Chapter 14 #2
“Yeah,” I replied. My eyes fixed on her lips, admiring the genuine happiness it spread across her face. “Thank you.”
Some pink tinted Audrey’s cheeks under my stare. To hide it, she grabbed my bicep and started towing me along again.
We switched our route from the game booths towards the rides. Now that our snack had settled in our stomachs, we were ready for some action.
Audrey giggled throughout the entirety of the Tilt-A-Whirl. We held onto the metal lap bar for dear life as our car spun in quick, unpredictable circles.
In the Haunted Mansion, Audrey glanced around at the creepy monsters and eerie rooms with awe. When the animatronics popped out from dark corners, she laughed instead of screaming.
On the Himalaya, the speed of the ride pushed Audrey’s close against mine. With the gravity binding us together, she couldn’t pull away. But, judging from the smile on her face and the whoops she was yelling, I didn’t think she wanted to.
When we approached the Zipper, one of my old favorites, she looked at me like I was crazy. “I am not getting in that death trap with you,” she said as she wearily eyed the large bar, rolling around with tiny cars spinning on each notch.
“You didn’t mind when we were younger. You used to drag me and Jordan on that shit.”
“That was before my frontal lobe was fully developed.”
“Come on,” I urged. “Just for old times sake.”
She still looked skeptical as she cast another glance at the ride.
“Hey,” I said, calling her attention back to me. I grabbed her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “I’ve got you.”
She glanced down at our intertwined hands. “Fine,” she said. “But, if I die, please know I’m haunting your ass.”
Chuckling, I continued tugging her towards the ride.
We climbed into the small, tight space. Audrey wrapped her arm around mine and gave it a soft squeeze as the worker slammed the metal door shut.
There wasn’t much movement for a few minutes while the workers hoisted the other patrons onto the ride. But, the moment the ride started, it definitely didn’t let up.
As the rod spun around and around, our car spun in wild circles, flinging us around in the cart. While I laughed from the adrenaline, Audrey hollered her head off. Her shrill screams made me laugh even harder.
When the ride finally stopped, Audrey scrambled out of the car. “I wanna fight,” she said as we retrieved our prizes from the cubbies. “That was not fun. That was torture.”
“What’s up, then?” I asked, opening my arms despite the prizes in them. “Ain’t nothing, but room and opportunity.”
Audrey took the opening and punched me straight in my chest. Not hard enough to hurt, but with enough force to push me back a bit.
She quickly realized her mistake as my brow rose and I shifted both prizes onto one arm.
Before I could get her back, she turned on her heel and took off into the dwindling crowd.
Nostalgia poured over me as I ran after her. Chasing each other around, play-fighting when we caught each other, and laughing through it all used to be a staple in our relationship. Not a day went by without us playfully squaring up.
I caught up with her and wrapped my free arm around her waist. I lifted her up off her feet and spun her around.
Audrey squealed. Kicking her feet she yelled, “Max!”
“Nah, you wanted this,” I said. I started tickling the side of her ribs. “So, what’s up?”
Giggling, she wiggled in my arms. But, even with my handicapped grasp, she still couldn’t escape. “Alright, alright! You win! You win!”
“Mhm.” I stopped tickling her, but didn’t let her go. Putting my lips to her ear, I added, “That’s what I thought.”
A tremble ran down her spine from the sound of my voice. Her head turned, and our eyes locked. In this position, she was merely inches away. Close enough to kiss.
Glancing down to her lips, I damn sure thought about it. Glossed, plumped, and slightly gaping, they looked ready for the taking.
My eyes returned to hers, and for once, there wasn’t a hint of protest in them.
I started to lean in, determined to take advantage of this moment. I didn’t know if I’d get another one.
“Audrey!” A voice interrupted us before I could.
Both of our heads snapped in the direction of the sound. I frowned at the sight of the man she was supposedly “seeing.”
He was walking towards us, a crease forming between his brows and a frown blooming on his lips.
Audrey quickly wiggled free. “Hey, Carter,” she said.
His eyes bounced between me and the place on her waist where my arm once was. “Where were you? I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“We were just walking around,” Audrey replied with a shrug.
“You weren’t answering your phone.”
“Oh, you were calling me?” She reached for her purse and popped it open. Her phone lay there, bright with a screen full of notifications. “I haven’t had a chance to check. I was-”
“Too busy having fun,” I finished for her.
Irritation flickered in Carter’s eyes as he looked at me. “I wouldn’t know since I couldn’t get a hold of her. Last I knew, she was still working the booth. It’s my job to make sure she’s good.”
“She’s always good when she’s with me. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Carter clenched his teeth. At his sides, his hands balled into fists. I wished he’d swing already, so I could knock him into his place.
“Alright,” Audrey said, trying to break the tension brewing between the two of us. She feigned a tight smile. “Thank you, Carter, for worrying about me.” Turning to me, she retrieved the bear from my arms and softened her smile. “And thank you, Max, for hanging out. I had fun.”
“Yeah, me too. We should do this again sometime.”
Pressing her lips together, she gave me a subtle nod. “I’ll see you around.”
“I look forward to it.”
Audrey left my side to go to Carter’s.
As they walked away, he threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. He shot a glare over her head at me, half taunting, half threatening. He looked like a kid who was proud to have taken another’s toy and dared them to try to get it back.
Little did he know, I wasn’t afraid to snatch what was rightfully mine.