Chapter 255 | The Twins

Chapter 255: 255 | The Twins

Lyra thought passed two seconds and Dexter could practically see the calculations happening behind her eyes. He quickly turned away before she could produce a shopping list.

"What about you two?"

Selene hesitated.

Dexter noticed immediately. "You don’t know what you want?"

Selene shook her head. "I haven’t been to somewhere like this in a long time."

Dexter’s expression softened. "Then I’ll pick something for you."

Selene tilted her head toward him. "Something good?"

"Have a little faith in me."

"I’ll try."

Dexter placed a hand against his chest. "That sounded unnecessarily cruel."

A faint smile appeared on Selene’s face.

Dexter turned toward Mira. "And you?"

Mira didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze wandered toward the stalls in the distance. Then she said simply, "Ice cream."

Dexter blinked. That wasn’t what he’d expected from her.

"Ice cream?"

Mira looked at him. "Is there a problem?"

"No. I suppose it’s appropriate. With your fiery temper, you’d need something to cool you down."

Dexter suppressed a smile.

Mira immediately glared at him.

Immediately, Lyra’s voice invaded his mind. ’I want ice cream too.’

Dexter turned. "You just asked for candy."

Lyra nodded. ’And ice cream.’

"Candy and ice cream?"

Another nod.

Dexter stared at her. Lyra stared back.

He surrendered. "Fine."

Lyra’s face lit up.

"But not too much."

Her smile faded slightly.

"Don’t look at me like that. We’re still eating later."

Dexter stood and brushed the grass from his clothes.

"I’ll go get everything."

He had only taken two steps when he stopped.

Something occurred to him and he turned around.

Mira seeing this raised an eyebrow.l as though asking ’What now?’

Dexter glared at her. "I didn’t even say anything."

"You were about to."

Mira’s lips twitched.

Dexter ignored her. "Actually, why don’t you three come with me?"

Lyra immediately perked up and Selene looked interested too.

But Mira’s reaction was the most amusing. For just a second, her crimson eyes lit up but then she apparently realized Dexter was looking at her and her expression instantly became indifferent.

"If you want."

Dexter smiled. "You’re terrible at pretending you don’t want to go."

Mira slowly looked back at him and showed her cute fist.

"See? That’s much more natural."

"Dexter."

He laughed. "All right. We’re all going."

He walked toward Mira. "Let’s see whether this place is actually as fun as it looks."

Dexter carefully lifted her from the mat and returned her to the wheelchair, making sure she was positioned comfortably before securing her.

Lyra already stood up with excitement in her eyes and Selene stood beside her.

Dexter moved behind Mira’s wheelchair.

"First stop, ice cream and candy."

He started pushing. "But after that..."

His gaze traveled toward the attractions. "What do you girls want to try first?"

Three answers came almost simultaneously.

"Roller coaster," Mira said.

"Laser tag," Selene answered.

’Haunted house,’ Lyra’s voice sounded inside their minds.

Dexter blinked his eyes and immediately stopped walking.

The three women paused as they looked at one another and for a second, nobody spoke.

Suddenly Mira smiled Selene chuckled and lyra silently laughed.

Dexter looked between them. "Three women. Three completely different answers."

"Then choose one," Mira said.

"Absolutely not. I’m not walking into that trap."

Mira raised an eyebrow. "What trap?"

"If I choose one of you, the other two will remember it forever."

Selene actually laughed. "You’re learning."

"Marriage has sharpened my survival instincts."

Dexter shook his head. "I have a better idea. Before we do any of those three, I’ll choose the first activity."

Mira looked back at him suspiciously. "What activity?"

"That’s a surprise."

"I don’t like surprises."

"That’s unfortunate."

Dexter pushed her forward. "But first, snacks."

---

They soon reached the candy and ice cream shop.

Unsurprisingly, it was busy.

The store itself was brightly decorated, with colorful displays filling its windows. Through the glass, Dexter could see rows upon rows of sweets, chocolates, pastries, frozen desserts and much more.

Lyra’s eyes lit up like she just saw Santa.

Dexter looked at her and her eyes were enormous.

He sighed. "We’re going to be here for a while, aren’t we?"

Lyra nodded enthusiastically.

"Wonderful."

There was already a queue, so Dexter guided the group toward the back.

Several people noticed them. Dexter expected the same whispering that had followed them earlier.

There were a few glances and a few curious looks. But surprisingly, that was all. Once the initial curiosity faded, everyone returned to enjoying themselves.

A group nearby laughed loudly over drinks. Two women were arguing playfully about which ice cream flavor was better. Several children pressed their faces against the shop window while their parents tried unsuccessfully to pull them away. Music drifted faintly across the garden.

Dexter relaxed.

"Much better."

Mira heard him. "What is?"

"People aren’t staring anymore."

"Disappointed?"

Dexter looked down at her. "Extremely. My fame lasted twenty minutes."

"Tragic."

"I’ll recover."

Two families stood between them and the counter.

Then Dexter noticed someone familiar.

Or rather, two very small someones.

The twins from the parking lot. Their parents were standing two places ahead. The father was speaking to his wife while the twins were playing.

"Stop."

"You stop."

"You pushed me!"

"No, you pushed me!"

Their mother turned around. "Both of you behave."

Instant innocence. The twins immediately stood straight.

Their mother turned away.

Three seconds had barely passed when the war resumed.

Dexter watched with growing amusement.

Mira noticed where he was looking. "Your admirers."

"Please don’t call them that."

One twin dodged his brother’s hand and stumbled sideways out of the queue. He caught himself before falling. Then he looked up.

His eyes landed directly on Dexter.

The boy froze and Dexter too froze.

Recognition exploded across the child’s face as he spoke.

"Dexter!"

Instantly, half the queue turned.

Dexter closed his eyes. "So much for my fame dying."

The second twin heard his brother and immediately spun around and his face lit up too.

"It’s Dexter!"

Their parents went completely still and, very slowly, their mother turned around. Her eyes landed on Dexter. She sighed in exhaustion.

The first twin was already running toward him. "Dexter!"

His brother followed. "Dexter!"

Their father reached out too late. "Wait!"

Both children raced past the people in line and stopped directly in front of Dexter. They looked up at him with enormous, excited eyes.

Dexter stared down at them and forced a smile.

"...Hello again."

Both boys immediately grinned.

Lyra was already silently laughing and Mira looked far too entertained. Even Selene had picked up on what was happening from the voices around her.

The first twin opened his mouth.

Their mother hurried toward them. "I’m so sorry!"

She reached for her son but the boy ducked.

"I just want to ask him something!"

"No, you don’t."

"Yes, I do!"

His brother nodded furiously. "We both do!"

Dexter suddenly had a very bad feeling.

Their mother looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her.

Lyra eyes glittered with amusement.

"Well, Dexter, your fans have returned."

Dexter sighed. "I preferred the staring."