Chapter Ten Annabel #3
After rising out of the booth, we made our way out of the diner. We looked both ways before hurrying across the highway, then inched our way up the line to the ticket booth.
Once we got inside, I was momentarily overwhelmed by the crowd.
So many strangers.
So many strange men.
In spite of the heat, a chill passed over my skin.
As if he could sense my apprehension, Rev drew me close against him. “Anytime you want to leave, you just tell me.”
Although part of me would have preferred to turn around then, I knew I owed to Rev–and to myself—to try to stay. I was safe with him. No one could hurt me as long as Rev was around. And in some small way if I did stay, it would be a victory of overcoming my fears. “I will,” I replied.
As we walked around, I battled the sensory overload I found myself in—the noisy chatter, the smells of popcorn and funnel cakes, the screams from people on the roller coasters and other rides.
Each time I would meet the eyes of a strange man, I would burrow closer to Rev. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to mind.
“What was your favorite part of the fair growing up?” I gazed up and tried to focus on him, rather than the crowd around us.
“That’s a tough one. Even though they’re kinda cheesy now, I really loved the rides. The bigger the adrenaline rush the better time I had. But I also liked playing the games.” He grinned down at me. “As I got older, I would try to win something to give to a girl.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet.”
He laughed. “Yeah, that was my idea of being a suave Casanova. I had a lot to learn.”
My gaze caught the glittering lights of the Ferris wheel. “I can wait here if you want to go on some of the rides,” I offered. Secretly I would die a thousand deaths until he returned, but I was willing to do it for him.
Rev immediately shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“Well, the least you can do is play some games. You know, for old times sake.”
With a smile, Rev said, “Yeah, I guess I could.” He then led me over to one of the booths. The game was set up so you won if you could hit the bulls-eye on the target.
The guy behind the counter eyed Rev’s cut before handing him the toy gun. I could tell by his expression he didn’t much care for Rev playing the game—as if wearing the cut gave him an unfair advantage or something. If Rev noticed it, he didn’t let on.
Instead, he focused on the target in front of him. His first shot pinged against the center of the bulls-eye, knocking it down.
“Great shot!” I exclaimed.
“What prize?” the man asked.
“It’s the lady’s choice,” Rev replied.
I laughed. “Really?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm,” I murmured as I gazed up at the stuffed animals on display. A cute brown and white dog caught my eye. “I’ll take that one,” I said, pointing to it. The man took it down and then handed it to me. “Thank you..”
“Come on. Let’s try some other ones,” Rev said.
“Ah, I’ve created a monster, huh?” I teased.
“Yes and no. I fully intend on having you play some as well.”
“Me?” My voice squeaked.
He grinned. “Why not?”
“Rev, I wouldn’t even begin to know how to shoot,” I protested.
“We’ll find you one that doesn’t involve shooting.”
“One thing I haven’t told you is I’m not very athletic.”
“I’m not sure I’m too surprised to hear that.”
I smacked him playfully on the arm. “Hey now.”
“Here. Let’s try this one.” He motioned to a booth where smaller children were picking up floating ducks to match prizes.
“I don’t think I’m so bad that we have to start at a kiddie booth.”
Rev laughed. “Okay, okay. You pick one.”
I gazed around at my choices. “How about that one?” Across from us was a booth which boasted milk jugs. To win you had to toss a ring over the top. I figured it couldn’t be that hard.
“Looks good to me.”
After we walked over, Rev paid the man for some tickets. I was handed three rings. My first attempt didn’t even make it to the milk jug. The next smacked against the bottom. And after I put some oomph into the third, it went flying behind the jug.
When I dared to look at Rev, he gave me an innocent look. “Want to try again?”
“Sure. Why not?”
Once again he paid and I was handed the rings. And once again I managed to get them nowhere near where they were supposed to be. “Again?” Rev asked.
I shook my head as I fought the embarrassment I was sure was tinging my cheeks. “No, I want to find the nearest concession stand. I plan to drown my inadequacies at carnival games in some cotton candy.”
Rev laughed. “Sounds like a plan.”
It wasn’t too hard locating the food. We simply had to follow the delicious smells wafting through the air. I decided on a corn dog and fresh lemonade along with my cotton candy. Rev ordered a funnel cake and a beer.
When Rev once again got out his wallet, I sighed. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
I frowned. “I just hate you’re having to pay so much for me. I’ll be glad when I can find a local branch of my bank and have some money of my own.”
“I don’t mind paying.”
“I know you don’t. It’s me who minds.”
“If it will make you feel better, I can start you a tab.”
“Smartass.”
While we ate our food, we walked around the other side of the fair, taking in the rides and various booths.
As dusk started to fall, I became a little apprehensive.
There was something more menacing in being around strangers in the dark verses the daylight.
Every little noise from the rides made me jump.
When a man who had clearly had too much to drink bumped into me, a scream burst from my lips before I could think better of it. Rev rushed forward, grabbing the man by the throat and pinning him to the side of one of the booths.
“What the fuck are you doing hitting her like that?” Rev demanded, as his broad chest rose and fell with harsh pants.
The man’s blue eyes widened in fear as he took in both Rev’s imposing size and the menacing expression on his face. “N-Nothing. I swear.”
