15. One Thing
FIFTEEN
ONE THING
Cade
As soon as we got in through the front gates, Halle directed us to the Ring of Fire. I was hoping for something a little more tame—work our way up to the big ones—but she said that there’s no time like the present.
Now I’m wondering if she was talking about more than just the carnival rides, or maybe I’m overthinking it. But then there’s also the fact that right before we walked in, she called this a date, so maybe I’m not overthinking it?
Too many thoughts, not enough funnel cake.
“Wanna get some funnel cake? I feel like we deserve it after going on rides for the past hour,” I suggest.
“It’s like you’re reading my mind. There’s a stand up ahead.” She looks over at me and smiles.
She starts swinging her arms excitedly so I take this moment to grab her hand and lace our fingers together. We both look at our hands and out of the corner of my eye, I see her blush. This is yet another moment I’ll be keeping in my mental scrapbook.
We finally get to the front of the line and order two funnel cakes. I don’t know if there’s anything better than fresh fried carnival food. Scratch that—being here with Halle’s better, but this is a pretty close second.
Half of hers is gone by the time I’ve taken three bites of mine. Even with powdered sugar all over her face she looks flawless.
“Umm, Hal, you’ve got a little something—” I lift my hand toward her face and gesture all around, “everywhere.”
“Whoops.” She laughs and blows the powdered sugar everywhere.
I laugh with her and can see people around us staring, taking in the sight of two twenty-somethings in hysterics over some powdered sugar.
We eventually finish our funnel cakes and I get up to find us some napkins to clean up. I feel Halle reach into my—her—jacket pocket and pull something out. She holds out the small bottle of hand sanitizer for me and then squeezes some for herself before putting it back into the pocket.
“How’d I get so lucky to be here with someone who is so well prepared?”
“Cade, you should know me by now. I’m always prepared. As long as the solution is hand sanitizer, deodorant, or lip gloss.”
“My lips are feeling chapped. What kind of lip gloss?” I ask even though I already know the answer. I reach into my pocket and pull out the small tube. “Mmm, what is this? Sparkly vanilla? Do you think it’d look good on me?” I start to twist it open only for her to reach over and yank it out of my hands. “Hey!”
“This stuff is expensive! Actually, not really. But you can’t put it on yourself. I don’t want you to waste product. Come here.” She opens up the tube and puts her left hand under my chin to hold me still while she glides the sparkly product on my lips.
I rub my lips together. “How do I look?” I give her duck lips and she laughs. This stuff smells so good.
“Beautiful. Let’s go into the photo booth! It looks open, and there’s no line!” She grabs my hand and runs.
I start to lick my lips to get this goop off me when she looks at me and furrows her brows.
“Don’t you dare, Cade. You wanted the gloss, don’t take it off.”
I offer my hands up in surrender. “It doesn’t even taste that good. The smell is misleading.”
She shakes her head and steps into the booth.
“Do you think the sparkles will be visible?”
“Definitely.” She answers without missing a beat.
We sit next to each other and she presses some buttons on the screen and the countdown starts.
“Okay, the screen says we have four shots. What should we do?”
I look at her and start to open my mouth but before I have the chance to say anything, a flash goes off.
“Do something silly!” She closes one eye and sticks out her tongue.
I fake roar like a lion and hold up my hands like I have claws.
The second flash goes off.
“Smile for this one!” she commands. I see her smile and I do the same and turn my face to the camera just in time.
The third flash goes off.
“Last one, make it count, Hal.”
She grabs my face and kisses my cheek, my eyes are closed and I grin.
The fourth flash goes off.
“Yay! I’m excited for these.” She ushers me out of the booth and we wait for the strips to come out. They finally drop into the chamber on the side of the booth and she squeals. “Cade! Look! These are so cute!” She keeps one strip of the four photos in her hand as she hands me the other one. “We’re so cute.”
“That we are, Valentine.” I lean in close and the side of my cheek touches the top of her head as I look at the photos in her hand. A grin that only Halle seems to get out of me finds its way onto my face. I wrap my arm around her and feeling brave, I land a soft kiss to her temple before I lead us away from the photo booth. “I feel like we’ve done everything this carnival has to offer, but let’s walk around a little bit more before we go.”
She slips her photo strip into her pocket and slides her arm around my back. We meander around the grounds for a bit until she starts shivering, so I make the executive decision to go back to the car.
I lead her to the passenger side door and swing it wide open for her and let her get in before closing it. Her eyes are glued to mine even after I close her door. Now that I’m out here alone, I feel how cold it’s gotten, so I rush around the car to get in.
I hand her the aux cord. “About four songs worth until we get back.”
“I know just what to play.” She wears a mischievous grin and turns the volume dial all the way up. One Direction blares from the speakers as we drive back home.