Chapter Fourteen – An Adventure
Judy's excitement was infectious as Nick loaded their bags into the train's luggage compartment, charming out a smile he wore all the way to the conductor. The uniformed rhino punched their tickets, handing them back with an absent nod. "Enjoy the ride," he said, already looking past them to the next couple waiting to board.
"Thank you," Nick took them cheerfully, putting them in his now good luck Hawaiian shirt's pocket. He turned and grabbed Judy's hand, helping her up the steps. "Which car?" He asked.
Her eyes shone, and she pulled him to the right. "The front."
He let her lead him down the aisle indulgently. "Because of the big window?"
"Because of the big window," she echoed, breaking into a near-sprint with a gleeful yelp, dragging him along.
Nick's face hurt from his smile, and he was glad Finnick and Clawhauser were far away, unable to see. "How many districts have you seen since you came to the city?" He spoke to her shoulder as she navigated them around a family of possums waddling to their seats, offering out a mumbled 'excuse us' as she them rushed past.
"Besides the main business district?" Her face was alight with happiness as she glanced back. "None."
Gray cheeks were rosy, and violet eyes sparkled; together, their potent cocktail made his head spin.
Nick felt honored and flattered. "If I don't annoy you too much this weekend, maybe we can visit another soon."
"Annoy?" Doors slid before them as they left their current car. "I wish I'd found you on day one here."
His tongue didn't fail him this time, and he glibly countered, "Blueberry would be in far better health."
Judy laughed. "And I'd have stockpiled a horde of duct tape by now."