Page 54 of SIN Looks Good On Us!

"No." He started walking away. "I'm protecting my winning streak."

After he beat me at air hockey, we wandered over to the racing games. We leaned into every turn like we were really on the track, bumping shoulders and talking shit the whole race until neither one of us could keep a straight face.

On the way to the next game, the claw machine caught my eye. A little brown teddy bear sat tucked in the back corner.

"I want that."

He looked from the machine, then back at me. "You ain't getting that."

"Watch me."

Three tries later, the claw wrapped around the bear and dropped it into the chute. I snatched it up and held it over my head with a grin.

"Told you."

He shook his head, laughing. "A’ight, I see you."

"You just mad ‘cause you ain't win nothing."

"I ain't try."

"That's what all the losers say."

"I thought I was the winner," he laughed.

"You were until now."

I hugged the little bear to my chest like I just won the lottery. It probably cost ten dollars in quarters, but somehow it felt like the best prize I'd gotten all night.

We ended up outside at the go-kart track, buckling into our seatbelts while the attendant explained the rules neither one of us was listening to. I looked over at Jokah.

"You ready to lose again?"

"You still talking?"

The light turned green. I slammed my foot down and took off. For the first lap, we stayed neck and neck, neither one of us giving the other an inch.

Every time I pulled ahead, he'd catch me on the straightaway. Every time he got in front of me, I'd close the gap in the turns. By the second lap, I was tired of seeing the back of his kart.

A smile spread across my face. "Oh well..." I turned the wheel and pit maneuvered him. His kart jerked sideways.

"AYO!"

He spun halfway around while I flew past him laughing so hard I could barely keep my own kart straight. When I crossed the finish line, I threw both hands in the air.

"I WON!"

A few seconds later, Jokah rolled across the line shaking his head. The second we climbed out and walked over, pointing at me.

"You cheated."

"Keyword." I shrugged.

He folded his arms.

"What?"

"Won."