He hits the button. The claw dips. For a second, it looks like it's going to miss. But it grips the bear by the leg and lifts it clean off the pile. Daisy gasps. It drops into the chute.
Gio turns to me, all excited. Holding the little angry bear. He hands it to me with both hands. "For you," he says. "It's grumpy and cute. It'sdefinitelyyou."
I take it. My angel. He's so damn proud of himself. I stare at the bear. Then at him. Then at the bear again. "Thanks," I mumble. "I'm gonna name it Judgy Bastard."
He grins. "I love it." And I don't care how stupid this is. This is already my favorite gift in the world. I look back at the machine.
There's a tiny girl, barely taller than the prize counter. Standing next to Gio. Just staring at him. Her mouth's hanging open. And then she reaches out. Taps his hand. With her little finger. Gio turns to me in shock.
"Rava. Rava. A tiny human just touched me—"
I snort. "Well maybe see what she wants?"
He turns back. Exhales. "Hi there, little one." She gives him a shy smile. "Mister…can you help me win a teddy bear?" She holds up a single coin. Her dad's standing nearby, just smiling. Totally relaxed. Chill.
For once, a decent dad with no complex. No judgment. Gio softens. "Of course I'll help you, sweetheart. Come here, it's actually super easy."
She hands him the coin, but he shakes his head. "Nope. You keep that. This one's on me." He gently guides her to the joystick, crouches behind her like a coach.
"Okay…let’s see. We should probably push it back a little, exactly like this. Now a small push to the left, now just—yep, there. Let it drop! See? That was fast. You're even better than me!"
The claw lowers. And it grabs a fuzzy orange bunny. Lifts. Drops it into the prize slot. She squeals. Practically tackles Gio's legs. Laughing and clutching the bunny.
I turn away. Quick. Head down. Because…God. I'm tearing up. I'm such a loser. I don't know why. It's just—it wassweet.That's all. I blink a few times, pretending I'm fixing my hair or something. That's when I hear Lorenzo behind me.
"Me too, bro, me too."
I groan. "Shut up." Sniff once. Subtle. "Don't ruin it. It was just sweet."
"Sure was." He pats my back. "We love a sensitive king."
I roll my eyes. "Stop talking. The tears will fall." And when I glance back, Gio's crouched again, petting the little girl's head. She hugs him. Her dad gives him a handshake.
Yeah. I mightdiea little bit. From love. Gio turns to me. "I'm on fire tonight. Don't talk to me." He's rubbing his hands together like a villain. "Give me one minute. I'm feeling lucky."
He jogs over to the next claw machine, one of those trashy little ones with rubber duckies, plastic toys, keychains, literal junk. I raise a brow. "What the hell are you even trying to win—"
"Shhh." He drops in a coin, tongue sticking out again as he lines it up. Presses the button. The claw drops. Lifts something.
"What even is that?" It drops into the chute. Gio reaches in, pulls it out.
What. A tiny duck-shaped capsule. "What the f—"
Opens it. Inside is a plastic ring. With a yellow rubber ducky on it. Like a cursed engagement ring from a bathtub-themed nightmare.
Marco explodes with laughter behind us. Lorenzo gasps. "YOU PLANNED THIS, YOU LITTLE SHIT."
Gio's doubled over. He takes a dramatic breath. Wipes his fake tear. Turns to me with a mock-serious expression.
Drops to one knee.
"Rava, baby." He says it in that mocking, flirtatious tone. "From the moment you threatened to call the cops on me for staring too much, I knew you were the one. I couldn't wait any longer. I couldn't let time steal us away. Not another moment."
He holds up the duck ring between two fingers like it's a Tiffany diamond. He's trying not to laugh.
"Accept this 1€ ring, Rava Weston. Not asking. Just take it. Be a Fontana for one night." He's grinning. The others are crying from laughter. I black out a little.
My face is on fire. Like I can feel it glowing red.
