When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 2213

Inside, the air rang with electronic jingles and triumphant shouts. Everyone scattered to chase their own brand of fun. Madeline spotted an impossibly cute plush toy trapped inside a claw-crane machine and vowed to win it for Amelia. Vivian stationed herself beside her, cheering every drop of the claw, while Lucille wandered off to the fishing game, eyes gleaming with competitive fire.

Calvin and Cecilia drifted through the place, their shoulders almost touching. "So, what do you feel like playing?" Calvin asked, tilting his head toward the riot of blinking machines.

Cecilia scanned the options, then pointed at a row of coin-pusher machines. "That one," she decided, the lights reflecting in her eyes.

Luck granted them two open seats. Calvin slid onto the stool beside her and fed the slot with their first shining token.

The coin-pusher was simple. One token nudges the stacked tokens inside; whatever tumbles over the edge becomes the player's.

Of course, the house usually kept most of its treasure; arcades were built never to bleed.

Cecilia leaned forward, wholly absorbed, talking strategy with Calvin between presses of the button.

Calvin answered absently. Games bored him tonight; conversation with Cecilia did not.

After so long apart, he realized she had not changed at all.

Time slipped by in bright, rhythmic pulses of music and clattering metal.

An entire shelf of tokens broke loose and cascaded like silver rain.

Startled, Cecilia whipped toward Calvin, eyes wide. "Did you just drop the whole pile?" she gasped.

She could hardly believe it; she had never witnessed such a jackpot.

"Uh-huh," Calvin said with a modest nod. "Guess the owner forgot to tighten the settings."

Cecilia stared at him with open admiration. "I remember when we were kids—you were already a wizard at this game."

Back then, Calvin had been an orphan, no one to lean on.

Cecilia once slipped him a single coin. He bought tokens and camped at the pusher.

When he amassed a mountain, he sold the extra tokens to other kids for pocket change.

With the earnings, he treated Cecilia to candy and steaming meat pies.

"I can't believe you still remember that," Calvin murmured, a hint of nostalgia softening his voice.

Cecilia laughed, light and clear. "Of course I do—how could I possibly forget something like that?"

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