotton candy.
“Of course.” She offers it to me, and I peel off a chunk, not because I want it, but because I don’t want her to have all of it.
The Ferris wheel starts moving, and we lift a few feet before another swing is loaded. We see Ethel introduce Bennett on the stage, and a rather large crowd gathers around. Bower, Hattie, Hayes, Aubree, and Gabby are all off to the side while Bennett waves to the crowd. Even from here, I can see that the guy is massively uncomfortable.
The Ferris wheel starts rotating, all the swings full now while Bennett speaks into the microphone. From the wind whipping around us and the subtle sound of the Ferris wheel music, I can’t quite place what he’s saying, but it seems short and sweet as he waves again and steps away from the mic. Music starts playing, and the crowd cheers for him.
“He seems pretty shy,” Wyatt says.
“Yeah, he’s not much of a talker. Very focused.”
“I get that.”
“He doesn’t like to play,” Mac says. “I gave him Chewy Chondra to play with, and he didn’t talk for Chewy Chondra.”
I chuckle. “I don’t think he knows how to play the way we play.”
“He was boring.”
“Hey, that’s not very nice. I’m sure we can get him to play. We just have to get him warmed up first.”
“He’s Gabby’s boyfriend,” Mac says, causing Wyatt to snort.
