23. But you’re Aaron Miles. You’re a tough guy.
23
"But you’re Aaron Miles. You’re a tough guy."
Aaron Miles
After a successful first stop at the bookstore, Marissa and I head to Time Out Market for lunch. We sample a few international dishes, and I instantly regret the hot sauce I just tasted at the Mexican place. That’s what I get for trying to be all tough-guy-Doberman when in reality, I’m just a puppy.
I’m not going to lie. It stings when the girl you like calls you a puppy, but it’s a good thing she sees me that way. At least I don’t need to stress about ruining our friendship if things didn’t work out. There is nothing there. No choice to make.
“So, where are we going next?” she asks, dropping her food container in the trash. “Or has that hot sauce finished you off?”
I laugh, rolling my eyes. “Absolutely not. I have a fun afternoon planned. This day is far from over.” My words leave her eyes sparkling, and my heart booms like a firework. “Let’s go.”
We walk back to my car, then head to New Jersey. During the drive, she keeps pestering me about where we’re going, but I’m not giving it up that easily. The entire point of today is to surprise her.
“New Jersey,” she muses when we whiz past the ‘Welcome to New Jersey’ sign. “Interesting.”
I can see her mind is whirling, trying to figure out where we’re going, but I doubt she’ll guess this one. Well, that is, until we approach the area, and more signs appear on the side of the road.
“We’re going to Velocity Valley, aren’t we?” she blurts.
I want to keep it a surprise, but the imposing coasters are starting to curve over the horizon. “Yes, we are.”
“Ohhhh.” Her eyes fly wide. “But you’re not a fan of thrill rides. Why?”
I shrug. “You love them, don’ t you?” And at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. Even if I’m freaking out a little—okay, a lot—my goal is to give Marissa the best day possible.
“I love it! Oh, I’m so excited. They have the tallest coaster in the world.”
I swallow hard, tightening my grip on the wheel. Don’t I know it.
We park in the lot, then walk straight to the entrance since I purchased admission and fast passes online beforehand. Marissa grabs a map of the park and studies it carefully.
“Okay. Definitely want to do this, that, that. Oh my gosh. There are so many roller coasters here.”
I’m breaking my neck to view the immensity of those rides. The coasters look even more terrifying in person than they do on the website.
We get in line for a coaster called Vortex Viper. Everyone around us is all smiles and excitement, and I try to soak up the energy. It’s no big deal. I’ve ridden roller coasters before, and it’s actually fun, once you get past the frightened-to-death part.
Thanks to our fast passes, the line moves quickly, and soon enough, we’re in our seats, our feet dangling with no tracks underneath us. In this ride, you’re completely suspended, the tracks being above yo u. Great. Hopefully, this thing is secure enough for a burly hockey player like me. I ask the attendant to check my restraints twice, just in case.
“It’ll be fine,” Marissa says, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Try to relax and have fun, okay?”
My hand is now as numb as the rest of me. I’m not even sure blood is still pumping through my veins at this point, but weirdly, I feel reassured, like her hand is my anchor, a promise that nothing will happen to me. It doesn’t make any sense. This ride is scary as heck and could very well kill me. But somehow, I’m taking the anticipation with a lot more ease now. The ride starts, and the other riders yell and shriek. The sound helps disguise the daunting groan of the ride pulling forward.
“Here we go,” Marissa says, her sweet voice taking over as our coaster reaches the top. “Hang tight and have fun.”
There’s no way I’ll manage to open my mouth to answer, or even to breathe. All of a sudden, we lurch forward and descend into freefall. It’s fast. Really fast. We’re upside down several times and pushed up against our seats, but a couple of minutes later, it’s already over, and we’re back at the station. Thank heavens these rides are short. I’ve never been so grateful to be back on solid ground.
“How did you do?” Marissa asks as we step o nto the platform. “Looks like you’re still alive.”
I laugh, shaking my head to convey more confidence than I feel. “Fine. It wasn’t that bad.”
“On to the next one, then,” she says, hustling to the exit with a giddy hop. My hands are shaking, and my heart is racing as fast as that roller coaster just now, but Marissa’s smile at the end was definitely worth the adrenaline rush.
