Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Every time I saw those photos on the wall, I remembered him saying, ‘There’s always been an us.’ It made me shiver with joy every time—including now.
“Are you cold?” he asked me. “Want me to grab a sweater for you?”
“It’s eighty degrees, Dad. I’m fine.” I laughed and ruffled his hair. “I’m just excited. We haven’t been to the Cherry Festival together in a long time. Since we were seventeen, to be exact.”
“I know,” he said, glancing behind me at the photos. “You’ll have a better time tonight. I promise.”
“Are you finally going to kiss me in a closet?” I teased.
“I will kiss you anywhere you want.” Even though we were running late and he wanted to get out the door, he put his arms around me and pressed his lips to mine. “I love you.”
I shivered again. Hearing him say the words was always a thrill. “I love you too.”
“Come on, let’s go.” His blue eyes were bright with excitement.
If I hadn’t been so distracted, I might have seen the mischief in them.
Several hours later, I walked over to the small Etoile tent, where Felicity was grilling mini paninis with gruyere, greens, and cherry bourbon jam. I grabbed one from the tray, and she laughed. “You like them?”
“Can’t you tell? I’ve already had like five of them. They’re delicious.”
As I ate it, I slipped into the booth and dropped into a chair behind my mom, who was pouring Abelard wines into clear plastic cups. My dad was there too, talking with someone at the next booth. I’d lost Gianni somewhere, which wasn’t surprising, given the way he was determined to play every game, ride every ride, taste every food.
“Hey,” said my mom. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. But it does feel good to get off my feet.”
“I bet. Where’s Gianni?”
“No clue. I lost him somewhere between the Ferris wheel and the bounce house.”
She laughed. “Sounds like Gianni.”
“Ellie!”
I looked up and saw Winnie heading for the booth. “Hey, Win. Have you seen Gianni?”
“Yes. He’s talking to Dex over by the dunk tank. But he’s looking for you.”
With difficulty, I rose to my feet and wiped my fingers on my shorts. “I’m coming. I hope he’s ready to go. I’m beat.”
As we headed for the games area, I yawned. “Everyone said there would be an energy boost during the second trimester. Where is it?”
Winnie laughed. “I don’t know. But I don’t think Gianni is quite ready to leave yet, so I hope you get a burst of energy.”
We’d reached the dunk tank, and I saw Dex and his two little girls standing there, but no Gianni. “Hey,” I said, smiling at them. “Are you having fun?”
Dex nodded, and the girls giggled and jumped up and down. “We want to see this!” shouted Luna, the little blond one. If I remembered correctly, she would be in first grade this fall.
“Luna, shhhh!” Hallie, older by about three years, poked her sister’s shoulder. “We can’t give it away.”
“Give what away?” I asked. “And where the heck is Gianni? I thought he was—”
“He’s over there!” Luna burst out, pointing at the dunk tank.
I looked up, and my jaw dropped. There was Gianni, seated behind the blue bars on the dunk tank platform, dressed in his swim trunks and grinning madly.
“It’s your turn!” he shouted. “I figured it was time for payback.”
Bringing my hands to my face, I started to laugh. “How many throws do I get?”
“I bought you fifty,” he yelled. “Then we’re even-steven. And if you can’t dunk me in that many throws, it’s not my fault!”
“Step right up,” said the guy manning the tank. At his feet were five buckets of balls, and he picked one up and held it out.
Eagerly, I went over and took the bucket from him, then set it on the ground at the white line on the green turf runner about twenty feet from the big red circle I had to hit in order to dunk him. I picked up the first ball and stared at that red circle, concentrating hard.
“Come on, Ellie!” I heard the girls cheering. “You can do it!”
I took a breath, said a prayer, and threw.
I missed.
Then I missed again.
In fact, as the crowd gathered—including my parents, the Lupos, and much of Winnie’s family—and Gianni continued to taunt me, high and dry on that platform, I managed to miss with all ten balls in that first bucket.
The guy brought me the second bucket, and I pushed up my sleeves, blowing my hair out of my face. “I need help!” I scanned the crowd. “Can anyone give me some advice?”
“Turn sideways more,” shouted Gianni’s dad.
“Don’t hold your breath!” yelled my dad.
“Release a little sooner!” offered Dex.
“Get someone else to throw for you!” hollered Winnie.
I looked over at her. “Now that’s good advice.” My eyes skimmed over everyone who’d gathered around and landed on Winnie’s cousin Chip—who happened to be a newly retired MLB pitcher.