Adorkable(43)
“Huh?” was all Becks got out, and then he was wrenched away.
Thad was in a state. “What the heck’s the matter with you, Becks? She’s a girl for God’s sake.” I groaned again for good measure, letting him pull me to my feet. Gently, Thad said, “Sally, are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine,” I said, shooting Becks a grin when no one was looking. “I guess Becks just doesn’t know his own strength.”
Becks’s mouth dropped open.
Thad glared at him and Leo said, “Not cool man. Not cool.”
After that the game was a cakewalk. Our strategy worked better than expected, getting not only Thad on our side but Leo as well. With their half-hearted showing, Becks was basically playing by himself. By game’s end, Clayton and Ollie were having a victory toast, taunting the others for their abysmal performance, and I was in possession of the Golden Troll. Becks strolled up as I pretended to give it a polish.
“That was some dirty trick,” he remarked. “Faking like that, making us think you were seriously injured, I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first,” I said, hugging the Troll to my chest. “Besides, it was Ollie’s idea, not mine.”
His eyes narrowed. “You really had me for a minute there.”
“Becks, you barely touched me.”
“Yeah, but it scared me just the same.”
I studied his face, saw he was serious. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“Nope.”
“No, what?”
“Sorry’s not going to cut it, Sal.” Becks stood hands on hips, shaking his head. “I nearly died from the guilt. My nerves are still shot. It’s gonna take something more, something valuable, something...golden.”
“No way,” I said, walking backward.
“You cheated,” he said, matching me step for step.
“We won fair and square.”
“I think you’d agree that’s a stretch.”
I did but stayed silent.
“Hand over the troll, Sal.”
“Never.” He had me trapped, pressed up against a tree in the Kent’s backyard, but still I clutched the trophy tighter. “Goldie’s mine this year. You can’t have her, Becks. I won’t let you.”
Becks’s eyes widened. “You named it?”
“Yes,” I said, “a few years ago, so what?” I figured if it was so important, ugly or no, why not give the troll a name? Goldie wasn’t much to look at, but this year she was going home with me. It was only the second time my team had won. He wouldn’t get her without a fight. “I’m not giving her up, Becks. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind.”
He grinned. “I believe you owe me a favor.”
Except that, I thought.
“Give her here,” he said, holding out a hand.
Frowning, I took one last look at Goldie, smoothed out her thinning hair, then shoved the doll into his chest. “You’re a poor loser, Baldwin Eugene. Anybody ever tell you that?”
He laughed breathlessly. I was glad to see I’d managed to wind him. “You guys play dirty, but I play dirtier. Cheaters never win, you should know that.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled, pushing past him.
“Sal,” he called, but I just kept walking. Even though I loved him, sometimes Becks really got on my nerves.
Becks was only seconds behind as I took a seat at the table, and wouldn’t you know it? They’d saved us two seats, side by side. Great.
“Don’t be mad,” Becks said, placing a hand on mine, setting Goldie on the floor between us. I took one look at her, met his eyes and looked away. “Aw, come on, Sal.”
“Hey,” Clayton said, pointing, “what’re you doing with that? We gave the Troll to Sally for a job well done. She earned it.”
Becks sighed, giving up. I was mad about the troll, and he’d just have to wait it out. “She gave it to me because she felt bad about tricking us.”
“That true, Sally?” Ollie asked, taking a sip of Coke. “I thought it might’ve been ‘cause you two are so in love.”
I snorted, ignoring Becks’s injured look.
“Who’s in love?” Leo walked out of the kitchen, plate piled high. “Oh,” he said, eyes landing on our hands. “You know, I knew about Becks, but I never suspected you, Sally. The crush he had was a big one that’s for sure.”
I felt my brow contract. What was Leo talking about?
“Yeah,” Ollie laughed. “He was a goner practically from day one.”
“Shut up,” Becks said to no one in particular.