We meander around the park for the next few hours. It’s not too crowded today despite the sunny weather. The fast pass pretty much gets us to the front of the lines, which is a good thing. Less time to dread what’s coming. Especially on that last ride. We were right behind a kid who was listing all the facts he knew about the ride to his dad—including the number of times it’s broken down. It was like he just swallowed Wikipedia or something.
We arrive at the last area of the park and ride Raven’s Dive—lying down. Yes, you heard that right. You sit down on the ride, thinking it’s a regular coaster, and then, the seats tilt until you’re face-down. I have to admit, it’s interesting and different. The fact that it’s already the seventh coaster I rode today helps, but I don’t think I’ll do this one again, even if Marissa did give me a long hug of encouragement before we strapped into our seats. Next, we find its opposite and ride the Wave Runner, a ride where you’re standing the entire time. T he seat adjusts to your height, and it’s actually pretty cool. Except when you’re six-foot-two and towering above the other riders. Even if we’re in the sixth row, it’s like I’m at the front of the ride, and let me tell you something—it’s downright terrifying. I will never understand those people who stay in line longer to snag a space in the front.
It’s also one of the fastest coasters we’ve ridden today, and I’m definitely shaking as we step off. But weirdly, I have a smile on my face.
“Look who enjoyed the ride,” Marissa teases, bumping her shoulder against me.
“I did.” I smile, and it turns into a chuckle. “It was fun. I think I’m getting used to the whole thrill-ride thing. Coming here today was a good idea.”
Tilting her head back, she laughs. “In that case, ready for the tallest coaster in the world?”
I grip the handrail as we walk down the stairs. “Let’s do it.”
“Oh, wait. Ride photos first. Hopefully, your eyes are open this time,” she jokes, pinching my arm.
“Haha, very funny.”
We walk to the photo counter, scanning the various screens. Finally, I find our picture.
“Ha! Eyes open! And I actually look like I’m having fun.”
She breaks into full laughter, sending chills through my entire body. “I love it so much, and I’m deciding now it has to be part of my birthday present.”
I arch an eyebrow, a smile pulling at my lips. “Oh, really? Is that a new rule or something? You deciding what present you’re getting?”
She flashes a bright smile and gives me her best puppy eyes. “It should be.”
I shake my head, then call the attendant over. “Hi, I’d like to buy that picture.”
Two arms wrap around me and squeeze hard, and those tingles transform into a full firework production.
After the attendant hands us the picture, we make our way to the King Cobra, and as we approach, my heart pounds harder with each step. I’m suddenly second-guessing my choice of destination.
We get in line, and I spot the train climbing the upside-down U-shaped tracks so fast, I genuinely worry it might fly off.
Okay. I might have been a little too confident when I said I’d do this one. Marissa is watching the ride in awe, and I try to calm my breathing.
“You know, on top of being the tallest, this is also the fastest roller coaster in North America,” someone says behind us, and my stomach drops. Wikipedia Kid is back. “Top speed of 128 miles per hour and 456 feet high.”
“Oh, boy,” I let out, and Marissa rubs my back.
“We don’t have to do it,” she says, just like she did for every other coaster we rode today. “We had a great day already. I admit, this one looks pretty intense.”
“Are you scared?” I ask, furrowing my brow.
“Not really.” She shrugs. “It looks exciting, but I don’t mind not doing it, either.”
I study the neon-green ride again while the kid continues to rattle off everything he knows about the ride to his dad. One fact does comfort me, though. It’s only fifty seconds. Surely I can handle less than a minute of pure adrenaline.
The line moves forward, and I cross my gaze with Wikipedia Kid. His eyes widen. “Hey! You’re Aaron Miles,” he says with an accusatory tone that makes me smile. “From the New York Raptors.”
I give him a nod and smile. “Hey there.”
“Whoa. So cool,” the kid says, offering his fist. I bump it with mine. “I watch all your games on TV, and I went to one in person. It was awesome.”
“Nice to meet you, man,” the dad says, and we chat about hockey for a bit. Other people notice us talking, and some ask for pictures, Marissa happily taking them. I don’t mind. Less time to worry about the ride. Plus, I did pretty well—almost an entire day out without being recognized. An especially impressive feat considering I’m wearing my Raptors cap.
