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“He’s not a bad man when it comes down to it, Aves. He takes care of me. He takes care of his people. That person who comes out when he has to take care of business isn’t who I think he really is.”
“You’re honestly going to sit there and defend him?” She shakes her head. “I’m sorry if I find it hard to understand that. I know that there is always more to a story than people think, but this is a lot to process, Zoe. Aren’t you scared?”
“He scares me sometimes. Knowing what he’s capable of scares me. But I know he wouldn’t hurt me. I’ve seen him around his people. He’s kind to them. He makes sure that they’re taken care of. The only time something bad has happened is when it has to happen.”
Ava gets up and walks over to me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and hugging me tight. “I’m worried about you, Zoe. I can imagine what you’ve gotten hauled into, and I don’t like it. I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.” I pull back to look at her, my vision blurring.
I hate that she’s worried for me. “Believe me, Aves. The man I see most of the time is the one I’m happy with.”
“That’s all I want for you.” She lets me go and takes a couple steps back. “I still worry about you, though. This life isn’t easy. I see what the men I work with have to go through. Are you sure that this is what you want?”
“I doubt that this kind of life is what most people want.” I keep applying makeup, trying to distract myself from my deepest fears. “There are days when he walks out the door, and I wonder if he’s going to come back alive. I know that this marriage isn’t traditional, but there’s a part of me that’s grown to care for him.”
“Caring for him is one thing. Spending the rest of your life with him is another.” Ava turns her back to me and starts to look through the outfits on the bed. “If you ever change your mind, you know that you can call me, right? I’ll be here to get you.”
“I’m not going to leave, Aves. Regardless of how this started, I want to be with Christian. There’s something between us. I don’t know if it’s the worst heartbreak of my life waiting or my greatest love, but there’s something there.”
She turns around holding up a pair of ripped black jeans and a white bustier top. “Wear this when you go out tonight. He’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you.”
I smile and finish up my makeup. “Thank you, Aves. You might be the one person in the world who makes me feel close to normal about this relationship.”
“If he makes you happy, then I’m going to be happy for you.” She puts the outfit down and comes back over to tug on a strand of my hair. “Let’s finish getting you ready for this strange friend date of yours.”
Christian holds out his hand for the colorful stamp at the ticket booth. “This is the first time that I’ve been to an amusement park in a long time.”
I grin and wait for my own stamp. “It’s going to be a great time.”
“I still wish that we were doing something a little less in the open.” He looks at me as the cold stamp is put on the back of my hand. “Although, nobody is going to start anything with a bunch of children around.”
We walk through the gate together, the sounds of children laughing filling the air.
The scent of funnel cake and corndogs wafts on the breeze.
My stomach rumbles as I take Christian’s hand and pull him toward the first roller coaster I see.
“It’s the perfect spot. The men who are after you aren’t going to risk an amusement park in the middle of the day. It’s too open.” I squeeze his hand as we join the back of the line. “Thank you for agreeing to this, though. I know it wasn’t your favorite idea for a date.”
He chuckles and leans over to kiss my bare shoulder. “The security team is here too. It makes me feel a little better.”
“Well, get ready. By the time we get off that roller coaster, you’re going to be done worrying about everything else going on. We’re going to have a good time and if anything does happen, the security team is going to take care of it.”
Christian lets go of my hand as we shuffle forward in line. “As long as you don’t make me eat one of those disgusting corndogs, then everything will be fine.”
“Corndogs are a delicacy.”
He pretends to gag as we get closer to the front of the line. “Corndogs are not a delicacy. It’s lips and assholes ground up and wrapped in corn bread.”
People turn around and give Christian a dirty glare.
He nods to them before turning his attention back to me.
I burst out laughing as he rolls his eyes.
If this is a sign for how the rest of the day is going to go, we might get kicked out of the amusement park.
Christian hums to himself as we get on the roller coaster.
