Page 133 of Power Play

Each promise seemed to strike at a part of me nobody knew was wounded.

I shifted Walter to one arm and reached for Ryan with the other. His fingers immediately took mine.

We wandered deeper into the fair with the panda bouncing against my hip and Ryan pretending he regretted winning it every time the giant head smacked him. He bought fresh-cut fries even though I already had a basket because he decided mine had gone cold while he fought for Walter’s custody.

When I told him I wanted to try the fried Oreos, he ordered them without commenting when I ate only half of one. He finished the rest without looking at my plate or mentioning what I hadn’t eaten.

I loved him for things he didn’t even know he was doing.

The realization arrived so naturally that my steps slowed.

I loved him, or I was falling into some terrifying place close enough that arguing terminology felt pointless.

Ryan tugged gently on our joined hands. “What happened?”

“I was thinking.”

“That’s dangerous.”

I smiled and kept walking because the truth had arrived too quickly for me to trust it outside my own head.

A group of college-aged guys passed us in the opposite direction. One looked at me, then looked again.

Ryan’s hand left mine, but before I could process the loss, his arm settled around my shoulders and pulled me into his side.

I looked up at him while he continued watching ahead.

“Did you just territorialize me?”

“That isn’t a word.”

“It is now.”

His mouth twitched. “I was cold.”

“You’re wearing a T-shirt in August.”

“Sudden chill.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

He lowered his mouth to my temple. “And you like me.”

“Unfortunately.”

“Keep saying that.”

“Why?”

“Because your face says something else every time.”

My heart stumbled.

The closer we got to the rides, the more people I recognized. Two girls from design waved, and I waved back while Ryan’s arm remained around me. A guy from one of my electives called my name a moment later.

“Charm!”

I turned.