Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Rome
C hrissy is eating her snow cone while I devour a bag full of cheesy french fries, more than happy to offer some to Gwen.
“Now that we have the blondies back and food, what’s next?” Zack claps his hands together while looking at each of us individually.
“Well, we were on our way to the roller coaster before a certain pair got ‘lost.’” Ash eyes Chrissy and me with a hint of knowing amusement.
Chrissy side-eyes Gwen, who is in her happy place while eating two fries at once. “You, on a roller coaster?”
“Who? Me?” Gwen asks while pointing at herself. “Ash said he would give me five bucks if I went.”
“Wait, I offered you five bucks,” Max chimes in.
Gwen smirks at Ash and Max. “Easiest ten dollars I ever made.”
“This woman...” Ash sighs before sweeping her into his arms.
“No!” she giggles as he starts toward the ride that towers over the Ferris wheel. “Wait! I changed my mind; you guys can keep your money!” She kicks her feet, but Ash keeps a hold on her.
“Not happening, sneaky girl. You’re going to sit right in the middle between Max and me and suffer with us.”
“Wait, don’t leave me with the love birds!” Zack chases after them, leaving Chrissy and me behind again.
“Just so you know,” Chrissy starts while looping her arm through mine. “I’m going to scream, and I apologize in advance for your eardrums.”
After tossing out the brown paper bag my fries were in, I lick my fingers and tilt my head from side to side. “That’s fine. If my eardrum pops, you’ll have to nurse me back to health. It’s a lose-win scenario.”
“I’m not wearing a nurse outfit,” Chrissy threatens playfully.
I open my mouth, and she feeds me some of her shaved ice. “What if both of my eardrums burst?”
“Not going to happen.”
We approach the group and get in line with them. Max is hugging Gwen’s plush raccoon while Gwen hugs Ash, leaving Zack staring at his phone.
“Do you want to sit next to me or your sister?” I ask in hopes of getting his attention.
Zack sighs before pocketing his phone. “Both,” he says with a smile. “I want to be squished between my two favorite people.”
“Since when was I your favorite?” Chrissy asks while crossing her arms over her chest.
“Since you started dating my best friend. You’re finally calm-ish,” he teases.
Chrissy purses her lips.
“And I don’t have to deal with your hyper ass as much anymore, and don’t get me started on cleaning up all the broken hearts you’ve left behind. I’m thrilled to finally catch a break. Thank you for your service, Rome Carter.” Zack salutes me.
“I’m going to remember this,” Chrissy quips. “Especially when you ask me to hook you up with one of my friends.”
“You don’t have any friends,” he fires back.
“Hey!” Gwen calls.
“Besides Gwen,” Zack adds.
As they bicker back and forth, what Zack said repeats in my mind.
“All the broken hearts you’ve left behind.”
How many men did Chrissy leave? Did she break up with all of them? If so, what were the reasons?
Chrissy offers him a lopsided grin. “Just wait.” She pokes his chest as we approach the front of the line.
“Yeah, yeah. Just let me have my way.” Zack rolls his eyes.
No, don’t think like that, I tell myself while wrapping my arm around Chrissy’s waist and kissing the crown of her head.
She looks up at me and beams, her cheeks flushed from the heat and her brother.
Look at her. She’s head over heels. She wouldn’t hurt me like that. I trust her because she knows what I’ve been through. I need to relax.
“I adore you. All of you,” she whispers as I trace my thumb over her jawline.
I kiss her forehead again and exhale. “I adore you too.”
The gate opens, and the six of us take up two cars, Gwen between Ash and Max—who is still embracing the raccoon—and Zack in the middle of Chrissy and me. The rails are neon green, and the seats are deep and secure. The guards come down, and I secure it over my body, locking it in place. The ride’s attendants come by to make sure everyone is locked in.
“Why did I agree to this?” Max groans and grips the sidebar until his knuckles turn white.
“Don’t hug him so tight. You’ll make his eyes pop out.” Gwen is definitely more concerned over her stuffed animal than Max.
It makes the rest of us chuckle.
“I think I lied, Rome.” Chrissy leans over and smiles widely. “Max might scream louder than me.”
And she’s right.
When we reach the top of the drop, Max curses, and after that, he’s all screams and pleas for the ride to stop.
At the end of the ride, he drops his head and sighs, “That wasn’t so bad.”
We all hold back our laughter, and once we exit the roller coaster, we agree it’s time for more snacks and to find a spot to watch the fireworks. With all the fried food we can get our hands on, we find a spot near a tree, close to the back, away from most of the crowds.
I’m picking at a sugar-dusted funnel cake, and my fingers are a mess of grease and thick sugar, but I don’t care. Today is all about forgetting one’s responsibilities, letting go, having fun, enjoying your loved ones, and celebrating America.
Chrissy leans against my shoulder and rests her hand on my thigh.
It’s strange being open about our relationship after months of attempting to avoid our growing feelings. My eyes dart over to Zack, and the lingering suspicion that he’s going to jump me or stab my eyes out for touching his sister creeps over me. Instead, he’s sitting next to Gwen and Ash, engaged in deep conversation, not even looking our way.
“Your brother confuses me,” I whisper against the top of her head.
“You’re telling me,” she mumbles back with a hint of laughter.
Chrissy shifts so she’s looking at me, a warm smile spreading across her lips. “I’m really happy. I want you to know that. You make me happy.”
Reaching forward, I rest my hand against her sunburned cheek. “You and me, Wildflower. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Fireworks reflect in her eyes, exploding in her irises. The sudden burst of explosions doesn’t shake us. With a shared look of love and admiration, I pull her back against me and look out across the field.
The reverberation of each firework echoes through the air, creating a symphony of crackles and pops. The once-tranquil night sky becomes a canvas of vibrant colors and patterns.
We’re silent as we admire the show, no one daring to move or speak. Multiple fireworks erupt simultaneously, filling the sky with an exhilarating crescendo of light and sound. The crowd erupts in applause and cheers, their faces illuminated by the brilliance above. The air is alive with a sense of joy and awe as memories are created that will etch themselves into our lives.
When the final embers fade away, the tranquility resumes. No one moves; we’re too busy basking in the afterglow. Chrissy wraps her arms around my waist and kisses the underside of my jaw. With a soft smile, I look across the way and catch Ash’s approving expression.
With a smirk, he mouths, “I told you so.”
And I’ve never been more pleased to have been proven wrong.