fingered on an empty Ferris wheel for anyone to see. By a boy I don’t even know. And it was awesome.”
I chuckle, nuzzling her and tugging my fingers from her jeans, eliciting a sucked-in breath.
“You’re goddamn beautiful when you come.”
Our used lips meet in a soft kiss once more as she twists in my lap, laying her legs together on the seat. I cradle her, kissing her softly, tasting the ice cream still on her tongue. And that’s when I know that this won’t be the last time I kiss her. I won’t let it be.
“Tell me what I can have?” she whispers against my lips, using my own words.
I grin, about to answer when a spotlight passes over us. What the hell?
“Hey. Who’s up there?”
Her eyes spring open, and I smile into her lips, letting out a “shh.”
“Oh shit,” she mouths back, but we don’t move.
A bright light catches our forms as the voice from below yells, “What are you kids doing? You can’t be up there.”
She starts to laugh, and I join in, as she buries her face in my neck. It’s crazy, but this is the most fun I’ve had in forever, even though we’re officially caught.
“Nobody’s up here. It’s all a dream,” I yell out, making her laugh harder.
A loud hum surrounds us as the lights on the machine flicker, and music comes to life. Well, shit.
“Jig’s up, darlin’,” I laugh, hurriedly zipping and buttoning her jeans.
The cart rocks as we ride to the top, and she moves to straddle me. Our eyes lock right as we hit the highest point, and she doesn’t have to say anything. I feel it too.
I lean in, kissing her, wishing I could do it forever. And my stomach sinks. Maybe from the ride or probably because I know she may not let me. We head back down to the end of this ride and this night. And the end of Scarlett and Jackson. My hands find her waist, and I lean forward, gently placing her in the spot across from me.
She frowns, scrunching her nose.
“You got on a lady, and you’ll leave like one too, baby. Tuck in your shirt.”
Her eyes shine from her smile, never leaving mine, until we hit the bottom.
Two grave expressions, one in a police uniform and the other holding a flashlight, stand there staring at us. The small door to the cart opens for us to exit, so I take her hand and kiss the top, guiding her out first before I exit.
Her big blue eyes look up at me, and I wink as I throw my arm over her shoulder.
“Good evening, gentlemen. I know this looks terrible, but I’m a boy in love—hear me out.”
Holt
“Momma, I’m snagging the car. I’ll be back later.”
I hightail out of the house before she can ask me which car because I’m taking my dad’s vintage Ford truck. I love this car—cherry red with white-walled tires and fully restored bucket seats. Jackson and I spent a whole summer working on it with our dad. It was by far one of the most rewarding experiences we’d ever had.
The screen door swings open, and my mom pops out onto the wraparound porch.
“Where do you think you’re going? Did you take the trash out like I asked, Holt?”
I sigh, dropping my head. “I’ll be back in an hour, Momma. I’ll take it out then. Plus, don’t we have people to do that?”
She’s going to kill me for that one.
“I have people. And one of those people is you. The other one is still in New York. Now do it before I get mad and decide you’d be better off staying home than going out with pretty little Miss Savannah tonight.”
I can’t help but grin because she knows what motivates me all too well. “Yes, ma’am.”
Trudging around the back of the garage, I grab the large plastic bags, hearing the horses neigh from the stalls off in the distance. My parents have always forced us to carry our weight. Pops always says, “I may be wealthier than the devil, but you’re broke as sin.”
Slinging the black bags over my shoulders, I carry them to the large containers that stand already opened. Wiping my hands on my jeans once I finish, I rush to the truck, jumping in and backing out, before anyone can give me another chore. I swivel the wheel to take the long drive that leads away from our home, letting my arm half hang out of the window.
We live