Broken Hero

“You too, Oliver. It’s good to see you.”

Yes, yes, I don’t come here often-I know.

Lucy falls into step next to me and shoots me a wide grin. “Where to? You’re the expert.”

“Have you seen the dunking booth?”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“Oh, that explains it!”

“Explains what?”

“I’ve heard loud splashes all day, but I didn’t have a clue where it was coming from-or from what!”

“It’s a pretty big deal here. Every year someone volunteers, and it’s usually people quite high up in the town.”

“Have you ever volunteered?”

I shoot her a sideways glance. “Me?”

“Yes. You’re pretty high up in this town, you know.”

“I haven’t, no. Maybe I should someday.” If I ever gathered the courage. My father would never have considered it, not in a million years, but times change.

“I’d be the first in line.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes.” She shoots me a teasing smile. “And I don’t think I’d be the only one.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I settle on something safe. “This year, it’s the principal of Claremont High. He’s worked there since… well, as long as I can remember. Half the people here used to be his pupils.”

“Let’s go see it.”

We weave through the crowd. People are everywhere, and I can see the looks that are thrown my way. My cap hasn’t fooled anyone.

Music blares from a stereo and my palms grow sweaty from the bass. The beat is too heavy. A child laughs to my right, the shrillness bringing back flashes of things I’d rather forget. I flinch as a pink balloon passes by overhead.

Shit. I have to get a grip.

Lucy turns and looks at me. I can see her lips move, but I can’t hear her.

I finally read her lips. “Oliver?”

“Sorry?””I said that your nieces are lovely.”

Control filters back in. The world around me slows down a bit, becoming manageable once again. I can focus on her words. “They’re little rascals,” I say finally.

“Cute ones.”

“Yes. They’re miniature copies of Sarah. Well, at least Nora is.”

“And maybe of you?” Her smile is teasing and I force my breath to slow, to focus on her eyes. “I’m not sure if I buy this respectable ranch owner act.”

The teasing glint in her eyes helps me focus. For a moment, I forget that we’re at a fair, I forget these people and all the sounds.

“Maybe I’m not respectable at all.”

A faint blush creeps up her cheeks, but she doesn’t break eye contact with me. Maybe she feels the same burning, heady desire that regularly courses through my body.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I say.

She leans in closer. “Why?”

“Because if you don’t, I’ll kiss you again, and this time everyone will see.”

Her eyes go liquid. “Oliver, I-”

The crowd erupts in a massive cheer behind us. It’s not followed by a splash-someone must have missed by a narrow margin.

“We’re here,” she breathes. “This was, umm, what you wanted to show me?”

Right now, all I want is to show her the inside of my bedroom. But I force myself to break away from her gaze and look at the familiar dunking booth.

“Yes.””Have you ever tried to dunk someone here?”

“I have. I’ve succeeded, too.” In my younger days, this had been the go-to spot. People had fallen silent as the sports teams arrived-everyone knew exactly what would happen.

Lucy grabs my hand and pulls me forward so we can see. Slender fingers curl around mine, and the contact sends heat up my arm. It feels right. I follow her through the crowd, anchored by her touch.

She lets me go as soon as we get there. “Is that the principal?”

“Yes. I wonder who roped him into doing this.”

Principal Woodworth is sitting on the dunking booth. His hair is considerably greyer than it was when I was in high school, but he’s not wearing the frown I’m used to-no, he’s smiling.

We watch as several people try to dunk, only to miss. His clothes are wet, though, so he’s clearly been in the water already.

“Do you want to throw?”

I look down at her, at the sparkle in her eyes. “I think you want me to.”

“Maybe,” she says. “Maybe I want my own throw, too.”

“Let’s do it.”

I fish out a few coins and pay for us. It’s been ages since I’ve done anything like this-since I’ve even held a ball. I weigh it in my hands. It used to be second nature.

Lucy throws me a smile. “Watch me.”