Aberlour rolled his eyes and took an extra step back for dramatic effect.
The odd little man chuckled.
One dart, one red balloon.
Second dart, yellow balloon.
Third dart, red balloon.
Fourth dart, blue balloon.
Fifth dart, yellow balloon.
Sixth dart, green balloon.
“You boys military?” The man asked, not laughing anymore, but still amused. Clearly, Aberlour’s performance was impressive, and he didn’t mind admitting it.
“Yes, sir,” Marcus replied, respectfully.
It was the final shot. The big one. Two for one. Aberlour saved this one for last. Cocky and confident, far more so than any man should have been. It was nothing more than a silly trick shot he could do in his sleep, but his fingers tingled with anticipation anyway.
“Don’t miss now, sonny,” the man said, trying to rattle him.
Aberlour was a cocky sonofabitch, but then again, his aim was the foundation of everything he’d accomplished in life. It was the one thing he could always count on. Even when everything else in his world was unsteady, his perfect aim remained unshakeable. It was always there for him whenever he needed it.
“Get it, Dumber,” Oliver encouraged.
Aberlour turned, unable to resist the urge to wink at him. Without even looking at the balloons, he threw the dart and his smile only grew as two pops were heard, one right after the other.
“Hot damn!” JD exclaimed around a mouthful of cotton candy that made his tongue pink.
“¡Puta Madre!” Carlos yelled, rushing up to press a kiss to Abe’s cheek.
“Well, I’ll be damned, Uncle Sam is lucky to have you, that’s for fucking sure,” the booth owner said, laughing loudly.
Aberlour didn’t speak, just smiled and shrugged. The darts were firmly planted in the back of the board. A feat which, in and of itself, was impressive. Darts usually bounced back. Not Aberlour’s. If he wanted the darts to hit the board, then that’s exactly where they went, and where they stayed.
“Which one do you want?” The odd man asked, still laughing as he gestured towards the upper row of stuffed toys.
Abe turned to Ghost, who was smiling from ear to ear as he said, “The big white one with the red bow. She’s gonna love that one.”
Abe smiled and nodded before turning to the odd man and asking for that same bear.
The odd man took it down with a smile. A genuine one that betrayed how impressed he was.
“She’s a lucky young lady,” he said, handing over the bear.
Ghost’s smile was brighter than the sun.
Aberlour gave the old man a mock salute, to which the man lifted his top hat in response. Then the team turned and followed Carlos, who’d planned their next ride.
Aberlour hung back, content to watch his men jump on each other’s backs, roughhousing like teenagers. There was one missing, however. One who’d fallen into step beside Abe.
“What’s the cutoff age for getting giant teddy bears?” Oliver asked teasingly, as he nudged Aberlour’s shoulder with his own.
He’d gotten his hair cut recently, but it was still longer than regulation length. No one would get on his case about it, however. They’d earned a little slack from high command. Besides, how could anyone disagree with this man, when his smile was so incredibly beautiful, and his bright blue eyes twinkled with such good-natured mischief?
“You jealous?” Aberlour taunted, as they kept walking.
