Sentimental Chances

Chapter 43: It's a Beautiful Sunday

Once everyone finally showed up, we told them we were heading to that bazaar Linus had talked about. They were all in before we'd even finished explaining.

So by the time we got to the bazaar, the sky had already deepened into a soft, dusky blue, and the place was alive with music, chatter, and the smell of grilled meat drifting through the air.

Colorful string lights hung overhead, glowing warmly against the growing dark. Food stalls lined both sides of the open space, and people moved between them with paper plates in their hands, laughing, talking, and stopping every few steps to take pictures or peek at the handmade crafts on display.

I blinked hard and focused on the people around me. Roy was walking beside us, hands in his pockets, taking everything in with an easy smile that didn't quite hide the fact that this night meant something to him. 

"Okay," Linus announced, pointing across the bazaar, "first stop is definitely the barbecue stand. You can smell that from here."

"You just want food," Mav chuckled.

"And?"

I laughed despite myself and let the sound carry me a little farther away from the heaviness I'd been carrying all day. Maybe that was what tonight was supposed to be about. Not forgetting. Just making room for something else, even if only for a little while.

Roy slowed beside me. "You good?"

I turned toward him and forced a smile. "Yeah. I'm good. This place is nice."

His gaze lingered on me for a second longer than I expected, like he could tell there was something underneath my answer, but then he nodded and looked ahead again.

"Good," he said. "Because if this is my last night in Barcon, I'm not wasting it standing around. I want to remember everything."

That made my chest tighten in the best and worst way at once.

Remember everything.

Topher had said the same thing in his video.

I swallowed past the sudden ache in my throat and looked up at the lights strung over the bazaar. They glowed like little stars, scattered across the night, and for a moment, I let myself believe that maybe this could be one of those nights worth holding onto forever.

Then Linus called out, "Come on! The good stuff's gonna sell out!"

Eventually, we all grabbed food from five different vendors and squeezed around one picnic table under this huge, faded umbrella. Because Mav lied for me, none of us—me, Emmy, or her—were allowed to have any alcoholic drinks.

Not that it made a huge difference. The bazaar merchants weren't even allowed to sell alcohol in the first place.

I ended up with BBQ chicken and a side of fries, and I tore into it like I hadn't eaten in weeks, just using my hands.

I didn't realize how disgusting I must've looked until Roy, who was sitting right across from me, cleared his throat. "Ahem, you've got something on your face," he said.

"Me?" I asked, already feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Yeah." He picked up a clean napkin and leaned in, gently wiping at the corner of my mouth like it was the most normal thing in the world.

My heart straight-up skipped a beat. I could feel this stupid smile tugging at my lips, and there was no way to hide it. "Thanks," I said, trying to sound casual and totally failing.

"Ahem... We're going to miss you, Roy," Emmy said, pulling a dramatic little frowny face. She was clearly trying to keep it light, but I could tell she was actually sad. "I hope you come back soon."