Key to My Heart: An Anthology of Sweet Romance

by Alice La Roux

  When I look over my shoulder, he steps back so we aren't touching. “Want to play some air hockey?” I ask, trying to change the subject and let my cheeks cool from all this flirting.

  “You got it Hettie, best of three. Loser buys the candy floss.” He winks as he rounds the table to the other end, the look sending my heart into overdrive.

  Stupid teenage hormones and stupid sensitive, good looking boy.

  Chapter Four

  Jaimie groans as I sink another puck into his goal. “Best out of five?” he begs, turning on the puppy dog eyes and pout.

  Rolling my eyes, I can't help the smile that still splits my face. Everything about this guy is adorable. Though I don’t think he would appreciate me telling him that. “Fine, but you are still losing!” I taunt, lining up my striker for my shot.

  He grabs the puck, throws it in the middle, and reloads the machine. “You are going down, Hettie!” he declares loudly, while pointing into the air, making the other people close by look at us.

  “Big talk for a guy who fell over trying to defend his goal,” I tease and he laughs, throwing his head back.

  “Vik, you hear this? You going to let her get away with talking smack to your big brother?” He places a palm over his heart, looking to the left where Vik was sitting, watching us—cheering for me, I might add. She told me her brother needed to be taken down a notch and I was happy to oblige.

  When I look over, my smile disappears and my eyes search the empty floor where she was.

  “Vik?” Jaimie calls.

  “Vikkie?” I shout, but when no one answers I look back at Jaimie to see the worry on his face as he clenches the striker in his hand. Dropping mine to the surface of the table I step back.

  “Come on, she must have wandered away to play another game. I’ll help you find her,” I reply cheerfully, trying to not let him see how worried I am.

  He nods robotically, dropping his striker to the surface and rounding the table to stand by my side. “You take that way? I’ll take this? Meet back in the middle, yell if you find her?” he asks, running his hands through his hair nervously, his eyes moving around, constantly searching for her.

  “Sure. Hey, Jaimie, she's going to be fine,” I reassure him, reaching out and grabbing his arm like he did me.

  He blows out a breath and nods, offering me a weak smile. “Thanks, Hettie.”

  I smile back before turning away to the left and start my search for Vikkie, worry winding through my chest.

  Where did she go?

  My search turned up empty, I even asked the other people in the arcade but apart from a pimply lanky boy who mumbled that he saw a kid with pig tails leave the arcade by herself, I don’t know where Vikkie went.

  My palms are sweating and I’m almost beating myself up for not looking after her better, I can’t imagine how Jaimie is coping. Jogging through the busy arcade I head back to the air hockey table to see a pacing Jaimie, with a guilty, worried look etched on his face. I slow my jog as disappointment races through me—he didn't find her either.

  He must hear me coming because he turns to me with a hopeful expression, when he searches my face, his falls. “No luck?” he grits out, his hands balled into fists at his side.

  “No, sorry.” Shaking my head, I step closer. “One guy said he saw her leave by herself though. So we can go search outside?”

  He nods and we leave side by side, both of our eyes searching the crowd outside the arcade. When we step out, I shiver at the cold air. The sun set while we were inside and so the temperature has dropped, crossing my arms under my breasts I keep my eyes peeled, searching for her.

  “Here.” I turn at Jaimie's voice to see him holding out his black bomber jacket.

  “No, I’m fine—”

  “Hush, Hettie. Can’t have you freezing. Come on.”

  Reluctantly I slip into the jacket, my phone almost dropping from my chest. Jaimie grabs it for me and holds it, while I slip my arms in and zip it up. When I’m done he has a weird look on his face, but when he holds my lit up phone out to me I dismiss it.

  “Thanks,” I reply.

  “Come on, let’s go find my sister.” He takes my hand, twining our fingers together and tugs me along after him.

  I look around as we walk, but my eyes keep going back to our joined hands. I catch him looking at me every now and again, and every time he turns away quickly, but not before I see a smile on his face. When I ask him why we are holding hands, he smirks at me and tells me he can’t let me wander off because then he would have to search for both of us.

