Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 171

Daniel ruffled her hair. “I came for you, Amelia.”

Amelia smoothed her now-messy hair, shot him a quick eye roll as she turned, and nodded toward the other side of the fairground. “Let’s go over there. The water blaster game looks fun.”

At the water blaster station, the oldest kid couldn’t have been more than five, with two others who still looked like they’d just been weaned—babbling nonsense while sitting in their mothers’ laps.

With Daniel and Amelia’s striking looks and air of confidence, the moment they strolled over, more than a few pairs of eyes turned their way.

The attendant glanced up and looked around, puzzled. “Where’s your kid?”

Daniel’s shamelessness shielded him from any trace of embarrassment. He patted Amelia’s shoulder. “Right here. She’s mine.”

“…”

Already annoyed with his shift, the attendant’s face fell even farther, especially at that little display. “Head in and take a left. Two to a seat, buckle up… or don’t. You two probably don’t need to.”

As Amelia buckled her seatbelt, she muttered, “Can you not be so insufferable? Maybe think about other people’s feelings for once.”

He shrugged. “I’m not a mind reader, Amelia. I don’t have to manage everyone’s feelings—just yours.”

Just hers?

Amelia’s eyes darted slyly toward the plastic water gun in front of her. As the game started, she quickly figured out the angle: if she aimed at the elephant plush in front, the water would ricochet straight onto Daniel.

“Amelia.” Daniel shielded his face with his hand. “Are you doing that on purpose?”

Of course she was, but she only replied, “Nope, the water gun’s got a mind of its own.”

Daniel, ever the image-conscious one, was now getting drenched—over and over. Anyone else might have gotten a scolding or even a shove. But seeing Amelia’s radiant, carefree laugh—brighter than the sunlight around her—made his irritation evaporate, slipping away as quietly as the water trickling into the pool.

“Having fun?” he asked.

“I’ll leave the car with you. Don’t stay out too late, and try not to wear yourself out.”

Daniel gave her hair another gentle ruffle and left.

Barely fifteen minutes after proclaiming he’d look after her feelings, he was gone—his words as fleeting as the wind.

Amelia fired the rest of her shots in quick succession, her aim turning a little wild, accuracy dropping off.

When she finally set the gun down, the booth owner eyed her. “Miss, your eyes look a little red. You alright?”

“Just got something in my eye,” Amelia said, rubbing at it as she scanned the QR code to pay. “I’ll take another hundred shots.”

The second time she picked up the gun, her whole demeanor had changed. There was a fierce, “queen-of-the-battlefield” energy about her, like she was out for vengeance.

The booth owner loaded her gun, then promptly stepped three paces back, reminding her, “Miss, please aim at the balloons, not at people!”