“You’re the player with the best plus-minus stat this season,” says Justin, aka Wikipedia Kid. “And last season too. You won the James Norris Memorial trophy last year. You play defense, obviously, and you were the defenseman with the most points last season.”
We all laugh.
“You love facts, don’t you?” Marissa jokes.
“Oh, you have no idea,” his dad says, shaking his head. “He reads them once and remembers them forever.”
“Handy.” I nod, then turn my attention back to Justin. “What can you tell me about our cap, Caleb Hawthorne?”
“Number nineteen. Eight years as a Raptor, first season as a captain. He won a lot of trophies! The Lady Byng Memorial trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct twice, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his leadership qualities last year, and the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy twice! He was the score leader in the league last year and probably will be again this year, unless James Adler manages to beat him,” he says before taking a breath. I start to think he’s done, but he keeps going. This kid is a machine, spouting off facts with so much enthusiasm, everyone around is listening.
“You’d make a great game commentator,” I say between chuckles. “So much energy.”
“Did you hear that, Dad?” he says, tugging at his dad’s shirt.
“Yeah, bud.”
“That’s awesome. I think I’d like it.” He smiles brightly, and I notice he’s missing a tooth. Welcome to the club, kid. “It’s almost our turn. Are you excited? I am. It’s my first time riding the King Cobra. I just met the height requirement.”
I crane my neck to see the ride. “It’s my first time too. Although I’m not a big fan of roller coasters,” I admit.
“Really?” he breathes out theatrically, and we all laugh. “But you’re Aaron Miles. You’re a tough guy.”
I nod. “You’re right. But I have fears, like everybody else,” I say, tapping his cap, and his cheeks turn pink.
“Do you want a picture before it’s our turn?” Marissa asks Justin.
“Oh, yes please.” He beams, and I crouch down to his height.
“There you go,” Marissa says, handing the dad his phone back.
“Awesome,” Justin squeals.
I chuckle. Interacting with young fans is always such a joy, and our conversation really helped take the edge off. But as we take our seats, blood whooshes in my ears louder than ever. There’s no turning back now.
Justin and his dad are sitting right behind us, and I try to focus on Justin’s squeals of excitement as the train departs. It’s slow at first, and then it stops. Marissa squeezes my thigh, but I’m too terrified to look at her. I keep my eyes locked on the hill in the tracks. All of a sudden, the train rolls back a few feet, and there’s a hissing brake sound that startles me. Then, it launches forward. I’m pinned to my seat, and it’s like I’m getting a free face lift. The coaster climbs the hill so fast, I think we’re going straight to heaven, but then it starts barreling down, and there’s no stopping it. The parking lot looms closer, and I try to scream, but no sound comes out. I can’t tell what’s happening or if anyone else is still alive at this point.
Thankfully, we don’t crash into the parking lot. There’s an additional small hill before the train brakes and we reach the station. Justin wasn’t kidding. It wasn’t even a minute.
Yet my body is shaking, and there ’s a dried tear streak on my left cheek. What on earth was that?
“Are you okay?” Marissa calls, her voice carrying over the sound of the tracks as the train comes to a full stop.
“Yeah,” I breathe out. “You?”
“It was so fun! What did you think, Justin?” she asks, louder this time.
“Loved it. I want to do it again!”
Oh, gosh. That’s a hard pass on my end. No one will ever make me sit on that devil’s ride ever again.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Marissa asks when we part ways with Justin and his dad. “You look pale.”
I turn to her, and her face is full of concern. “I’m okay. It was scary, and I will never do it again, but I’m happy I did it with you.”
“I’m proud of you,” she says, stopping. “Thank you for taking me today and going on all those terrifying rides with me, really.”
“So you admit it! I knew I wasn’t the only one thinking those rides were particularly insane.”
She bites her lip, her gaze dropping to her shoes.
“Oh, you meant terrifying for me? Gotcha.” I adjust my cap, sighing. “There goes my masculinity and tough-guy persona.”
She chuckles. “Y ou’ll always be my tough guy, Hotshot.” Then, she wraps her arms around my neck, and I hold her close, inhaling her amber perfume and letting it calm my nerves. “Thanks again for everything.”
I want to answer, but in this moment, the only words my mind can put together are the ones I could never say out loud.
Our fun, terrifying day at Velocity Valley is over, and we’re back at home. I think we can say mission accomplished. Marissa was surprised and had the best day. She told me so the entire car ride home.
I make her favorite meal—chicken parmigiana with broccoli—and we eat it in front of a romcom of her choosing.
The movie is entertaining, but watching Marissa gasp, giggle, and smile is even more captivating. She’s always been such an emotional watcher, and I love that about her. No matter what she does, she’s all in.
The movie credits roll, and she lifts her head from my torso—her favorite headrest during a movie. “Thanks again for today,” she says, muffling a yawn. “It was perfect.”
A grin pulls at my lips. I’m ha ppy to see so much joy in her eyes. “Ready for bed?”
“Probably a good idea.” She nods. “You have practice and a game tomorrow. Vacation’s over.”
“You call that a vacation?” I ask as we’re getting up. “I cried , Martin. Actual tears.”
She bursts into laughter, placing a hand on my torso as she catches her breath. “Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry.”
I put both hands on her shoulders and give them a little squeeze. “It’s fine. I was with you, and I’m glad you had a good time.”
She swallows hard, her eyes twinkling in the low lighting of the living room. “It’s always fun when we’re together. We could have stayed home all day, and I would have still had the time of my life.”
I let my arms fall. “And you’re saying this now ?”
She laughs harder. “Seriously, thank you.” She takes my hand, and tiny tingles erupt all over my skin. They climb up my arm and travel to my chest, all the way to my heart, kickstarting it until it’s beating even faster than the King Cobra. “You’re a pretty amazing guy, Aaron Miles.”
The way she says my name and looks at me seems different. Her tone is sugary, and her gaze is intense. Suddenly, it drops to my lips, and I do the same.
I’ve been dying to kiss her bea utiful lips for as long as I can remember. I don’t know how long we stand there like that, but it’s the longest few seconds of my life. I try to take it all in, the way her eyes darken, her ragged breathing, the smell of her addictive perfume, her perfect hair framing her face, the delicate touch of her hand against mine, the electricity coursing through my veins.
I want to kiss her so bad, but I can’t. Instead, I ball my fist to clench all my frustration out. I can’t kiss her. What if that’s not at all where this is going? Then everything would be ruined. I know she had some interest in me when we were young, but that was so long ago. Could she still feel the same, even after I rejected her? After we’ve been friends for so long?
She clears her throat, her hand slipping away, and I hate myself for not making a move. “Well, good night. And thanks again.”
I stand there, unable to move from the spot. “You’re welcome. Good night.”
She walks across the living room and closes her bedroom door behind her.
I sit down on the couch, head in my hands. What am I doing? Should I really have made a move? I wanted to. I really wanted to. I don’t know how long I can keep resisting her.
I shoot to my feet and march over to her door, determined to clear this up. I’ll tell her I love her, and we’ll take it from there.
I knock on her door, and she opens it right away, as if she was standing right behind it.
“Yeah?” She stares at me expectantly.
She looks so perfect, and images of our day together flash before me. Marissa and I are so compatible. We’re great friends, and if I confess my love to her, everything could go up in flames. The framed picture on her dresser catches my attention. It’s Marissa, Coach, and me on vacation in Maine after high school graduation. My heart falls to my feet, and I suck in a breath. “Um, can I borrow your phone charger?” I ask, rubbing the back of my neck.
Lamest excuse of the year, especially since I have, like, three of them lying around the apartment and another one in my car. “Mine are dead.”
“Oh.” She bites her lip, looking down. “All of them?”
I nod. “But if you need it—”
“No.” She shakes her head, then walks to her bedside table to unplug her charger. “Here.” She hands it to me, and I’m careful not to touch her skin as I take it. Even if I crave those tingles, I should stay away. For my own good.
I almost blew up fifteen years of friendship, and risked losing the only family I have, for those addictive sparks.
“Thanks.” I wave the charger. “Good night.”
“Yeah,” she whispers, closing the door.
I stand there for a second, trying to catch my breath. I made the right choice. I know I did. On the way to my room, I stop by the kitchen to grab a pair of scissors. I have some phone chargers to murder before bed .