Free Unafraid (Beachwood Bay) by Melody Grace

holding you like this every day, doting on you. Caring. You could do anything, knowing you had a partner, somebody to rely on.
    I’ve only ever been able to rely on myself.
    “ You need a prize.”
    “ What?”
    Hunter pulls me out of my thoughts. He’s eyeing the shooting range with a determined gleam in his eye. “ I need to prove my manliness in a show of skill and weaponry,” he proclaims, pounding his chest.
    I smile, taking in the row of prizes on offer. “Sure. Nothing says manly like a three-foot pink teddy bear.”
    “Oh ye of little faith.”
    Hunter hands a strip of tickets to the guy behind the booth. He takes the fairground rifle and lifts it to his shoulder. Squinting, he aims, and then fires his first shot. It goes wide, ricocheting off the back panel.
    “I’m still waiting on the manly.” I tease.
    Hunter doesn’t take his eye from the sight. “Hush you.” He fires again, and this time the bottle smashes to the ground, followed by the rest in quick succession.
    He lowers the rifle and blows the barrel, like he’s blowing smoke.
    “ Real smooth,” I say, applauding. He sees my look.
    “Let me guess, you could hit all five?”
    “ Maybe.” I admit. “Ray Jay taught me how to shoot before I learned to ride a bike. Just another chapter in my redneck childhood,” I joke, but I suddenly wish I hadn’t said anything at all. Good, blonde, normal girls keep quiet and let the guy take all the glory, I bet.
    But Hunter doesn’t seem annoyed. He pays the guy for another round and hands me the rifle. “Show me, I want to see.”
    “ You sure?” I check, reluctant.
    “ Let’s make it interesting,” he decides, as I lift the rifle and take aim. “For every one you miss, I get a kiss.”
    My hands falter. Which do I want more––to kiss him, or not?
    Smash. Instinct takes over, and I hit the first bottle. Smash, smash, smash. The whole row goes down.
    I lower the rifle. Hunter gives me a crooked grin. “You lose, he says.”
    And with a pang, I wonder if he’s right.
    We claim our prize, a huge blue teddy bear with a ribbon round its neck. “ He can keep you company at night when I’m not there.” Hunter grins, waggling the bear’s paws at me with such a cute expression I can’t help but laugh.
    As we stroll on again, carrying the ridiculous toy, I see people glance at us as they pass. Older couples, young girls. I’m used to stares of disapproval and gossip, but this is different. They look affectionate, even envious. I sneak a glance up at Hunter, in the middle of telling some story about secret society initiations in college. He looks so solid and true, smiling that mischievous grin, I would probably be jealous of myself too, if I saw us in passing: the perfect guy, out with his girl.
    They don’t know the truth. That he’ll never be mine.
    “ So what’s next?” I ask, with a hint of sadness. Dusk is falling, and the lights from the fairground are starting to glow neon and bright against the darkening skies. I only have a little while left of this night of make-believe, before reality sets in again, and my perfect date is over. “Ghost house?” I suggest. “More manly shows of strength? More food?”
    “ More?” Hunter widens his eyes dramatically.
    “ Hey!” I laugh, shoving at him. He catches my hands, pulling me close against him, and my heart skips at the feel of his body, so hard and warm against mine. He dwarves my tiny frame, and it makes me weak, just imagining those arms braced above me; those rock-hard abs pressed down against my skin...
    “ One more stop.” Hunter’s eyes sparkle. “Right here.”
    I look up. The Ferris wheel.
    “ For real? My voice is doubtful.
    “ Come on, I know you’re not scared of heights, the way you hide up on that rooftop of yours.”
    “ No, it’s fine,” I answer. “It’s just, kind of dull.”
    “ Being alone with me is dull?” Hunter raises an eyebrow teasingly.
    OK, scratch that. Not dull. Dangerous.
    As if reading