Page 7 of Love at Full Tilt

Phoenix’s Landing, Fableland

Orlando, FL

One of the first attractions open to the public in Phoenix’s Landing was the walk-through of Reddingshire Castle.

An exact replica of Princess Regina’s home from Fable Industry’s first major blockbuster, Percivel Night, this attraction allowed fans to experience iconic scenes from the film happening around, above, and below them as they made their way through the castle halls.

While by modern standards the animatronics seem hokey and out of date, they were state of the art when the park first opened, causing some park attendees to pass out from fear or surprise.

It’s barely ten in the morning, but the air brims with the scents of cinnamon and cotton candy and buttery popcorn.

I can’t help but inhale as I herd Issy and Tess through the exit of Dudley’s Tailspin. Our feet clap loudly against the metal steps, almost drowning out their excited chatter about the ride’s most epic twists and turns.

“What about you, Lia?” Issy’s brown eyes are wide. “This must have felt huge. You just rode your first Fableland attraction!”

“It was amazing!” Hopefully, neither of them can tell how badly I’m faking my excitement.

I barely remember the ride. Even though it’s been less than fifteen minutes since I left Mason at Dudley’s Stash (thank you, front-of-the-line passes), in my mind, hordes of scavenger hunt contestants have already found the three clues and secured their places for tomorrow.

Two people scurry by us, contestant pins prominently displayed on their shirts, and my stomach drops further. They’re headed straight for Reddingshire Castle, which is where we need to be.

I pause for a second. “Is it okay if I focus on the next two clues before we hit more rides?” Before either of them can answer, I hastily add, “With our FOTL passes, we won’t miss out on anything because of wait times, and I’ll be able to enjoy myself so much more if I’m not worried about getting the clues on time.

” I concentrate on Issy so I can avoid witnessing Tess’s expression.

None of this was in her itinerary. “Five people are going to get eliminated today. That’s five percent of the contestants.

” Maybe appealing to her love of statistics and numbers will soften the blow.

But when I finally sneak a look at her, Tess’s gaze is caught by something over my shoulder. “Hot guy,” she mumbles.

At least she didn’t point.

“Tess, if I don’t want to go on any other rides until I find the clues, then I definitely don’t want to chase some random dude around the park.”

“He’s not random. You were talking to him yesterday at that welcome thing.”

My body (or my lizard brain or whatever part of me refuses to listen to the logic in my head) betrays me, and I whirl around before I can think better of it. We’ve started walking again, and I find myself looking at Mason.

He’s beside the red-umbrella-capped popcorn cart across the street, leaning against a fence. His baseball hat is spun forward, and his short sleeves are rolled up against the oppressive Florida sun, exposing solid biceps.

My heart pounds like the drum section of a marching band. What is he doing? He should be getting the second clue by now. Unless he’s already finished for the day. Ushering me one step closer to elimination.

I grab Tess’s arm and turn us around. The last thing I need is for him to see us gawking.

On my other side, Issy mimes a scream. “I’m about to watch a romance novel unfold.”

“No distractions, remember?” I say. “This is not Operation Suck Face. It’s Operation Freedom.”

“But you do, don’t you? Want to suck his face?” Tess’s grin widens to the point I could count every one of her teeth.

God, please let her not start listing other body parts to suck. “I don’t even know him.”

“We can fix that,” Issy points out. Beaming, she pretends to strut toward him.

I yank her back beside me, shaking my head. I don’t have time for this.

As I hurry ahead, a sourness fills the pit of my stomach. We have to pass by Mason to get to the castle. It’s the only way without backtracking.

He’s probably going to gloat if he sees us.

And see us he does, because he falls into step with me as soon as we get close. Almost as if I were who he was waiting for.

“Uh, hi,” I mutter.

He’s just stuffed a handful of caramel popcorn into his mouth and greets me with a sheepish, closed-mouth smile, his cheeks bulging like a chipmunk preparing for winter.

It’s cuter than I want to think about. Despite his height and broad shoulders, there’s something boyish about him.

Sweet. Like he has no idea how good-looking he is.

Or maybe he’s one of those rare people who doesn’t care.

“What are you doing here?”

“Obviously, I’m practicing for Squirt’s eating contest,” he says once he swallows. Though he doesn’t open his mouth, his smile gets bigger somehow, and that steady gaze of his is locked on me.

“That contest was canceled five years ago after a kid almost died from an undetected corn allergy.”

