Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
They jaywalked across the cobblestone road and into the arcade. Kiel paused at the door, looked at Eloise, who had a shit-eating grin on her face, and shrugged. Arcade games were his favorite. Nothing said fun like trying to get as many tickets as possible for a piece of gum.
Instantly, the kaleidoscope of neon lights dancing around, casting an otherworldly glow on the linoleum floor, bringing him back to his childhood. He couldn’t help but feel a tingling excitement in the pit of his stomach as the cacophony of sounds enveloped him. The arcade buzzed with fun and exciting energy. Kiel watched the two gamers battle it out before he followed the tug of Eloise’s hand.
Eloise went to the counter where she greeted an older man. “Claude, this is my friend, Kiel Collier. This Claude,” she said to Kiel. “He owns the arcade and is like a grandfather to all of us.”
Kiel and Claude shook hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Kiel said.
“You too. Are you here to play?”
Eloise nodded, and Claude handed her a card. “Have at it, kiddo.” She hugged him again. “Does my record still exist?”
Kiel looked from Eloise to Claude, who let out a gruff chuckle and shook his head. “There isn’t a soul in this town who will ever beat your record.”
Eloise beamed and reached for Kiel’s hand.
“What’s your record?”
She said nothing as they came to the section of Skee-Ball machines. She stood in front of the game and pointed to the wall.
“On this day,” Kiel read. “Eloise Harris scored nine hun—” his mouth dropped open, and he looked at her. “You scored nine hundred points?”
She beamed, bit her lower lip and nodded.
“Wh—how?”
“I’m a pro.” She blew on her knuckles and whipped them on her shirt.
This feat blew Kiel’s mind. “How?” he asked again.
“Practice, I guess. I don’t know. One of my friends challenged me, saying I couldn’t hit one hundred, so I came in every day after school for a month and only aimed for the corners. Then, one day, I hit those corners nine times. I couldn’t believe it. Neither could Claude. He had that sign made the next day and a huge ceremony for the unveiling.”
“Wow! I had no idea I was dating a local celebrity.”
“Is that what we’re doing, Kiel?”
He nodded. “It’s what I’d like to do.”
“Me, too.” She rose and kissed him. While chaste, it held promise.
Eloise held up a card. “Unlimited plays.”
“Do we get tickets?”
She laughed. “Yep.”
“Thank God,” he said. “I really want some gum.”
For the next few hours, they played every game they could, and repeated on many of them. Each game turned into a competition between them, with Kiel winning most except at Skee-Ball. Eloise was a pro, and Kiel joked she should join a circuit—if one existed—and if one didn’t, he’d create one for her.
“I have plans for your prowess,” he told after she had beaten him, yet again. “We’re going on a world tour.”
“Are we now?”
“Yep. We’re going to hustle arcades like basketball players hustle Venice beach.”
Eloise laughed hard.
On their way back to her scooter, his phone chimed. He took it out of his pocket and sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s my sister. My mom wants me home for dinner.”
“You should go,” she told him as she took her helmet from the console under her seat.
Keil’s heart dropped. “Really?” His voice was quiet, and he tried not to let the hurt he felt come through.
“Yes, of course. Family time is important.”
As much as he didn’t want to admit it, she was right. Kiel was torn. He wanted to spend his time with Eloise, but also with his mother.
“You can always come over tonight if you want.”
Those words changed everything.
“Yeah?”
She nodded and put the key in the ignition. “I’d like you to.”
This time, he leaned forward, cupped her cheeks, and kissed her. “I’m definitely coming over after dinner.”
Kiel drove them to the house where he and his family stayed. He pulled along the curb, steadied the motorbike until Eloise had control and slid off. “Today was pretty cool,” he said as his hand swayed. Each time it came near Eloise, he wanted to reach out and touch her. “I really want to kiss you right now, but—” He glanced over his shoulder and sighed. “My sisters would never let me live it down.”
“Save it for tonight.”
“That I can do.”
“Text me if you change your mind.”
“There’s no way in hell I’m changing my mind. See you later.”
“Later.”
Kiel waited for her to pull away and get halfway down the street before he ventured into the house. He was unprepared for the questions he faced from the other women in his life. As soon as he walked in through the back door, his mom and sisters were waiting. Ciara hid her snicker behind her hand.
“What?” he asked, trying to play things off.