Page 59

“Boys. Am I right?” Liv rolls her eyes, looping her arm through mine. Her head drops to my shoulders with a laugh as we leave the trio of children behind making our way down the rows of carnival games. “Oh Water Race Midway! Let’s do it.”

Liv and I take our spots on the stools, Liam and Dax take the seat to her left and Knox fills the spot to my right. We all grip our water shooters with laser focus as the announcer gets ready to start the game. A bell shrieks and I spray the tiny red dot in front of me watching my boat race across the plastic waves. Knox is the only boat in front of me until I reach his tail end and out of nowhere fly past him. The buzzer rings out and the announcer cheers, declaring me the winner.

“First, she whoops arse at cards, and now she’s handing you a beating at the carnival games?” Ryder chirps from behind me.

“I don’t take anything too seriously but games—games are life and death.” I smile at him as he lifts his hand and we high-five.

“Well, then I’m just in time, care for a game of darts?” He nods his head to the next tent over and I smile ready to take this cowboy for all he’s worth.

“You're on, Cowboy.”

After Ryder lostthree games in a row, he claimed his date had texted him and he had to go find her. The rest of us hit the fun house and once I discovered that Knox would still be sinfully attractive even at only four feet tall, we hit the Musik Express—a circular track that drags carts up and over small bumps so fast I was plastered to Knox’s side with a breathless laugh the whole ride.

A wild energy bursts through every cell in my body. Over the last few hours, I’ve laughed freely and had no small amount of desire to make this night last forever. A large portion has to be from the exhilarating rides, the high from winning games, and the dopamine kick from all the food. However, a small voice whispers in my head that it’s fromthis growing sense of belonging. I attempt to shake it off, reminding myself that I don’t know what that actually feels like.

We pass face painting, name painting, homemade jams, and jewelry tables before I spot a photo booth.

“Come on.” I grab Knox’s hand in mine and drag him to the booth. An old-timey black-and-white countdown shows and I close my eyes, grinning from ear to ear holding up a peace sign. The light flashes from behind my eyelids and I stick out my tongue throwing up rock and roll hands. Another flash of light and I realize Knox hasn’t moved.

“Knox, you can’t just sit there and smile in every picture.”

“Then kiss me.” I whip my head to him. Even though there are thousands of people on the other side of this curtain somehow in this tiny enclosed space with his eyes boring into mine, I hear all my thoughts crystal clear.

I've always beenthe anti-relationship girl. Call it a fear of commitment, or blame it on some unresolved, pushed-to-the-side abandonment issues, but the facts are that. I never wanted anything more. My stomach churns at the mere idea of being in the position I find myself in now, of wanting someone and liking them enough that I’m able to be hurt.

To be left.

The third flash goes off and he cups the back of my neck pulling my forehead to his. Even though his golden brown eyes are crystal clear, the uncertainty in my own head is causing me to spiral. If I do this, if I’m able to drop my guard and go all in with him, what does that mean? The final flash goes off and the rumbling of the printer echos, one corner of his lip lifts but it’s not his usual sensual or cocky smile. Itfeels sad. I swallow a thick lump in my throat and the pad of his thumb brushes lightly across my cheek. My shoulders drop alongside my eyelids as Knox stands from the bench, relief and self-anger battle within me as another moment passes.

A handful of games later,I can feel the night starting to wind down. My eyes catch on the glow from the Ferris wheel and I know this is my last moment of the night.

“We have to do the Ferris Wheel before we go, it’s a must.”

Knox scratches the back of his neck. “I don’t really do Ferris Wheels, love.”

“Come on, Browning.” I grip his bicep with both arms. “I’ll protect you.”

Tilting his head back, he takes one last look up before a resigned sigh leaves him and he stretches his arm out.

“Anyone else?”

Liv looks away as if she didn’t hear me, Dax scratches his eyebrows and Liam laughs. “Fuck that. I’m going to win Liv a stuffed animal.”

“What?” Her eyebrows practically kiss her hairline when she whips her head to him.

“Yeah, come on. I’ll get you one bigger than that silly thing Knox won.”

“Always so obsessed with my size, mate,” Knox teases him. Liam drops his fist to the crook of his elbow, lifting that hand and flipping him off.

The bucket liftsand stops a handful of times. The higher we get, the more of the fair I take in. I try not to let mycircling thoughts consume me, but I’m also now hyper-focused on deciphering what’s going on between us. I need this one thing to fit in a nice, neat little box in my head. Everything else can be a scattered mess, but Ineedto know what we’re doing. WhatI’mdoing.

I feel Knox’s intimate gaze on my neck and I bite back my smile.

“What?” I ask.

“You going to let me kiss you now?” I huff a small laugh and shake my head. “So you just let me tease that sweet little pussy of yours, but I can’t kiss you?”

“Knox!” I shriek, batting his chest. I shouldn’t be surprised at his mouth at this point, but my cheeks flame all the same.