He bent to pick it up, getting his fingers stuck in a glob of cotton candy blowing down the walkway.
Sierra called out, “Please, that’s—”
Before she could finish her sentence, a heavyset boy wearing a neon-yellow shirt and a backward ball cap walked right in front of her, oblivious to the entire commotion. Sierra knocked into the boy, sending him sprawling and throwing her off balance. She spun and crashed into the tall man, now trying to pick up her errant charm.
He toppled into a plant pot, built to support a ten-foot pine, but as he fell, he managed to wrap his long arms around Sierra to cushion her landing.
A loud crack and a few surprised expletives later, Sierra opened her eyes to find several passersby gawking, yet unwilling to help.
Sierra saw the man rubbing his back and grim
