ave been bragging, but he clearly didn't appreciate what he had. He cer

d the wooden bird. His certainty was appealing, but also a little unnerving. I kn

my hair. We passed a small carnival setup, complete with flas

dissolving into boyish delight. He pointed to a shooti

heart gave a little flutter. Edward would have walked right past,

aid, but a part of me, a small,

isp bill to the tattooed attendant. "Pic

omach. He was so focused, his brow furrowed in concentration as he aimed the rifle.

dden image of something goin

r me. He fired, and a plastic duck toppled over. He let out a

o you want, Allyson? The giant teddy

head. "Just pick some

al, a caricature of a monster with one larg

know, I could probably buy all these prizes if I wanted to, but there' s

ide of the city I'd never seen, took me to hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and even convinced me

ls I' d casually mentioned months ago. He brought me my favorite coffee when he knew I had an early start. He champione

letter arrived on a Tuesday

, standing under the awning of my apartment building, clutching a dri

ere?" I asked, my voi

Had a feeling. Wanted to be here when you got the news." He hel

o the one he'd won for me at the carnival, but this one w

," I said, genuinely touche

ughtful things. Things that show someone actually sees you." He lean

here, but it was interwoven with s

to my purse and pulled out a small, intricately folded origami crane. It was

cious smile spread across his face. "You made this? For me?" He looked so genuinely thrilled, it

mbled, suddenly embarra

ou. It's thoughtful. It's personal." He carefully tucked it into hi

e said. "All the big players will be there. Edward include

lf looking forward to it, not for the drama, but

ations. I'd opted for a simple, elegant black dress, wanting to avoid any unnecessa

felt a sense of belonging I hadn't realized I was missing. We found a quiet corner near the

in, taking it from my fingers, his lips brushing against min

ommanding presence even amidst the glittering crowd. And beside him, laugh

. The one I knew he' d never truly gotten over. She was even more stunning in per

as ever, swept across the roo

something else I couldn't quite decipher. Recognition

n in my hand, looked up. He foll

He squeezed my hand, then pulled me closer, wrapping an arm possessively around my waist. He leaned

, I didn't pull away. I just watched Edward, his eyes b

, not on Brody's arm, but on me. And for some reason, that mad