set pieces and severed head props that were clearly earlier versions of the Wacky Shack’s glory. Then, once we’d passed those and opened a sliding door, we found ourselves in the hall of mirrors that we’d only glimpsed last time we’d been here. Unlike the rest of Joyland, the mirrors were in pristine condition, probably because most people came through the front of the ride and were deterred by the idea of wading through the ball pit. Mirrors lined either side of a narrow hall, creating a small maze for us to wander through. As we walked forward, some of the mirrors were normal and some were twisted.
We walked by a mirror that made my lower half apple shaped.
“Oh, your ass looks good, girl!” Zavier exaggerated his tone and then gave a long whistle. I gave a little twerk, falling into a silly mood with him and we danced in front of that mirror for a second before heading around a corner to another mirror that stretched us thin, our heads tiny pinpricks on top of our shoulders.
“I think this one is an accurate presentation of your mental faculties,” I told Z as I swiveled my body around in the mirror and watched it distort further, my arm becoming as thick as Andros’.
“I think my mental faculties are gonna give your faculties detention.”
I grinned up at him as I hugged him around the waist. “That was lame.”
“What do you expect? You gave me the word ‘faculties’ to work with. Who talks like that?”
We walked around the maze, hugging each other, the smell of the burgers filling the space and making me realize just how hungry I was. A minute or so later, we came out into a circular open space that was surrounded by mirrors. We’d made it to the middle of the maze. Unlike the rest of the tiny labyrinth, these mirrors were straight and undistorted, an icosagon with twenty perfect sides. I tossed my ball of light into the middle of the room, letting the miniature sun hover there. Twenty different versions of it winked back from the mirrors, just as multiple versions of myself and Zavier did.
“Group date?” I quipped.
“Orgy,” Z snapped back.
We both snickered as he set down the food in the very center of the black wooden floor. Together, we laid out the red plaid picnic blanket. He pulled out our burgers and handed me one. And as he unwrapped his, an Anti-Conception Amulet fell out.
I laughed. “Subtle.”
He shrugged, tossing it in the bag. “Responsible.”
I didn’t have a retort for that, but eagerness gathered in the pit of my belly. Side by side we ate our dinner. Every time I tried to eat a fry, Z yelled out, “Lady and the Tramp!” And then he’d seal his lips to mine and his teeth would snap off half my french fry.
Eventually, I pushed him away, saying, “Stop stealing my dinner!” I pretended to glare.
Z gave a mock pout, the kind that was so damn cute that I just wanted to toss his burger on the ground and then squish him to death with hugs. “I’m being romantic,” he fussed.
“You’re just using it as an excuse to get more than your share of the food.”
He blew a raspberry at me. “You do not appreciate true romance, Hayley Dunemark.”
“Oh, don’t I?” I pulled his half-eaten burger from his hand and wrapped it back up, setting it back in the bag along with my own. I ignored his whines about dying of starvation and took his hands in mine. The second he saw the look on my face, his mood changed from playful to serious.
I stared up at him as my heart swelled with all the ridiculous and amazing things he made it feel. I couldn’t help the tiny shake that came into my hands at what I was about to confess. “From the moment I saw you, Z, I knew you’d be trouble because you’d distract me from my goals. And I was right.” I leaned over and stroked his hair. “You distract me all the damn time. And I couldn’t be happier about it.”
“A distraction, huh?” His words were soft and breathy. “That doesn’t sound like a good thing.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s actually the best thing. Z, you helped me realize there was more to life. It’s not just about getting stuff done … who cares if you reach your goal, but do it alone? If no one’s there to celebrate with you, is there