Feeling ashamed at my overreaction, I tentatively reached out to touch Rev’s arm. “It’s okay. Rev, he didn’t mean anything by it,” I said softly, trying to calm him down.
This hair-trigger-tempered side of him wasn’t something I was used to seeing, and if I was honest with myself, it was a little alarming.
Whether it was my touch or my reassurances that I was fine, Rev calmed down enough to release the man. He apologized repeatedly as he stumbled away from us. For a few seconds, Rev refused to look at me. When he finally did, his features had returned to normal. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.”
He shook his head. “No, it isn’t. I scared you, which is the last thing I wanted to do.”
I closed the gap between us. “I would be lying if I said that scene just now didn’t alarm me.” Staring up into his apologetic blue eyes, I added, “You just seemed so different.”
“In my world, I have to be violent to get things done.”
Although there was regret on his face, his tone was matter-of-fact. I realized then there was so much more to Rev than I had originally imagined, and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know everything.
“Guess we better head out,” Rev said, breaking the tense silence between us.
“Okay,” I murmured. As I clutched the dog he had won me tight against my chest, I let him start leading us out of the fair.
Just before we got to the exit, Rev abruptly stopped. “Can I have just a few more minutes?” he asked.
“Of course.”
He took my hand and led me over to one of the few booths which were close to the exit. I watched as he handed over some tickets and then started to play. It wasn’t a shooting game, but Rev still managed to master it.
When the guy asked what prize, I half expected Rev to turn to me. Instead, he pointed to a green alligator wearing a pink tutu and ballet slippers. When he turned back to me, he wore an accomplished smile.
“Just who is that alligator for, Casanova?”
He laughed. “It’s for my niece, Willow. She’s a ballerina.”
I stared at him in surprise at that because he had never mentioned having a niece. From his tone when he spoke about her, coupled with the fact he had gone to the trouble to win something for her, it was obvious he loved her very much.
“How old is she?”
“Six going on sixteen.”
I smiled at his summation. “I bet she’s crazy about you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“If you’re as kind and devoted with her as you are with me, then she would have no reason not to be crazy about you.”
With a grin, Rev replied, “I can’t speak for her, but I do know I’m crazy about her. She’s been such a blessing to my family since she came to live with us a year ago.”
At what must’ve been my surprised expression, Rev proceeded to tell me all about his niece’s tragic early years with a drug addicted mother, her mother’s murder, and how she came to live with his older brother, Deacon.
“Poor thing,” I murmured, as we started out of the exit.
“She’s the most amazing little girl. Smart, funny, and sweet. Resilient as hell. You’d never know by seeing her now that she’d ever been through such hard times.” He cut his gaze over to mine. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
His words sent a surge of warmth through my chest. I couldn’t help feeling grateful he wanted me to meet the niece he adored.
Suddenly it felt like we were as connected as we had been during most of this trip and the discomfort I’d felt when he confronted the guy back at the carnival disappeared. Now our bond seemed even stronger.
“I can’t wait to meet her, too.” I motioned to the alligator. “And to see her reaction to her present.”
“It’s not much, but I know she would be pissed if I was gone and didn’t bring her back anything.”
“She’ll adore it.”
Rev stared down at the alligator. “I just hope I have a kid like her one day.”
I sucked in a harsh breath—hearing him state his desire to have children felt the same as if someone had punched me in the gut. In truth, it was more like someone drove a dagger into my chest.
I had once spoken with the same conviction about children as Rev had.
I guess it wasn’t too surprising he wanted a family—the vast majority of people did.
It was more about the way he had said the words, the desire that resonated in his tone.
There was not a doubt in my mind that he would make a wonderful father.
While I could hear Breakneck’s words that it wasn’t impossible for me to be a mother, it did little to make me feel better.
Thankfully, we arrived at the car then, and if Rev realized how his words had stung me, he didn’t let on. I was glad he hadn’t. I’d always hated having someone’s pity, especially Rev’s.
After Rev started the engine, the physical and emotional exertions of the day caught up with me, and I nodded off. I awoke to Rev pulling me to him. “Come on, Annabel.” Before I could protest to give me a few minutes to wake up so I could walk, he was lifting me into his arms.
Panic overcame me when I felt myself floating. My eyelids snapped open, and I furiously took in my surroundings. My chest rose and fell in painful, panicked breaths. It took everything within me not to scream as another flashback overcame me.
Sensing my distress, Rev began murmuring softly to me. “It’s okay. It’s just you and me. No ghosts of the past allowed.”
Tears stung my eyes at the kindness of his words and the fact he was carrying me into the motel room so that I didn’t have to exert myself.
I curled my fist tighter into his shirt.
Somehow his strength was enough to ward off the flashbacks.
I wasn’t back at the motel with the Diablos.
Instead, it was Rev, and only Rev, with me.
After he kicked the door closed, Rev asked, “Do you want to change?”
Since I could barely keep my eyes open, I replied, “Just sleep.”
“Okay.” He eased me down onto one of the beds and pulled the cover from the other side over to wrap me up. “Sweet dreams, Annabel.”
“Sweet dreams, Rev,” I murmured before sleep once again overtook me.