Page 44 of If We Meet Again

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t do that.” Ashley leaned on the bench in front, hands clasped together, staring deep into Megan’s eyes. She couldn’t help but smilein response.

“It’s embarrassing.”

“Come on. It can’t be that bad.” Ashley reassured her.

Coyly, Megan looked down at her hands. “Is it weird that I will miss you?” Immediately after she’d said it, she covered her face with her hands. Ashley found it amusing, quickly reaching over to pull her hands down so she could look into the piercing emerald green eyes when she spoke.

“Not at all. In fact, I’ll miss you too.”

Megan’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Weirdly, yes.”

“Why do you think that is?”Megan asked.

Ashley considered the question posed. “I don’t know.” She looked out towards the beach, focusing purely on the ebb and flow of the sea. Then she said the first thing that came to mind, “I think we have a connection. It doesn’t necessarily have to be on a romantic level. That is everyone’s first instinct, but sometimes life throws a curveball or two and here we are. You leave in two days and I don’t know when I’ll see you again.” Ashley shrugged.

“So, we don’t make it anything more than what it is, right? I’m leaving, but there’s no harm in staying friends.”

It seemed simple enough. “Exactly.”

“So, I have a proposition.”

Ashley raised her eyebrows, intrigued. “Okay.”

“How about we forget that I’m leaving and for today we just enjoy each other’s company?”

Ashley nodded. “I can do that.”

“Okay then, so where to next?”

The boardwalk filled up suddenly. The entrance to Luna Park became crowded as people gathered below the giant archway guarded by the grinning clown.

“Follow me.”

The park was filled with rides, each one offering its own unique thrill. Thunderbolt was the newest addition; Ashley had heard about it in the newspapers. The large steel rollercoaster had been built a year prior. The feeling of adrenaline took over, they were quickly strapped into the nine-seater cart and the restraint system came forcefully down around them. The cart set off and the ascent towards the 90-degreedrop began.

“Oh, God.” Megan reached for Ashley’s hand, she could feel her nails grasping tightly. “Shit. This is high.”

“Are you ready?” Ashley yelled.

“No.”

They looked directly at each other as the cart dropped. The G-force was enough to make their eyes widen like they’d seen a ghost. The cart catapulted into one turn after another. The twisted layout erupted into the sky, each plunge causing another loud roar from the people on board. The ride eventually came to a stop and Ashley prized Megan’s hand off her own, the grip tight enough to cause a brief loss ofcirculation.

“You have one hell of a grip,” she said, shaking her hand dramatically as they climbed down from the platform.

“I was clinging on for my life.”

“No round two for thatone, then?”

“Never.”

“You didn’t strike me asa chicken.”