Page 109 of Indescribable
“Hey, handsome,” I hear from behind me just as arms snake around me and the sweetest pair of lips come close to my ear, “looking a little lonely here all by yourself.”
I grab hold of her arms to keep her close. “Just waiting on the prettiest girl to come join me. And watching Cody play a game. Watch.”
She sits next to me, reaching over to hold my hand and we keep watching as the boys move to another game – with Cody and his friend having a sword fight along the way – the girls trailing behind them.
“Are those three…?”
“No clue. But keep watching. That one? The one with the white tank top and hair up in a ponytail? She’s practically begging for Cody’s attention and he’s oblivious.”
The next game he decides to play is one of those ring toss games. His friend goes first, wins a long stuffed snake that he wraps around his shoulders, and then it’s Cody’s turn.
Ponytail girl leans against the counter of the game, twisting her hair around her finger. Cody’s mesmerized for a few beats before he shakes his head to clear it.
“Oh, she’s good,” Naomi whispers and I nod.
And then she inches closer, placing a hand a mere inch away from where Cody’s hand is resting as he leans over to toss the ring.
He looks down at her hand and up at her, giving her a strange look. With a shrug, he tosses the ring and cheers for himself. Ponytail girl jumps and claps for him.
When all is said and done, he wins a middle row prize and I see the girl point to the one I know she wants but is probably right now saying, ‘that one’s cute. You should get it!’
“She’s totally into him,” Naomi breathes. “This is… this is weird, right? Isn’t he a baby yet?”
I nod. “It’s weird.”
We keep watching as he asks for the stuffed panda bear and when he’s given it, he looks at it for a few seconds before handing it to the girl. She squeals and snatches it out of his hands, sure to be sleeping with it tonight.
Poor Cody has a look of utter confusion on his face.
“Right now he’s wondering what just happened,” I say.
“He’s so innocent about it. For as sure of himself as he is, this one seems to have stumped him.”
The group of kids start walking away, with ponytail girl and Cody falling behind the crowd.
He gives her a shy smile and she returns it.
“They’re so cute together.”
I scowl at Naomi who just lost her mind. “He’s too young to be cute together with someone.”
Naomi giggles. “Come on. Buy me a corn dog, will ya? We can watch as your guys get dunked into the water.”
“That’s what you want to eat? Out of all the stuff that’s here to try?”
“Yup.”
I drape an arm over her shoulder and meet eyes with Boone who silently lets me know that he’s got Cody under his watch, giving Naomi and me freedom to walk around the festival alone.
“Paisley with Corbin?”
She clasps her hand in mine over her shoulder. “I’m all yours.”
“Yeah, you are.”
For the first time in my thirty years of existence and coming to the Spring Festival, I do it with the girl on my arm who I love more than life itself.
“Do you know how long I wanted to do this?”