Page 102 of Finding Us
She snatches the paper plates out of my hand, stomping down on my toe. “Fine.”
“What do I get if I win?”
“Bragging rights.”
“Nah, I want a kiss.”
“Not happening.”
“We’ll see,” I chuckle, because if I win, that’s exactly what I’m going to demand. “What do you want if you win?” I ask.
“For you to leave me alone,” she answers, twisting the dagger she lodged in my chest earlier this week. I try my hardest to act unaffected by that comment, because in a way, I deserve it.
Leaning in, I inhale deeply through my nose, basking in her sweet scent. “I’m a wolf, Red, my genes won’t allow it,” I murmur low enough that only she can hear. She swallows thickly, so I know my words affect her. “It’s what I do, sweetheart, I seek out my prey and hunt it down. You can run all you want, but in the end, I’ll catch you, and when I do, I’m going to gobble you up … Every. Delicious. Inch.”
She slowly turns her face towards mine, we’re so close we are practically sharing the same air. I’d only have to move a few inches forward and our lips would be touching. Everything in me wants to do just that, but if I’m playing the long game, I need to bide my time.
Retreating a fraction, I give her a cheeky wink, and chomp my teeth together for added clout. Turning, I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans and walk away, and I can feel her eyes on me as I do.
I didn’t get my rematch, because neither of us anticipated the enormity of what it would take to keep an eye on almost thirty kids once they were let loose inside the gaming arcade. What the fuck were we thinking? Jacinta and I divided and conquered as best we could, while Connor stood guard at the front entrance so none of the kids could escape. It was both a miracle and a relief when we made it back to the party room for cake with everyone accounted for.
Blake and his classmates had the best time, but honestly, my nerves are frazzled. I’m in need of a stiff drink, or seven, and a long nap.
When the staff member brings out the cake Jacinta ordered, I’m so impressed by it that I pull out my phone and snap a picture. She told me Blake wanted a dinosaur cake, but I wasn’t expecting this. It’s a tall, large circular cake, but the fondant icing on top, looks like it’s been torn and folded back. Coming out of the centre is the open-mouthed head of a green T-rex, with large white teeth and clawed hands.
“Wow,” Blake says, staring down at it in awe.
There is a scroll across the front that says,‘Happy Birthday Blake’, and three candles down each side. Jacinta walks over to her handbag, digs inside, and pulls out some matches. She has thought of everything, and today wouldn’t have been half as great if it wasn’t for her and those special touches she added.
Once the candles are lit, everyone starts to sing happy birthday. The beaming smile on my son’s face, and the glistening in his eyes as he looks around the room at everyone, chokes me up inside. It’s the simple things that seem to mean so much to him. I tuck that image away in my head as I try to swallow the lump that has now formed in the back of my throat. I’m so humbled by this little guy, and so grateful I get to call him mine.
As soon as Red starts to cut the cake, the kids start crowding her, “Can I have the eye … I want a claw … Can I have a tooth in my piece?” Like the trooper she is, she tries her best to accommodate everyone.
When the cake has been eaten, I’m thankful the day is almost over. The last thing I need is a bunch of sugar-laden kids in my care.
“Do you want to find out who the winner of the jellybean competition is?”
“Yes,” the kids scream.
Jacinta picks up the piece of paper with their guesses on it, and when my gaze darts to my son, I find his eyes clenched closed and the middle and forefinger on both hands crossed. A smile tugs at my lips. Fuck, I love this little guy. Red had the parents help the kids with their guesses when they dropped them off.
“There’s one thousand, one hundred and fifty-two jellybeans in the jar.” I already know my son has lost because our guess was five hundred. “Bianca, it looks like you’re the winner,” Red says.
Blake’s shoulders immediately slump, and his crestfallen face tugs at my heart. I see Jacinta walk over to him and gently rub his back; she noticed too. It seems like we weren’t the only ones, because when Bianca gets up to collect her prize, she walks straight over to Blake and hands the jar to him.
“You can have these,” she says.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
The smile he gives her in return is blinding, and I know in the coming years I’m in trouble. That thought is cemented when she leans in and places a kiss on his cheek and his face flushes bright red. I can’t help it; I bark out a laugh.
My eyes dart to Jacinta and not only is there an adoring look on her face as she watches them, the piece of paper in her hand is now clutched to her chest. I’m not sure if she feels the weight of my stare, but when her attention flickers to me and she finds me watching, she quickly looks away. Does that discourage me? No, because the flush that’s now creeping up her neck says way more.
She can fight this all she wants, but she’s still mine.
Once the kids are all collected and it’s time to go home, I breathe a sigh of relief. “Where are you parked?” Connor asks as he starts to load his arms with presents.