  We walk nearly all around the fair with no sign of Vikkie. Worry is cresting between us both when a pudgy vendor shoves a stuffed unicorn at us. Stumbling back, Jaimie pulls me to his side.

  “Why not win your girl a toy?” he yells, and I spot the can game behind him.

  “Sorry, we don’t have time,” I say politely, throwing the sad looking unicorn one last look as we walk away.

  I hope you are okay Vik, you have to be.

  Looking over at Jaimie, I know it would kill him if something had happened to his sister, but even over the worry and guilt in my chest for stopping for a second, I have a reassuring feeling in my stomach, one that is telling me everything will be okay. I just hope it's right.

  Chapter Five

  We circle the fair again, our search speeding up the later and later it gets. It has to have been an hour since we last saw Vikkie. We even branch off and start asking fair workers. They all shake their head, but they radio in over the walkies to keep an eye out for her. The guard at the gate reports back that he hasn't seen a kid leave, alone or with anyone, so she has to be here. Somewhere.

  I let go of Jaimie's hand. “Let’s check the fun house, maybe she went inside?” I offer desperately. He nods and the ride attendant lets us in for free after hearing why.

  I stick close to Jaimie, our arms brushing as creepy monsters and faces stare back at us as we walk through the house.

  “Vik?” he yells, it echoes eerily.

  “Vikkie?” I shout, and then huddle closer when mocking laughter sounds from behind us.

  I scream, all high-pitched and girly, when a body drops from the ceiling, pushing me into Jaimie. He catches me and holds me against his chest, my heart racing so loud he has to hear it.

  “Hettie, Hettie, Daisy!” he yells, cupping my cheeks and raising my face until I look at him. “It was just a fake mummy,” he tells me, and when I look over my cheeks heat at the obviously fake mummy.

  “Sorry,” I mutter and he laughs.

  “Come on Hettie, let’s get you out of here before I have to carry you out like a monkey.”

  Sticking my tongue out at him, I follow behind as he leads us back into the fair.

  With a sigh, I look over at him. “Where could she be? Did she mention wanting to go anywhere to you?” I ask, grasping at straws.

  “No, nothing,” he replies, frustration clear in his tone as he leads me away from the house and closer to the arcade where we started.

  We stare at each other, both lost on what to do next.

  “I better call my mum, maybe even the police?” he ponders, his face lost.

  “Jem?” comes a distressed call, interrupting him dialing.

  We both spot her at the same time and we rush to her side. She is standing just inside of the arcade, clutching her arms and staring at us, sniffing hard. Jaimie grabs her and tugs her into a hug, I spot his back shaking and I drop a hand on his shoulder. After a couple of minutes he pulls back enough so that we can both see her.

  “I only went to the bathroom, Jem, I swear. I thought I would be back before you noticed, but when I came back you were gone and I couldn't find you!” she rushes out, her eyes red-rimmed.

  “Hey, it’s fine! You had me worried is all, I’m just glad I found you,” he replies, tugging on her pig tail and making her smile slowly.

  He stands back up, keeping one of her hands and turns to me. “Thank you Hettie, for everything,” he
says seriously.

  Pulling his jacket closer I nod, before throwing Vikkie a relieved smile. “It’s fine, I’m just happy we found her like you said.”

  She smiles up at me and he looks around before grabbing my hand again.

  “Jaimie?” I asked, confused as he pulls me through the fair and back to the game the guy approached us about earlier.

  “I see you’re back and with another girl, tell you what. You knock down two and I will give you two prizes.” The man laughs and I shake my head, pulling away from Jaimie, but when I go to walk away Jamie tugs on my hand.

  “It will take two seconds, a sorry for ruining your night.” He smiles.

  “Jaimie—”

  He pulls me closer, into his arms, and looks down at me with pleading eyes. The lights of the fairground illuminate the gold specs there, making me almost dizzy. “Please Hettie, I can take out some of my frustrations at least,” he jokes.

