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“What are these?” Myrtle asks when a crew member hands her a pair of 3D glasses.

“They will open an entirely new world for you,” I say. “You’ll see.”

The knitters file into the room, filling the front rows. Colton and I make sure they’re all comfortable and ready for the 4D experience before sneaking a few rows back.

I grin at him as I sit down.

“What?”

“I feel like a teenager again. Hiding in the back of a movie theatre with my crush.”

He takes my hand in his and strokes it with his thumb. “If this excites you, wait until you see what I’ve got planned for us later.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Colton

Elle and I wave the bus with the knitters goodbye and go change out of our costumes into our own clothes. By the time we head back out again, the park is deserted. Every guest has gone home, and apart from a handful of crew members walking to the exit and the cleaning crew doing their jobs, there’s not a soul in sight. Perfect.

“Ready?” I ask.

Elle entwines her fingers with mine and nods. “I am. Unless you’ve planned something… weird?”

I laugh. “You sound just like Maggie, always suspicious about everything.”

“Aren’t you afraid she’s going to get suspicious about us not coming home on time?”

“I called her this afternoon to tell her I had to work overtime. There’s no harm in staying out later since I’ve already missed dinner with her anyway. It’ll be fine.”

Relief crosses her face. She’s so concerned about Maggie accidentally discovering we’re together. Thank goodness we’re telling her soon. It’ll be much better to have everything out in the open, and to be able to enjoy each other’s company without worrying about getting caught.

I lead her to the outer corner of the park where a staff building connects to Splash ’n Fun, the adjoining water park that Frank acquired three years ago. I begged him to let me use the indoor pool tonight. He caved when I told him I’d reconsider his offer of managing the park.

“We’re going swimming?” Elle throws me a surprised look.

“Uh-huh.”

“But I haven’t got my bathing suit. Not even a towel.”

I swipe the key card Frank gave me and open the staff corridor. “There are clean towels in here.”

She arches an eyebrow. “And bathing suits?”

“There are none. I mean, there’s a shop here, but I don’t feel like stealing something.”

“We could pay for it.”

I shrug. “I don’t know how to operate the cash register without setting off the alarm. Look, it’s no big deal.”

“I don’t think I’m comfortable swimming in the nude.”

“Who said anything about skinny-dipping? I thought we could just go in our underwear.”

“Oh,” she says. “Okay. I’m wearing a sports bra, so that will work.”

I turn toward her and take her hands in mine. “Elle, I’d never force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. You do know that, right?”

The corners of her mouth lift and her features soften. “I do. Thank you. So, does this mean I won’t get to see your tomato butt?”