Chapter 16 #3
Beyond all the booths and games were the neon bright lights of the Ferris wheel, the Tilt-A-Whirl, a swing ride, and a glowing carousel.
The sun had gone down, making the lights of the rides all the more appealing.
I got back to Lane, shaking my head. “Not yet.”
He opened his mouth.
“There you are.” Dreux had found me. More, he planted himself next to me, almost creating a barrier between Lane and me.
Lane was cute. Tall, green-eyed, messy dark hair, and I thought he played on the football team. I’d never gone for athletes, though.
But Dreux…
“ ’Sup, Lane?” Dreux greeted him and they slapped palms before reeling each other in for a brief hug.
Lane flashed me a smile. “We should, uh, go on a ride before you leave.”
From what I saw of him in class, he seemed like a nice guy. Maybe it was time to leave the red flags alone.
“Okay,” I replied.
Lane walked off and I stood with Dreux. He’d won another prize. A pink fluffy pig.
“You wanna go on the Ferris wheel?” He tilted his head to the side, nodding at the largest attraction.
I hadn’t been on a Ferris wheel since I was a kid.
When I looked to Bonham and Cameron, neither seemed eager to join us. Bonham slung his arm around Cameron’s shoulder. “Nah, we’ll sit this one out. I think I’m ready for a funnel cake now.”
“Yeah, we’ll watch your stuff,” Cameron offered.
We handed over our prizes before walking over to the short line for the Ferris wheel. It seemed as though everyone getting on or off was a couple.
I looked back, searching the crowded grounds for Cameron and Bonham.
There were two funnel cake stands and near the one that also served red velvet flavored cakes, I spotted Bonham and Cameron at a picnic table.
He was caught up watching her and she was too busy talking to notice.
It was so obvious he was into her. Why couldn’t she see?
“Saylor?” It was our turn to get on and Dreux was waiting for me to take a seat first.
I went and sat down and Dreux joined me. The bar was lowered over our laps and the wheel rotated us higher to let the next pair on.
The higher we got, the more secluded it felt. It was only Dreux and me. And for the first time I was a nervous wreck. Anxious. That’s what I was as the wheel started going round and round.
I couldn’t believe it had gotten to this point.
At first, I hated Dreux, simply because I hated everyone in the beginning. Now, I felt the funniest flutter of butterflies just by sitting next to him. One moment he was the golden boy next door, annoying and always right. The next, he was…kinda, really, hot.
When did that happen?
I wanted to relax, but lately, it was hard to do that around him. I was too hyperaware of him.
His hand startled me, pulling me out of my head as I looked down to catch Dreux admiring my nails. Now I was blushing again.
“Didn’t peg you for a pink girl,” he said, teasing in his voice. His voice that suddenly made me melt and squirm.
One look up and he was staring at me. There was a ghost of a smile on his face, but at the same time, he appeared serious too. He looked at me only the way he could. Quietly. Thoroughly. Intently.
Sometimes I hated the way he observed me, but now I never wanted him to stop.
I studied his freckles. Freckles I’d grown to really like. His strong jaw. His perfect lips. His smooth light brown skin. God, he was gorgeous.
My gaze met his and I got lost. I couldn’t breathe or look away.
We really needed to romanticize brown eyes.
The moment was swelling over into something I could feel. Dreux’s hand abandoned mine, reached up, and felt my face. He searched my eyes for something and all I could do was nod, waiting on bated breath for his next move.
And then he was closer. His thumb rubbed a circle against my cheek, and he was right in front of me, staring down at me.
Breathe, Saylor, breathe.
My lips parted and I didn’t know what to say.
In the next second I didn’t have to speak, because Dreux closed the tiny gap between us and his lips were on mine.
My eyes snapped shut and I could’ve sworn my heart exploded in my chest. His full lips moved in sync with mine.
Soft. Gentle. Chaste. Slow. His hand was on my chin as he tipped my head back to deepen the kiss.
His tongue snaked into my mouth and I could taste him as chills danced across my skin.
He kissed in such a commanding way I had no choice but to surrender.
I couldn’t hear the music blasting or the people around us. I could no longer feel the night air. All I could feel was this moment as I was completely and utterly consumed by Dreux St. Julien.
All too soon he pulled away and I felt my face morph into a frown as I opened my eyes.
Dreux pressed his forehead to mine. “Just so you know, my favorite blonde is you.”
My frown melted as I felt the corniest smile take over my face.
I didn’t know what to say, or how to express how much I liked hearing that I was his favorite. How much I wanted to be his favorite.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to say anything. Dreux’s arm came around me and he pulled me close. I rested my head on his chest and the night went on.