Shay scowled at him then smiled when Ryleigh pointed to a black gorilla. “That one. You got this, baby.” She rubbed his arm.
My earlier happiness sank a little, but I forced it back, remembering Shay’s words. Ryleigh and I stood on the side watching Shay and Griffin compete. At the next stall, Lucy, Grady and his brothers played the ring toss game. While urging Griffin on, I glanced over at Grady proudly taking a bow after winning.
Ryleigh’s sudden shriek caught my attention. “Yes, baby, you won,” she squealed, jumping around Shay and giving Griffin a thumbs down.
Deflated, I walked away, and Griffin came charging after me, his footsteps pounding the earth. “I’m sorry, baby girl but The Hawk has a mean arm. We can try one of the other games.”
“It’s okay,” I lied, glancing over at Shay speaking to the attendant. As if he sensed my eyes, his gaze shifted our way then he gave me one of his beautiful smiles. Two seconds later, I gaped when he walked toward me with the large unicorn in his arms and a scowling Ryleigh next to him.
I looked at Griffin and something about his grin told me he’d planned this or maybe I was just imagining it as usual.
“We agreed to get you the unicorn since Griffin is such a loser, didn’t we, Ry?” Shay held out the stuffed toy to me but glanced at Ryleigh.
“Yes.” Her sweet smile didn’t fool me. She wasn’t happy.
“Thank you,” I said to both but threw my arms around Shay’s waist and hugged him.
He kissed the top of my head and when I stepped back, he said to Griffin, “better luck next time, bro.”
“Game on.” Griffin high-fived him. As we walked to the other stalls, I heard him say to Shay, “you did good, man, you made her smile again.”
I didn’t hear Shay’s response because Laika chose that moment to barrel into me. Still, it didn’t stop my spirits from soaring. While I hugged my friend, I realized that even though Shay was my everything, Griffin was like my guardian angel. Unlike Ryleigh and if I were part of their pact, I wouldn’t hesitate to name my first child after him. With Shay and him, I couldn’t have asked for two better men in my life, well, including Dad, three.
I was a lucky girl.
10. Lilith - Halsey
Skye – 15 years; Shay27 years
“So,never have I ever?” Samantha wiggled her body between me and Nyla, tiny little devils dancing in her eyes.
I laughed, swatting her with a pillow. “What are you up to?”
We all knew that when Samantha got that look in her eyes, she was about to do or say something crazy stupid. Nyla tried to push her off the bed, but Laika succeeded and with a hard shove, Samantha landed on the floor, cackling like a hyena.
“No!” It was a three-way chorus from us on the bed.
