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33

REMY

T he organized chaos unfolds around me, and my body aches. The carnival breaks down with practiced efficiency—rides are dismantled, tents collapse, and equipment is packed away.

Eden works with Tilly at the ticket booth, boxing supplies and paperwork. Their movements are quick but thorough, leaving no trace behind. Phoenix hovers near Tilly, his protective instinct obvious even as he helps Lars load equipment.

“The Ferris wheel’s almost down,” Sofia calls out, wiping sweat from her brow. She’s been working non-stop with the crew, her usual polish replaced by determination. Aurora and Lily tackle the game stalls, their arms full of stuffed animals and other prizes being packed into crates.

Flora moves between tasks, helping wherever needed, while Colt is slumped in his chair. His wounded shoulder keeps him from heavy lifting. Alice carries boxes of concession supplies to the trucks.

“Time check,” I bark out, scanning the grounds.

“Three hours till dawn,” Nash responds, wincing as he helps guide a section of the tent down.

I watch the other carnival workers pitch in, their faces a mask of exhaustion and determination. A juggler—Mike, I think his name is—struggles with a heavy generator alongside one of our fire-eaters, Damien. They don’t know about the Martinez crew or our operation. Still, they work without complaint or questioning why we must leave so suddenly.

“Need help with that?” I call out, noting their strain.

“We got it,” Damien grunts.

Sarah, our contortionist, weaves between groups carrying bundles of electrical cables. Two clowns, still in partial makeup, wrestle with dismantling the carousel’s decorative panels. The fortune teller, Astrid, stacks her props into labeled boxes with mechanical precision.

“Everyone’s pulling their weight,” Eden states beside me, her voice tinged with admiration.

I nod, watching Jerry, Duke’s replacement, direct a team of acrobats in securing the Gravitron’s components. These people think it’s just another emergency move, maybe bad weather coming or permit issues.

“The regular crew doesn’t deserve this chaos,” I admit to Eden, ensuring no one else can hear. “But they’re stronger than they look.”

A group of dancers from the burlesque tent forms a chain, passing boxes of costumes down the line with practiced efficiency. The sword swallower leads a team securing the fun house mirrors.

Eden kneels down to pick up a heavy box of sound equipment from her makeshift radio booth. Without a word, I take the other end, our movements falling into sync as we carry it to the waiting truck.

Her hair is tied back in a messy ponytail, strands falling around her face as she works. There’s dirt on her cheek and determination in her eyes. Even now, amid this chaos, she’s beautiful.

“We’re heading north,” I say, helping her stack the equipment. “You okay with that?”

Eden pauses, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. A smile spreads across her face. “Wherever you go, I go. That’s not even a question anymore.”

Something tightens in my chest at her words. She reaches out, her fingers brushing against my arm.

“These people,” she continues, gesturing to the bustling carnival grounds, “are my family now. And you...” Her voice catches. “You’re my home.”

I pull her close, not caring who sees. Around us, everyone continues the frantic teardown, but for a moment, it’s just us. Her words echo in my head—family, home. Things I never thought I’d have, things I never thought I’d want.

“We need to finish up,” I murmur against her hair, but I don’t let go right away, and neither does she.

I feel Eden’s fingers dig into my shirt, her grip tightening instead of letting go.

“Just another minute,” she whispers against my chest. “Please.”

My hand finds the back of her neck, and my thumb strokes the soft skin there. I let myself focus on her breathing and heartbeat.

“I never thought I could feel this way,” Eden says, her voice muffled. “Like I’m finally whole.”

“You make me feel human,” I admit, the words coming easy. “When I’m with you, the monster inside quiets.”

She pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes shining. “I love both sides of you. The monster and the man.”

“And I love all of you,” I murmur, pressing my forehead to hers. “Your darkness matches mine perfectly.”

Eden’s smile is soft and genuine. “I’m so happy, Remy, even with everything happening.”

I brush my thumb across her cheek, wiping away a smudge of dirt. “You’re the missing piece I never knew I needed.”

I hold Eden close for another moment, savoring her warmth against me, when Lars’s voice cuts through our bubble.

“For fuck’s sake, you two. Stop making out and get on with it. There’ll be plenty of time to stare into each other’s eyes on the fucking bus.”

Eden stifles a laugh against my chest.

“Jealous, Lars? Alice not giving you enough attention lately?” I shoot back, grinning as he flips me off.

“At least I can keep it in my pants during a teardown,” he grumbles. “Some of us are actually working here.”

I reluctantly release Eden, keeping one hand on her back. “Like you weren’t just sneaking looks at Alice by the cotton candy stand.”

Lars’s ears turn red, and he busies himself with a heavy box. “Shut up and help me with this sound system, asshole.”

Eden squeezes my arm before stepping away to help Tilly with another load. I watch her go for a second, still amazed at how naturally she fits into our world.

“You’re doing it again,” Lars says, dropping a cable coil at my feet.

“Doing what?”

“That lovesick puppy look. It’s disturbing on your ugly face.”

I grab the cables. “Better than your constipated expression whenever Alice walks by.”

We share a laugh that only comes from years of friendship and shared secrets. Despite his gruff exterior, I know Lars understands. He’s found his version of peace with Alice, just as I have with Eden.