  “I do like the unicorn,” I joke.

  Laughter tumbles out of his mouth, almost reluctantly. “Done.” He turns to the guy, letting go of me, and pulls some money from his jeans pockets. The guys grins and hands over a ball. Vikkie wanders to my side and grabs my hand. They are both touchy feely but I like it, so I smile down at her and then turn my eyes back to her brother.

  “Gotta hit down all three stacks for a big one, two for the unicorn and another prize, or one for a key ring,” the man explains, bored now that we have paid. He moves back and Jaimie steps up to the wooden bench. Aiming, he stares at the stacks of tin cans intently before pulling back his arm and letting loose the ball.

  It hits the centre of the middle stack, sending them all tumbling down. The guy grumbles and passes over another ball. I squeal, clapping, and Jaimie smirks over at me before turning back around and aiming again.

  He only manages to clip the top can this time, sending two tumbling down.

  “One more go,” the game master calls, handing over the last ball.

  Jaimie aims again and throws, sending all of the cans tumbling to the floor.

  “Congratulations. Here is your prize,” the man grumbles, handing over two unicorns before turning around and stacking up the cans.

  Jaimie turns to me, holding one of the stuffed animals out. “There, just like I promised you, Hettie.”

  I grin, taking the unicorn and holding it to my chest.

  “What? No hug? No even a thank you?” he jokes, making me roll my eyes.

  Stepping closer, I let go of Vikkie’s hand and place my palm on his chest, and raise up on my tip toes. “Thank you,” I whisper before dropping a chaste kiss on his cheek and stepping back quickly.

  Vikkie giggles behind us, making me smile. He grins at me, a full wide one, his eyes dancing. “Well damn, I can win you a thousand for that!” He turns back to the game, making me laugh and grab his arm.

  He winks at me before turning to Vikkie. “Here Vik, I can’t forget you, can I?” He passes her a unicorn and her little face lights up. All signs of sadness gone as she clutches it to her chest, looking at Jaimie like he’s her hero. He turns back to me and his smile drops when he looks at my face.

  “What?” he questions, confused.

  Shaking my head I force a smile. “Nothing, you are just an amazing brother,” I point out.

  He laughs as Vikkie grabs his hand again. “I better get her home, it's late and I don’t want the terror wandering off again. Rain check on the cotton candy though? Maybe we could do a movie?” he suggests, shifting nervously and making me grin.

  “Why Jaimie, are you asking me out?” I tease.

  Vikkie giggles. “Yeah Jem, that was terrible.”

  He looks down at her with a pained expression before looking back at me. “Movie, Hettie, you in or you out?” he grunts, embarrassed.

  “I’m in,” I reply with a large grin.

  “Good, I’ll text you!” he shouts, backing away while still smiling at me.

  “How?” I ask.

  “I programmed my number into your phone. Seriously, who doesn’t have a passcode?” he replies with a wink, before turning away and leaving me with his jacket. I go to shout after him about it, but he is already gone.

  The crowd is thinning and it must be really late, so I head back through the groups of people, clutching the jacket and unicorn to my chest. I find myself smiling all the way home, playing with the unicorn on the bus.

  When I get back to my dad’s, the lights are on and the door is unlocked. I slip inside and kick off my shoes, pushing my back to the door as I grin down at the stuffed toy.

  “Daisy Bug? That you? Did you have fun?” my dad shouts from somewhere upstairs.

  “Yeah,” I whisper, before clearing my throat. “Yes, I had fun!” I shout louder, just as my phone buzzes in my borrowed jacket.

  Pulling it from the pocket I laugh at the name on the screen, ‘Future Boyfriend.’ Swiping to open the text, I giggle like a little girl at his text.

  I’m glad I met you Daisy Hettie.

  I hover over the keyboard, grinning at my phone when another text comes through.

  You can keep my jacket until the movie, I’m holding you to it Hettie and I want a rematch.

  Laughing, I type back.

