“You’re goddamn right she is.”
All around her, as Daniel closed his eyes and belted about finding love, mutterings and knowing glances grew and grew and grew until it was a roar of laughter and jeers competing for control of the room.
“Well,” Captain shouted, dropping Bernie’s hand and slapping his together in giddy glee. “I think we have made our decision, then. C’mon, lads!”
The room exploded as the men ripped out streamers and party hats from their jackets. Daniel’s song quieted into nothing, but the room didn’t go silent for long. No, the men started singing as they stormed his makeshift stage. A cheap plastic crown found its way onto his head as their chorus rang out.
Mud Duck, we have found you.
Ugly and uncouth,
You’re all we need…
“Samantha.” She heard his voice, but Sam, who had faced the nearest wall, refused to turn around. She couldn’t watch. “What’s going on?”
“Congratulations, Mr. Mechanic,” Captain boomed in his best impression of an American game show host. “You are the King of the Mud Ducks!”
Cheers from the men in the room, confused clapping from the women. There was some awkward shuffling of feet clashing with the enthused hooting and hollering.
“Samantha?” Daniel’s voice was less confused now but twice as gutted.
“Yes!” Captain said, as if he’d just remembered. “Lady Piggy Dubarry, step right up and claim your prize!”
For a moment, time froze. Sam was alone in her own head, safe as standing in the center of a hurricane. Time and rage and the inevitable swirled around her, but she stood quiet and firm, dealing and shuffling her wildcard thoughts until only one remained.This is what you wanted. Go and get it.The key in the ignition of her heart turned, killing the engine running it. Samantha was, once again, heartless. She had to be. If she felt anything, she would shatter.
She dragged invisible ten-ton rocks behind her every step of the way, but Samantha walked to claim her prize. A pound coin and the pale, contorted face of the man she was in love with. He leaned into her.
“Samantha, what is this?”
“Go on, tell him.” Captain handed her a card with a printed script on it. “Tell them all.”
She scanned it. “Don’t make me read this.”
He shrugged off her plea as easily as she ignored Daniel’s insistent naming.
“Part of your prize, Piggy. You get to break the news.”
“Sam?”
“Captain, please—”
“You’re going to fucking read it or you’re out.”
Samantha did as she was told, reading every word given to her loud and crystal clear. With each syllable, the room descended further into chaos. There were tears, there were exclamations of pain. There were walkouts and stormouts and collapses and curses. Daniel stood behind her, hidden from her view, but none of it registered. Because all she saw was the paper in front of her, and all she heard was her brother’s voice repeating over and over again:You’re such a fucking coward, Samantha. Such a fucking coward.
And she knew he was right.
“Welcome to the Mud Duck Ball. You have all been part of a two-hundred-year-old experiment. Every year, the members of the Animos Society compete to see who can bring the worst date to this party. Everything you know about us, everything we told you, has been a lie, and we thank you for your service. You were fine specimens. We regret not everyone can win, but that’s the way the game is played. Now, bow before your king, the worst date of all.”
No one had a chance. Daniel was out of the door before they could even flinch.
Chapter Twenty-One
Daniel was romantic. Daniel believed the best in people. Daniel hoped for the future. Daniel put his faith in everyone and everything. He wanted good and beautiful and bright and wonderful happenings.
He wanted so little. Such simple things. Why were they impossible to get?
His body carried him faster than he thought possible, out of the room, out of the building, into the great expanse of greenery behind the structure. He ran until his lungs gave. Until his tears spilled over. Until he simply couldn’t anymore.
