Page 23 of Fly with Me

“What?” Stella asked.

“It’s just… you’re a pilot.”

“Yes?”

“You love flying in metal ten million feet in the air.”

“Thousands, not millions. And yeah? So?” Her eyebrows pulled together, truly not seeing an ounce of irony.

“Never mind.” Olive smiled. “This one’s short. We can go ride the Haunted Mansion ride or Pirates again afterward if it’s too much.”

Stella playfully smacked Olive’s shoulder—and fuck, did it feel like another electric charge went through Olive at the touch. “I’m not a coward.”

“I know you’re not.”

“I’m not.” Stella’s chin jutted out.

Before Olive could reply again, a few people in the line urged them forward as another group boarded. They’d be on the next run. Stella took in a few long breaths, extending out the exhales. Her eyes followed the loop-de-loops of the ride, darting every which way. She played with her hair, and Olive mirrored the movement.

“It’s not a big deal at all. There are lots of other rides. You’re sure?” Olive asked more seriously.

Stella stood a little taller. “Yes.”

A voice from the front called out, “Next.” They stepped up and scooted into a seat. Their hips pushed together. Olive’s bare knee knocked against Stella’s leg as they brought the rail over their thighs.

Olive turned to her, speaking low. “You have to remember to scream.”

Stella’s voice became breathless. “What?”

Olive’s fingers were a hair away from Stella’s thigh. She leaned forward. “Scream. It’s way worse to hold it in.”

“Oh. Okay. During the ride. Right. I need to distract myself.” Stella was close enough that her breath made wisps of Olive’s hair flutter. Her full lips pressed outward, parting as she mumbled. Her tongue dragged slowly across the bottom one, making it shiny and painfully enticing. “You know, I looked up the statistics once, and I think roller coaster accidents are really rare. Something like less than point six five per million rides. So, I really shouldn’t wor—”

“Stella?”

“Yeah?”

Olive leaned an inch closer. Was some combination of fatigue and nostalgia making Olive bold? PDA in public when you were queer could be a risk, but at that moment she didn’t care at all. Olive would never have listed the ability to cite obscure actuarial statistics as a turn-on, but mainly seeing how much they really were alike seemed to give her the confidence she needed to ask a particular question. “Could I kiss you?”

Stella’s dark eyes widened as she gave a tiny nod. “Yes.”

Olive pressed her mouth against Stella’s. It was cautious at first, sweet and quiet. But Stella opened for her. Their tongues met gently. Tasting. Tentative turning urgent. Olive’s fingers trailed up Stella’s skin, stroking her from elbow to wrist. With the rail, she couldn’t fully take Stella into her aching arms. A flood of warmth pooled between Olive’s legs.

Jesus.

A click signaled that they were about to move.

As she pulled away, Olive nipped at Stella’s lip. “Remember what I told you.”

“What?” Stella’s eyes were still closed, voice low.

Olive whispered directly into Stella’s ear, adding another light kiss on the smooth outer shell. “Scream, Stella.”

“What?” Eyes popping open, Stella faced forward and gripped the rail with one hand. The other rested limply on her leg, palm up.

Olive wanted to intertwine her fingers there, but as she reached down, Stella grabbed the rail. They climbed the first hill before the big drop. The wheels clacked beneath them on the track.

“It’s the waiting.” Stella took in a deep breath and held it. When they reached the top, she looked over at Olive, smiled, and screamed.