“Are you happy?”
I nod. “I think I’m getting there.” It isn’t a resounding yes because I have a long road to heal, but for now? This is the best I can do.
We drive in silence for a bit, and I follow the sun as it drops from the sky, as night takes over, the stars sparkling in the clear sky. Nate pulls up outside of a chain link fence and kills the engine.
“We’re here.” He gets out of the car, and I look around, unsure ofwherethis is.
He opens my car door, and I step out. “Okay, Nate, this is the second time you’ve brought the serial killer vibes andnotthe romantic ones.”
He rolls his eyes and grabs hold of my hand. “Come on, don’t worry, there will be no killing tonight.” He must realise what he said because he quickly adds. “Or any night. That’s your fault with your obsession with serial killers.”
He pulls me over to the fence where there’s a hole in the bottom. I pull my hand free from his and cross my arms. “Please do not tell me that we’re breaking into this place?”
He grins. “Okay, I won’t tell you that. Come on.” Before I can form a response, he dips down and through the hole, pulling some of the fence back when he’s through.
I look up at the sky and shake my head. “Men.”
I follow Nate’s path; his hand is already out, helping me up on the other side, his fingers twining with mine. We walk silently past tall, darkened stalls with their shutters down, and I get the eerie feeling we’re being watched. The only light comes from the moon and stars overhead.
I tug on Nate's hand. “What the hell is this place, and why are we here? I feel like I’m being watched.”
He squeezes my hand. “I’ve got you; I won’t let anything bad happen to you. We’re almost there.”
As we turn the next corner, the space opens up, and we’re free from the creepy closed booths, but now we’re faced with fairground rides.
“Nate, this is creepy as shit.”
His deep chuckle sends vibrations through me. “Just a moment longer.”
“I can’t believe you’ve dragged me along to do something illegal,” I whisper, not wanting to wake whatever is lurking in the dark.
Dramatic much?
Shut up, brain.
We round the dodgems to find, standing proud, the biggest Ferris Wheel that I have ever seen. My eyes travel upwards as my stomach drops. Why did I add this to my list?
I take a step back, my hand dropping from Nate. “I-I want to take this off my list.”
Nate steps towards me, grabbing my hand with both of his. “Absolutely not.”
Like magic, the Ferris Wheel comes to life as the lights switch on around the fairground. My eyes light up, and a smile bloomsacross my face while music floats through the air. When my eyes lock with Nate’s, his smile is so beautiful.
He throws a thumb over his shoulder. “That’s Bert. He looks after this place, and in exchange for a new, handmade bread bin for his wife, he agreed to let us in after hours.” His thumb rubs circles on my hand. “I didn’t think you wanted to do this with a crowd full of people.”
How does this man already know me so well?
I squeeze his hand. “This is perfect.”
Nate opens the cage door to the Ferris Wheel, and although there are bars and you can see out, my chest tightens at how small the space is.
When Nate sits in it, the whole thing rocks, and so does my stomach.
But then he holds out his hand, so I place mine in his and sit next to him.
My eyes fly open as Bert locks the cage door from the outside. “What if we get stuck?”
Bert winks. “Then you’ve got a long trek down.”
