Because I had asked without asking.
That mattered more than a stuffed animal.
Unfortunately, he then discovered ring toss.
Which went worse.
By the time he finally won, he had spent enough money to purchase the entire booth and the bored college kid operating it. His prize options were a neon snake, a plush taco, or a ridiculous stuffed coyote wearing a tiny cowboy hat.
I pointed immediately. “That one.”
Dylan looked at the coyote.
Then at me.
“Of course.”
“It has dignity.”
“It has a hat.”
“Exactly.”
He handed it to me with solemn ceremony. “For you.”
I accepted it against my chest. “Thank you. I’ll treasure him always.”
“Don’t name him Nate.”
“I was going to name him Dylan.”
“Cruel.”
“He does look like he’d make bad emotional decisions.”
Dylan laughed.
A real laugh.
Not huge. Not careless. But real enough that it reached his eyes and changed his whole face.
I had forgotten how young he could look when pain was not standing directly in front of him.
Or maybe I had never gotten to know him young.
Not really.
The thought sobered me.
Dylan noticed.
He always did.
“What?” he asked.
I adjusted the stuffed coyote in my arms. “I’m thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
