Hayden reaches me, his arm resting at the center of my back. “Babe, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
I look up. “Huh… sorry,” and shove the wooden carving toward him and start digging in my purse. “I came back for this. How much?” I ask the vendor.
“Nothing. It’s already paid for. It’s a gift to you for the conversation.” Wait, what? The stranger must have... I almost hand it back, then stop myself.
Hayden takes my hand. “Great, let’s go,” Hayden says and pulls me away. I trail after him, while awkwardly slipping the little dove into my shoulder bag. The stranger’s unnerving blue-green eyes are still vivid in my mind as fate nudges me back to Hayden. With a half-hearted glance over my shoulder, I can’t help but wonder,what was his name?We stop at the dunking booth, and I keep looking around for the mysterious Irishman, but I don’t see the stranger anywhere.
“Did you see that?” I turn to Hayden, guilt creeping in. I should focus on my boyfriend, not some stranger I just met. I realize Hayden has dunked the guy into the tank of water.
“Good job hon. You seem to fit right in, so good at these games.”
“Aria, babe, once you’ve impressed stockbrokers in Boston, charming a small-town crowd is a walk in the park.”
As we walk along, another booth owner pulls his attention. “Step right up and win a prize!”
Hayden accepts the challenge without hesitation. With a flick of his wrist, he wins a large plush bear on his first try. He turns and hands it to me. “For you, my good-luck charm.”
I give him a quick peck on the lips. “You sure know how to win hearts! Any more tricks up your sleeve?”
Earl ambles up with his wife Lenora in tow, his beer sloshing in his hand. I barely know him, Earl is just someone Hayden befriended here in Crescent Bay. He’s boisterous and unfiltered, the opposite of Hayden’s charm. “What’s the secret to your success, Hayden? Come on, just a hint?” Earl slurs clearly, he had too much to drink.
Hayden chuckles and pulls me closer, planting a kiss on my lips. “Okay, just for you, Earl. A lot of it is thanks to my good luck charm here.”
Hayden’s words feel hollow, but I force a smile. “Thanks, hon.” I press the stuffed bear to my chest, feeling the softness against my palm. We walk along until we reach the area where the band is playing, couples are dancing and my eyes fall on pumpkin-shaped lanterns strung over the makeshift dance floor, casting a warm, amber light over couples twirling. A festival banner flutters above the stage, with the name MacBrady stitched boldly across as the sponsor. It’s a name I’ve seen often, scrawled on business signs in town, and marked on a lot of the accounting files at work. When I asked my coworker Judith about it, she called the MacBrady men God’s gift to women, total eye candy. Maybe the stranger from earlier was a MacBrady.
“What’s on your mind, Aria?” Hayden whispers in my ear, startling me from my thoughts as he hands me a full cup of apple cider.
“Oh, nothing. I’m just really enjoying the festival.”It’s not all a lie.
Hayden’s eyes linger on me, and a sly smile tugs at the corner of his lips as he steps closer, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re beautiful.”
Bringing the cup to my lips, taking a huge gulp of the sweet, crisp cider and summon a smile, willing myself to mean it. “You look…suave as ever, Hayden.”
“How about a dance, babe?”
My mind drifts back to the stranger and his captivating eyes; my thoughts catch me off guard. My focus should be all on Hayden. I tip back the rest of my drink. Hand my stuffed bear to Lenora, Earl’s wife, and force a brightness into my voice. “Can you hold this, please, Lenora?”
“Sure, thing hon I don’t mind.” she says taking the stuff bear.
“Thanks so much.” I turn back to Hayden and taking hold of his arm, I tug him onto the dance floor. We twirl under the lanterns, the cool night breeze kissing my skin, while I try to ignore my wandering thoughts. We step off the dance floor after the third song.
Lenora stares at Hayden and me and coos. “You two make such a lovely couple.” Hayden is perfect on paper. The type of man my grandmother and hopefully my parents would have approved of. Yet, despite dating for five months, the elusive spark remains absent. Hayden grins and his hair catches the light just so, each strand lying meticulously perfect, refusing to stray. I reach up and ruffle his hair; his chestnut eyes are warm as they lock onto mine. Maybe I’m overthinking things. Perhaps if I just stop analyzing, the feelings I’m searching for will finally fall into place. But it’s the Irish stranger from earlier that sneaks into my thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, I focus on all the ways Hayden is a positive, not on a random encounter. Hayden has been patient with me, remarkably so. In all our time together, we’ve never taken that next step. I plan on changing that tonight, though. We’ve had passionate make-out sessions, but he always stops when I ask, never pushing for more. He insists that waiting will make it even more special. Though a small part of me wants him to push.
We wander through the crowd of families and end up at the Popcorn Bag Toss, where a group of kids tries to win an enormous bag of caramel popcorn. Each successful toss sends cheers rippling through the growing crowd, and I couldn’t help joining in to cheer the children on, even letting out an excited “Yes!” when they won their prize. The group of kids runs through the crowd, hefting the garbage-sized bag of sugary goodness over their heads.
After cheering the kids on at the Popcorn Bag Toss booth, we stroll off together, the festive energy still humming. I can’t resist trying my hand at a few games, laughing as I toss rings and aim for prizes, with Hayden playfully joining in, matching my enthusiasm.
Tasha would love this, my mind drifts to our earlier conversation.“Unlike you, Ari, I could not go without having a regular supply of vitamin D. I must always have a supply on tap.”Classic Tasha, brutal honesty wrapped in humor. My supportive bestie liked to say that vitamin D was her drug of choice, and she admired me for abstaining. I smile, after tonight, she can no longer critique my pipes.
This weekend is Hayden’s birthday, and I’ll be taking the next steps in my relationship. Tasha is gladly spending the weekend at my house to give Hayden and me this time together. Tasha cleared her schedule to stay with my grandmother, giving me these two nights off from my responsibilities. I even wore the red lace lingerie Hayden gifted me, last time he was in town. A birthday surprise I plan to reveal later at his place.
Out of nowhere a chill pricks the back of my neck, making me look around. For a heartbeat, out of the corner of my eye, I glimpse a paddy cap and a pair of intense blue-green eyes. I blink, and he’s gone. Only crowds of families and children’s laughter remain, spilling through the air as they dart between booths. I tell myself it’s nothing, just a trick of light and nerves. But my pulse doesn’t get the message.
The ice-cream man’s bell cuts through the noise. “Ice cream?” Hayden asks pulling my attention. I nod. We stop him, and I order the honey-lavender while Hayden chooses Maple Bacon Crunch. Eating ice cream on a fall evening isn’t my brightest idea as a visible shiver runs through me. Seeing this, Hayden pulls me close, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “I think that’s a sign we should leave,” he murmurs near my ear.
We stroll back toward the car, weaving through the crowd as the festival lights fade behind us. The night air settles over us, crisp and soft. Hayden gives my arm a gentle squeeze, turning me to face him. I glance up at him, smiling. He takes off his tweed coat and drapes it over my shoulders. “Better?”
