“All right, love,” I rasp, “let’s go win you a teddy.”
“Okay, but you have to win me the nicest one.”
Deal.
We walk through the crowd like we’re the only people here and we stop at a booth where you have to use a gun to shoot Ping-Pong at lined up cans. The guy behind the counter, a man that my stepdad used to buy hunting supplies from, throws me a hesitant glance.
Melody doesn’t notice and I pretend to not notice either, while the couple in front of us takes their chance to win something. Puckering her mouth, Melody whispers,
“You know I’ve heard that these things are just a setup. Supposedly those cans are a lot sturdier than they look.” Playfully she teases, “I know you’re a pro and all but I don’t think you have that big of a shot.”
“Are you saying that you doubt me?” I say and she nods in all seriousness, doing her best to not start laughing and with a low growl, I pinch her ass, causing her to jerk and she lets out a yelp.
“Hey!” she says with flushing cheeks and I bend my mouth to her ear.
“Hey is for horses,” I rasp, before shamelessly pinching her other butt cheek and she lets out another squeal, a lower one this time because we are attracting some attention. When she shakes her head at me with a face as a red as a rose, I’m tempted to grin again.
But it’s our turn now, the couple that was in front us, leaving with empty hands.
“Better luck to you, mate,” the guy says and it’s clear that he’s an outsider. His girlfriend on the other hand shushes him hysterically, before dragging him away like I’m the grim reaper or something.
Melody’s eyes narrow as she watches them leave and my chest rips at how concerned she is about my feelings.
She shouldn’t be that concerned though. It was a long time ago.
With my hand on Melody’s back, I pull her over to the counter and the man behind it, stiffly nods.
“Byrne,” he says in an unwelcoming voice, but I ignore it, focusing on Melody instead as always.
“Tell me,” I ask, “which one?”
Biting her lip, her eyes roam the shelves. “Um...” she ponders, before her eyes flare, “that one.” She points at a blue teddy, holding a white heart with a text saying,Hug Me. It looks well-made unlike some of the others and the man drawls,
“You need to hit all the cans to win that one.”
“Not a problem,” I drawl back before making some space and I hold my arms aside, adding, “help me out, love.”
Her eyes widen in surprise but then she sniggers and takes her place in front of me. Lifting the gun, I place her hands on it, then place my hands over hers and her arse rubs against me, making it hard to focus and I wonder if I should have just done it on my own.
Wouldn’t want to disappoint her if she doesn’t get that toy.
“Come on detective,” Melody says, bracing herself. “Give it your best.”
Smiling behind my mouth, I pull the trigger and it’s laughable how soft the balls are but I still manage to hit the first can. I’m tempted to roll my eyes because this is such a fecking scam and had this been my district, I might’ve pulled out my badge to clean this town from crooks.
Guiding Melody’s hand where I want it, I fire one ball after the other until all six cans are down and Melody drops the gun, lifting her arms in the air.
“Woohoo, you did it!” She rewards me with another perfect, wet kiss before her eyes eagerly turn towards the bear. The man who looks everything other than pleased takes it down from the shelf and gives it to her.
“See? Now you know never to doubt me,” I say and she happily nods, her fingers stroking the plushy fabric, her bliss obvious to me and everyone around me but it dies just as quickly when a broad shouldered family man walks by us, hissing,
“Child killer.”
13
Melody
My eyes flare at the man’s word and Callan turns around, his fistclenching and it looks like he’s about to punch him when Callan’s eyes lower to the man’s kids and he pulls back. Breathing rapidly, I gasp,