“Oh, please.” Penny grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door. “Now are we going or what? I was promised I could go on all the rides I want.”
“What about Henry?” Emmett asks, walking around us to pull the door open.
We yell our goodbye to Mabel and close the door on our way out. I already told her we’re going to the county fair, and she was actually excited to see us making friends.
“He’s not going.” She lifts the folded cane that she’s been holding in her hand. “But this is.”
I watch Emmett for some kind of reaction, but there isn’t any, just genuine interest.
“Why not?” Emmett asks as we go to his truck that’s parked by the curb.
“It’s harder for him to navigate in a bigger crowd,” I explain. “Plus, people can be real dicks about it.”
“How so?” A confused frown appears between his brows. I want to move closer and smooth the worry lines, but I hold myself back.
“People don’t pay attention to the harness. They think he’s just a regular dog, so they want to pet him.”
“But he’s working.” He nods and looks at me expectantly. With those dark eyes and his hair peeking from underneath his ball cap, he reminds me of a puppy waiting to be praised. I bite the inside of my cheek to prevent a smile from forming.
“Yup, he’s working. But there is also the fact that he isn’t just a regular dog, which people don’t understand.”
“Or don’t want to understand,” I add dully. Penny puts too much trust in people. Way more than most of them deserve.
Emmett tries to open the passenger door, but I wave him away. He isn’t happy but lets it go, walking around the car to the driver’s side.
“Once we went to Walmart, but a lady exiting the store started yelling at us.” Penny rolls her eyes, and in her most obnoxious voice says, “You kids, no respect for anybody or anything. Taking a dog to the place where people buy food? Are you crazy?”
I open the door and help Penny inside before sliding next to her and closing the door. Emmett does the same on the other side.
“Like I said, people can be real dicks.”
Emmett blinks, truly looking stunned. “Are you for real?”
“I wish I was joking.”
“But he’s allowed to enter, right?”
“Yes, he’s her guide dog. Which basically gives him the same rights as humans. Together they should be allowed to enter anywhere they want. Restaurants, public transportation, stores, you name it, he should be able to go.”
“That’s insane.” Emmett shakes his head, then stops suddenly as if something came to mind. “That didn’t happen here, right?” He turns in the driver’s seat to look at me, his fingers wrapped around the key. “Right?”
He seems so appalled by the idea that I don’t have the heart to tell him the truth. But he sees it regardless.
“Of course it was.” He shakes his head and starts the car. “And I bet it was that old Mrs. Merrick. I’m telling you that lady is like a witch or some shit. When we were little trick-or-treating around town, it was always a challenge to see who’d go up and ring her doorbell.”
“Did you ever do it?” Penny asks, laughing.
“I tried, but I always chickened out before pressing the bell. We all did.”
We all burst into laughter.
“Hey,” Emmett protests. “She’s one scary lady. I’d love to see you try it.”
“Excuses, excuses,” I sing-song, happy for the change of subject.
“I’ll give you excuses.” He turns the key, firing the ignition. He lifts his head, that wicked grin of his lighting up his whole face. “You girls ready for some fun?”
EMMETT
“Let’s do the roller coaster again.” Miguel grins, his arm wrapping around Becky’s shoulders and pulling her toward the line.
“No way.” Becky shakes her head. “The last time I almost threw up.”
“Don’t be a Debbie Downer, Becs,” Nico says, nudging her with an elbow.
Becky shakes her head. “No way, not happening.”
She does still look a little green from the last ride.
Miguel pouts. “Fine, suit yourself.”
Nico shrugs and turns to me. “Emmett? You coming?”
“Nah, man.” I shake my head, throwing my arm over Penelope’s shoulder. “I promised Penny here I’d get her something on one of the shooting ranges. You go ahead.”
Nico makes a gagging sound, while Miguel gives me his who’re you trying to fool look, but I ignore them both.
“Sure thing,” Miguel drawls. “I guess we’ll see you later.”
The guys leave together toward the roller coaster, muttering something between themselves. I already know I’ll never hear the end of it next time we hit the locker room, but ask me if I care. They’re just jealous assholes, it’s not my fault the ladies like me better.
“You could have gone with them, you know,” Penny says quietly, those trusting blue eyes looking up at me.
“And miss a chance to be surrounded by beautiful ladies? No way.” With her white cane in hand, slowly tapping the space in front of her, I help steer her toward the shooting booths, Kate and Becky following behind us. “Now tell me, which one do you want me to get you?” I scan the prizes put on the shelves. “There is one really ugly green frog, a tiger, a koala…” I recount all the things up there while a clerk behind the counter, an older guy with a beard that reaches halfway down his chest, gives us a curious look. “Oh, and a pink teddy bear.”
“I want that one,” she says instantly, her whole face lighting up.
“And I’ll take the frog,” Becky chimes in. “Kate, what do you want?”
“What’s this?” I look over my shoulder at the two of them. “Are you trying to bankrupt me?”
“Hey, you wanted to have a harem, now you better pay up.”
I turn to the guy managing the booth, looking for some male solidarity. “Can you believe this?”
He lifts his hands in surrender. “I’m not getting into this. Just manning the booth, but if you want to play, I can help you with that.”
Sighing, I pull out a few five-dollar bills and give them to him. “A pink teddy, that ugly frog, not that I get why she wants it. That thing is scary as fuck.”
“Hey,” Becky protests, jabbing her finger in my side. “Don’t insult George. He isn’t ugly.”
“And she named him too.” I shake my head. “What is he then?”
“Misunderstood. You never know, I might kiss him and get a prince.”
Becky nods her head, the serious look on her face making me crack up.
“Yeah, keep on dreaming, Becs. Keep on dreaming.”
The guy puts five baseballs on the counter. “You have to hit all five targets in order to win,” he warns, taking a step back so I can look at the targets.
Letting go of Penny, I grab one, weighing it in my hand. “Should be easy.”
I squint at one of the targets, my fingers gripping the ball in my hand, and let the ball fly. A loud bang joins other noises at the fair as the ball connects with the target. Penny cheers happily, and the corner of my mouth lifts as I grab another one.