Chloe giggles. I shake my head at them both, then turn back and grab the next ball. I focus on the center of the pyramid, wind up, and throw. This one connects perfectly, bottles scattering in every direction with a satisfying crash.
I resist the urge to pump my fist and settle for a satisfied nod as I turn back to them. Emma’s grinning and clapping her hands together, and Chloe’s already jumping up and down.
The teenager announces I’ve won a prize with all the enthusiasm of someone who’s seen this scenario play out fifty times today. He uses a long hook to pull down the purple bear, and Chloe scrambles forward to grab it the second it’s within reach, wrapping both arms around it in a fierce hug. The thing is almost as big as she is, its purple fur already getting crushed in her grip.
“Thank you, Daddy!” She looks up at me with pure joy on her face, and the thought that I ever considered staying at the restaurant to finish invoices instead of this seems absolutely ridiculous.
“You’re welcome, kiddo,” I say.
“Theo! Chloe!”
I turn toward Maren’s voice and spot her and Calvin making their way through the crowd. My brother raises a hand in greeting and I wave back.
Chloe takes off running before I can say anything, clutching the bear against her side. “Maren! Uncle Calvin!” She crashes into Maren for a hug and Maren catches her with a laugh, swinging her slightly. Calvin ruffles her hair affectionately.
Emma shifts beside me, and I’m suddenly very aware that this looks like the three of us came here together. As a unit. Like a family outing. I clear my throat and shove my hands in my pockets, feeling like a teenager who got caught doing something he shouldn’t.
“Hey!” I say, walking toward them with Emma. “Didn’t expect to see you two here. When you mentioned a date day, I assumed Seattle or Port Townsend like usual.”
Maren pulls me into a hug. “Ordinarily, but fall is my favorite season. There wasn’t a chance I was missing this.” She gestures at the festival around us, the colors and the chaos and the autumn everything.
Calvin pulls me into a quick one-armed hug, then releases me. “Besides, great research for Maren’s next book.” He looks at her adoringly, then glances between Emma and me with a raised eyebrow that he thankfully keeps to himself.
At least it’s Calvin and not Jack. If it were Jack, this would already be in the group chat with something like “BREAKING: Theo spotted with actual woman. Repeat, this is not a drill.” Out of all my brothers, Calvin is the least likely to make a thing out of it.
Maren turns to Emma with a warm smile. “So good to see you again, Emma! Did you all come together?” She glances between us, Chloe still attached to her side.
It comes out sounding completely normal and harmless, but I catch the faintest spark of interest in her eyes. Maren misses nothing.
“Yeah, we did,” I say, glancing at Emma. Behind her bright smile, I think I catch a hint of nervousness. Or maybe I’m projecting. “It just kind of worked out that way. Emma, this is my brother Calvin. Calvin, this is Chloe’s teacher, Emma.”
Calvin extends his hand. “Great to meet you properly. Maren mentioned running into you at the bar the other day.”
“Same here,” Emma says, shaking his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about the Midnight brothers. You guys are basically town royalty from what I can tell.”
Calvin winces. “God, I hope that’s not true.”
Maren grins and bumps her shoulder against his. “Nothingmakes him happier than being the center of attention.”
“She’s being sarcastic,” Calvin says to Emma, completely deadpan. “I’m a writer. I hide in rooms and make things up for a living. Attention is my worst nightmare.”
“It’s true,” Maren says, slipping her hand into his. “He’d beperfectly happy if no one ever recognized him and he could just write books in peace.” She looks up at him with obvious affection. “Lucky for him, I handle all the socializing for both of us.”
“She’s much better at it than I am,” Calvin agrees, squeezing her hand. “I just stand next to her and nod.”
Emma laughs. “Well, in any case, it’s nice to meet another one of the famous Midnight brothers. You’re only the second one I’ve encountered, though I’ve seen clips of Jack on YouTube.”
“Theo’s the most well-adjusted out of all of us,” Calvin says, “so you’re starting at the top. It only gets worse from here.”
“Translation: I’m boring,” I say to Emma, who laughs.
“Stable,” Calvin corrects. “Reliable. The one we all call when something goes wrong.”
Chloe, who’s been patiently enduring the adult conversation while clutching her purple bear, finally reaches her limit. “Can we go on more rides now? Please?”
“The boss has spoken,” Maren says, reaching for Chloe’s free hand. “Lead the way, Miss Midnight.”
We end up walking through the festival together for the next hour, trying different rides, winning more prizes at the game booths, stuffing our faces with kettle corn and caramel apples. Emma fits in easily with Calvin and Maren, so easily it catches me off guard. The conversation flows naturally, full of laughter and teasing, like the five of us have been hanging out together for years instead of just meeting.