Smooth, Lia. Nothing says calm and collected like well-actually-ing a guy while simultaneously exhibiting your deep well of useless Fableland factoids.

“Poor Jimmy Anderson.” Mason shakes his head.

“You know him?”

Mason nods. “I’m from Orlando. Jimmy and I grew up on the same street. His mom never let him eat junk food, so he’d never had popcorn or corn on the cob or even corn syrup. He had to lie his way into the contest.”

“What?” Issy gapes at him. “How could someone live without having had popcorn?” From her sigh and the distant look in her eyes, you’d think we were talking about star-crossed lovers.

Mason hooks a thumb at the nearby cart. “Best in the park right here.”

“I need some of that.” Issy digs for her wallet until Tess gently slaps her hand down.

“No. We might be able to stick to our schedule if we hurry.” I don’t miss the way she glances at me like I’ve just canceled prom ten minutes after she arrived. “Take some of his and let’s get moving.”

Issy and I burst out laughing as we watch Tess’s small form march ahead. “Did she really offer me his popcorn?”

Another closed-mouth smile pulls at Mason’s lips. “I’m pretty sure she didn’t offer.”

Everyone keeps up a brisk pace, so it’s not long before we reach Reddingshire Castle.

By then, there’s nothing left of Mason’s popcorn but the dregs of unpopped kernels.

The moment he offered us the open bag, the three of us descended with grabby hands.

I hide my last two pieces in my palm like they’re rare treasures.

I’ve never tasted anything with such a perfect mixture of salty and sweet.

Mason remains by my side while Tess and Issy flit ahead, their heads pressed together as they examine Issy’s phone.

“Are you already done?” I ask. He still hasn’t explained why he waited for me, and why he’s stayed with us.

“With the clues?”

I nod.

“Nope.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

He shrugs. “Making sure you know where to go.”

“I’m starting to think maybe you don’t know where to go, and you’re hoping I’ll fix that for you.” I smirk at him.

“I know Smokey is in Reddingshire Castle.”

A small buzz of triumph flits through me. I’m two for two on these clues. “Then do you know what the word contest means?” I joke.

“It’s still early. No need to start crossing swords yet.” Mason balls up the empty popcorn bag and tosses it into a nearby trash can. His eyes, which in the sunlight I can now see are a deep grayish blue, narrow slightly. “Honestly? I was thinking maybe we should team up.”

My feet freeze to the asphalt at his words. “What?” I tilt my head. “Like form an alliance? What are we, on Survivor ?” That seems like a recipe for disaster.

A girl around my age with dark-brown skin and waist-length braids crosses in front of us and hurries toward the FOTL queue. A contestant pin is secured to one of the raccoon ears on her headband. Another person ahead of me. Another chance to lose. The muscles in my shoulders yank a little tighter.

Mason and I watch her disappear into the attraction. “Aren’t we?” he mumbles. “I bet the clues are going to get harder and more people are going to get cut as the days go on. We’ll have a better shot getting to the end if we work together.”

I hate that he’s not wrong. And it’s not as if Tess and Issy have been much help. If I didn’t know better, I’d think those two had never watched a Fable Industry movie in their lives, never mind once been superfans themselves.

But what happens when we get to those final days? It doesn’t matter how much Mason helps me (or how hot he is). I won’t let him win. I can’t. I need that cash prize. Does he feel the same? Is he prepared to lose to me?

I can’t bring myself to ask. I want to win too bad to talk him out of this. If even one of the ninety-nine other contestants roaming this park isn’t my competition for a little while, it feels like a leg up.

I need every extra leg I can get.

“Okay, so if we do this, you get access to all my superfan knowledge. But what do I get out of the arrangement?” I guide us toward the castle, my feet picking up speed. I need that second clue cleared.

His hand catches my wrist. “I’ll show you.”

At his touch, I stop short, and my heart hiccups in my chest. He lets go a second later, but the feeling of his hand pressed to my skin remains long after it’s gone.

You’d think I’d touched a live wire, not another human being. I try to shake off the sensation. I hardly know this guy. I should not be this… aware …of him. It will only throw me off my game. That’s the worst thing that could happen. I have to stay sharp. On top of things.

Mason nods for me to follow, then heads away from the castle entrance.

Tess and Issy fall back to join me as I stare after him. “Ah, the boring tour is this way,” Tess says, pointing in the opposite direction.

“I know how to get to the clue faster,” Mason calls back.

That’s all the three of us need to hear to hurry in his wake.