Built For Her

Mainly that she should start trying to have a baby.

Chapter 17

Barrett

I never thought a trip to the hardware store could be so much fun. But seeing Genevieve’s eyes light up and being able to get her exactly what she wants warms me up inside. We went up and down the aisles talking about projects and ideas she has for the future. Our future. I wasn’t joking when I said I was going to take her by the courthouse, but I have a feeling my own sisters would skin me alive if they couldn’t be there, too.

I paid for everything, even though she tried to offer to share some of the costs. I shook my head and she finally let me without too much of an incident. We had what we ordered scheduled to deliver to the house and before long it was all going to come together. I was going to give her the house of her dreams because it was going to be my dream, too. Being with her and making a family in our home is what I’ve been waiting on.

Time always flies by when we’re together, so before I knew it, the sun was setting and we were on the way to the fair.

“My sister texted me. She’s by the front entrance waiting on us,” Genevieve says as we park the truck and I get out to help her down.

“You ready to eat some fried foods and see the county’s biggest pig?” I ask, taking her hand in mine as we walk towards the gates.

“God, I love fair food. Everything is so bad for you.” There’s a dreamy sigh in her voice.

“Just get those arms ready to hold some stuffed animals. I plan on winning you all of them.”

“Don’t tease me,” she says, laughing with excitement. “I want at least a dozen.”

“Your wish is my command.”

We meet Gabi and Neal at the front and then go in together. I put down a stack of cash and get a pile of tickets in return. I plan on my lady having the most fun ever tonight and getting to do whatever she wants.

She bounces on her toes as I take her hand and we head for the funnel cakes.

“Step right up!” a man shouts after we’ve gotten our fried dough, and Genevieve points with a powder-covered finger.

“Oh, I want that one!” There’s a gigantic fluffy unicorn hanging beside the game, and I nod.

“I’m on it, lady.”

We walk over, and the guy explains how it works. You take an oversized hammer and slam it down on a lever. If you hit it with enough force and ring the bell, you win the prize.

“Easy enough,” I say, and the guy nods in agreement.

“A big man like you? No problem,” he says and hands me a hammer.

It’s not heavy at all, but Genevieve, Gabi, and Neal back up as I get into position.

I wink at Genevieve before I heft the hammer up over my head and bring it down hard on the lever. To my surprise, the thing hardly moves. I look back to the group, who look just as puzzled as I do.

“What the…?”

“You’ve got two more chances, young man,” the carnival attendant says. “Put your back into it. It’s not that hard.”

This time I grip the hammer harder and bring it over my head, using all my might to bring it straight down.

“What the hell?” I say in shock as once again the weight moves only about a foot off the ground, displaying the word wimpy across the top.

By this time a few more people start to gather around and are watching me.

“You got it, baby!” Genevieve shouts around a mouthful of funnel cake.

I look at Neal and Gabi, who are fighting a smile. Neal shrugs at me, like he has no clue.

“Last try, last try!” the carnival worker calls out, and I begin to eye him suspiciously. This game can’t be fair.

I take a breath before I grip the hammer and bring it up and down one more time, this one as hard as I possibly can. The bottom nearly splits in two, but still the weight hardly moves.

“This is rigged,” I say, holding out the hammer as the carnival worker comes over. “This can’t be right.”

“Sorry, sir. Perhaps you’d like your lady to win you a prize?” He takes the hammer from me and holds it out to Genevieve.

“If I can’t do it, how is she supposed to?” As the words come out of my mouth, Genevieve races over and shoves her funnel cake into my hands and takes the hammer.

“I’ve always wanted to do this one.”

She grips it tight, and I barely have time to get out of the way before she swings the hammer up and slams it back down. This time when the hammer connects, the puck shoots all the way up to the top, the bell rings, and a siren goes off shouting, “winner!”