  I’m glad I met you too, you are welcome to try, but I’m the undefeated champ.

  I hear thumping as my dad comes down the stairs and I quickly type out another message.

  Gotta go, ttyl :)

  He replies straight away.

  Night Hettie, don’t worry, I won't tell everyone you will be dreaming about me tonight.

  Shaking my head, I pocket the phone and look up, spotting my dad leaning against the stair bannister. “Uh oh, I know that smile. Your mum used to get it when she was around me, which boy do I need to threaten?”

  Laughing, I push away from the door and start down the hallway to the kitchen. “None, but maybe you could tell me more about how you met Mum?” I suggest with my back to him.

  “Course Daisy Bug, I’ll cook, you can wash up.”

  Maybe this year won’t be as bad as I thought. Watching my dad bustle around the kitchen, his overalls tied around his waist, I smile sadly. I lost one parent, but I gained another back. I still miss my mum, every single day, and I wish I could tell her about Jamie and Vikkie, but I know wherever she is, she is watching over me.

  Maybe what they say is true, one door closes so another can open. My old life is just that, old, it’s time for a fresh start like my dad said. One life changing moment took my mother from me and another brought me my future.

  No more alone.

  My phone buzzes again, reminding me of that fact.

  Ignoring it for the moment, I step up next to my dad as he starts in on the story of how he met my mother. I hear the love in his voice and for once I don’t cry or turn away at the mention of her. I guess I’m healing.

  Who knew one summer fair could be so life changing?

  I didn’t.

  Chapter One

  Hallie

  “Come on, Hallie. You’re no fun anymore. Show that douchebag that you can live without him. Life goes on. Let’s have some fun in the sun. You never know, it might just spell out lurve.” Sally, my best friend, nudges my arm.

  I wish I could just pack a case and fly off to somewhere beautiful, but the last few months have been hellish. When I caught my fiancé sleeping with my chief bridesmaid in the back room of the church where we were rehearsing for our wedding, everything changed for me, and I had to revaluate every little detail of my life. I didn’t want to be the gullible woman my friends and family expected from me. I walked out of that church with my head held high. It was only when I was behind closed doors that I let the tears fall. After that day, I pulled up my big girl panties and faced my life. Single and free to do what I wanted, and that included working around the clock for a financial firm I’ve been with for three years since I left university.

  “We’re not kids anymore, Sal. We have a life, work, bills to pay. I can’t ju
st swan off to God knows where.”

  “And who’s saying that? You have two weeks annual leave. What are you going to do? Sit and twiddle your thumbs?”

  “Actually, I planned on relaxing with a good book or two. No accounts or numbers in sight. That’s about as exciting as my life is right now.” I down my glass of wine with frustration.

  I know she means well, but really, I know I’m a bore. She could do much better, but she still sticks by my side.

  “Only you can change your life. Do you think Adam is sitting around his new fancy house living a mediocre life?”

  I shrug. I know he isn’t. He’s still on my Facebook friends’ list, and I see his pictures from fancy holidays. I’m sure he does it just to annoy me. It’s just to rub more salt in my very open wounds.

  “Look, I’m not going to let this go. We haven’t had a girls’ holiday in years. I’m sick of the Scottish weather. My milk-bottle skin needs some sun. What do you say? One week in Tenerife? Please say yes. It will shut me up.”

  “Eurgh!” I sigh and bang my glass down on the coffee table. “Okay. You win. Book the damn holiday.”

  Sally launches herself into my arms and hugs me tightly. She’s been my best friend since we started nursery school together. She’s the sister I never had. I love her dearly, but she’s one of those friends that just doesn’t stop going on and on. I’m as well giving in just for the peaceful life.

  Chapter Two

  Hallie

  The plane touches down in Tenerife and I can’t help but smile. I know I didn’t want to come on holiday, but maybe some sun, sea, and sangria will do me the world of good. I stand up from my seat and retrieve my hand luggage from the overhead storage. Sally is practically bouncing like a hyper child. I wish I had some of her enthusiasm.