The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

sarcastically, peering down an aisle. “How about loser has to buy drinks the next time we’re out.”
     
    “Sounds like a plan to me.” Seth joins us, untying the scarf and tossing it aside on the shelf. “I say we do this.”
     
    Kayden and Luke raise their hands above my head to high-five each other and then aim their palms at me. I gently tap my palms against theirs and Kayden laughs at me as my arms fall to my sides.
     
    “What’s so funny?” I wonder, but he just shakes his head.
     
    “Alright, so here are the rules.” Luke marches back and forth in front of us like he’s a director. “The rules are that there are none except to be the first one up to the checkout stand with four flashlights and a can of paint. Last one up there is a loser.”
     
    I try not to laugh. Is this what people do to have fun?
     
    Luke stops walking and his eyes darken. “Ready, set, go.” He says it quickly and then sprints off down the main aisle, his boots skidding against the linoleum before any of us can react.
     
    Seth skitters down one of the side aisles and Kayden dashes down the one to my right. I’m left standing in the main aisle alone. I begin to walk up it, swinging my arms and reading the signs above each row.
     
    When I reach the third one, Kayden crosses the other end and then backs up, smiling at me.
     
    “You’re not trying very hard,” he says. “In fact, it looks like you’re not trying at all.”
     
    I point above my head at the aisle number sign with the list of items. “I’m trying for a different approach other than running around looking like a lunatic.”
     
    He faces me and cups his hands unnecessarily around his mouth. “Now what’s the fun in that?”
     
    I giggle. “I don’t know.”
     
    He moves his hand to his ear. “Huh? I can’t hear you. You’re going to have to speak up.”
     
    Feeling silly, I cup my hands around my mouth. “I said, I don’t know.”
     
    He lowers his hands, still smiling. “Come on. You run down that side and I’ll run down this one. Let’s see who can beat the other one to the end.”
     
    I shake my head. “No way. You’ll win. You’re the football player. You run around all the time.”
     
    He considers what I said and then snatches a roll of paper towels off the shelf. “I throw more than I run.” He backs up, raises the paper towel roll over his shoulder, and then flings it in my direction. It spins through the air right for me.
     
    I stick out my arms and catch it effortlessly. His arms drop to his side as he gapes at me. “Well, someone has a hidden talent.”
     
    I lift the paper towel roll over my shoulder and throw it back at him. “My dad is a coach.” He catches it and slants his head, looking at me with interest as I continue, “I started playing catch with him and my brother when I was like three.”
     
    Keeping his eyes on me, he returns the roll of paper towels to the shelf. “Alright, let’s see how you can run.” He darts to the side and disappears behind the shelf.
     
    I sidestep, moving to the next aisle, where he’s waiting at the other end. Before I can say anything, he hurries out of my view again and I take a couple of rushed steps until I’m at the end of the next aisle. He’s not there, so I practically run to the next one, catching him right as he’s taking off again. I start running as laughter escapes my lips. Every time I reach the end of the aisle, he’s vanishing to the other side. Finally, I spot the paint aisle and make a hurried turn down it, just as Kayden appears at the other end.
     
    We both stop and glance at the spray paint on the bottom row in the middle of the aisle.
     
    “Seems like we’ve run into a bit of a problem,” he says a little winded as he meets my eyes.
     
    My gaze skims back and forth between him and the paint, and then I sprint off toward the paint. His shoes squeak against the floor as he runs down the aisle. We arrive at the section at the same time and crash into the shelf, inadvertently knocking off a bunch of cans. I laugh as my feet stumble over the cans rolling over the floor and grab onto the shelf as I lose my balance.
     
    “No way.” Kayden’s long fingers wrap around my wrist as he pulls my hand away. “You’re so not winning this.”
     
    I reach toward the shelf, but he captures my hand and pulls me toward him. I twist my arms trying to get away without laughing and my foot stomps down on the floor. There’s a hiss as green paint