Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"HEY, SWEETHEART," Odelia called out playfully to the girl inside the machine, her smile warm despite the late hour. The girl, her tiny arms wrapped tightly around her stuffed animal, waved back from behind the glass. Odelia laughed. "How'd you get in there?"
The girl shrugged as if climbing into the arcade machine had been the most natural thing in the world. Buck chuckled as he pulled out the necessary tools.
"We're gonna take you out if that's ok with you," he said with a soft wave, his voice light with humour.
They each grabbed a drill, making quick work of unscrewing the bolts that held the machine together. The girl's mother, a little frazzled, stood nearby in disbelief. "I can't believe they didn't have a key for that," she muttered, watching as her daughter reached for Odelia the moment the glass was off.
Buck feigned an offended look, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "Oh, so you're gonna pick her over me? I'm hurt," he teased, but his grin betrayed him.
Odelia laughed, lifting the girl into her arms as she studied the loose strands of Odelia's hair that had slipped free from her bun. "It's alright," she said softly to the mother, handing the girl back once she was safe. "One of those nights, you know?"
The mother nodded, clearly relieved. "Thank you both so much."
"Oh, and..." Buck reached into the still-open arcade machine, pulling out a small stuffed cow. "Here's your Moo Moo." He handed the toy over to the girl, who giggled as she hugged it tightly.
Odelia smiled at the sweet exchange before the two of them started walking back to the truck, their footsteps echoing in the quiet of the nearly empty street. The city felt alive tonight, a constant hum of movement even though it was late. The full moon's glow washed everything in a pale light, making the night feel even more surreal. Buck looked up at it and shook his head slightly.
"You know what they say," he started, his voice casual as they strolled down the sidewalk, "full moon brings out the freaks."
Odelia raised an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look. "Oh, come on, you don't actually believe that, do you?"
Buck smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets as they approached the truck. "Oh, I believe it. Every full moon, things get weird—more accidents, more people doing dumb stuff. Like tonight. I mean, a kid stuck in a crane machine? If that's not some full moon nonsense, I don't know what is."
Odelia chuckled. "That's just coincidence, Buck. People are always weird, moon or no moon."
Buck shrugged, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Maybe. But I'm telling you, the full moon brings out a different kind of crazy."
As they neared the truck, Buck glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Speaking of crazy..." He paused, clearly mulling something over. "What do you think about Valentine?"
