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We ride until I notice Mike waving at me and circling his hand above his head in the universal signal to wrap it up. His voice comes over the loud speaker and announces it's the last lap, and Skye wins. I never even had a chance to pass her.

When we coast the cars back to the starting line, there are quite a few annoyed faces looking at us. But we’re both too excited about our little race to care.

The look of joy on her face is well worth the angry glares. When we hand our helmets back to Mike, he laughs at me.

“Dude, you got smoked. She handed your ass to you. You might have to turn your driver’s license in.”

I laugh and look at Skye. She tosses the plastic cap in the trash can and is running her fingers through her now loose hair. The hair tie is on her wrist. She has anI told you sosmirk on her face.

I slap Mike on the shoulder.

“If you’re going to get your ass smoked by a woman, make sure she’s a beautiful one.”

We turn to walk away, and Mike yells after us, “Come back. I’ll be here all day.”

I look at Skye and her smug face. Sounds good to me.

Chapter Nine

“I would’ve never guessedthis was what you had planned. What made you think of it?”

He looks pensive for a moment, as if looking for the right words.

“I didn’t want to have the pressure of a first date hanging over our heads. I wanted to do something that would allow us to talk and just be.”

He smiles, still lost in thought.

“To be honest, I didn’t think of this place until yesterday morning. I was cleaning the truck and I remembered Grandpa telling me about his first date with Grandma. He took her to the fair and they spent the day at the rides. As soon as the thought popped in my mind, I knew it was what I was looking for. I came here a few times with my grandparents and with friends when I was at Riggins. It seemed like the perfect place for a date.”

There are butterflies in my stomach. I love that Logan is recreating his grandparents’ first date for us.

“Maybe your grandpa whispered the idea in your ear,” I say.

This is something Mom would have thought. She’s rubbing off on me.

“Maybe he did.”

Logan takes my hand.

“I’ve always loved amusement parks. When we were old enough to go alone, Dad used to drop us off, and River and I would spend the entire day at the rides. Go Karts were always my favorites and the one thing I beat River at every time.”

“You like speed.”

He’s not asking.

“I’ve always loved the feeling that comes with it. Love the wind on my face, the sliding into a tight turn, and the way my whole body vibrates with the kart as if an extension of it. I even love the smell of burned tires.”

I laugh.

“Gosh, it’s been at least a couple of years since I went Go Karting. River was more of a roller coaster thrill seeker. I didn’t like roller coasters as much, so we compromised.”

Logan is smiling at me and shaking his head. He tugs me to a concession stand and buys two water bottles. He cracks the seal open on mine before handing it back to me. I’ve never had a guy do this before. I don’t think anyone has done this for me since I was a little kid and not strong enough to open the bottle myself.

“Good thing I didn’t have a bet going against you, or I’d be paying up right now.”

“I told you, you were going down.”

I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips.