Page 72 of Break Points and Face Offs

“Oh absolutely, it’s on!”

After probably the most competitive game of disc-air-slot-thingie ever, Will is victorious, but I at least put up a good fight. I comfort myself with the fact I’ve never played before and there’s no such thing as beginner’s luck.

Will comes around the table and puts an arm around my shoulder.

“Come on, loser buys the hot dogs.”

“You’re going to single handedly clog my arteries.”

“Act like a guy in his twenties for once in your life, Priestley. Trust me, it’s fun.”

I gulp. Am I imagining things, or was there a sexual undertone to that comment?

It’s dark by the time we leave the arcade.

“Shall we go to that amusement park over there?” Will points to the glowing lights in the near distance. The Ferris wheel and spinning rides. My heart stutters for some reason. I’ve never been to an amusement park with a guy before. I have to remind myself this is not a date as Will leads the way.

I keep looking at people as they pass by, wondering what they’re thinking. A group of girls see Will and whisper behind their hands with a giggle. It takes everything in me not to get territorial and stake my claim on him.

“Keep up,” he says, grinning at me as he turns around and starts walking backward.

The park is loud and crowded. Will drags me into line for The Wheel, which is all lit up in red and orange. The lights make Will even more annoyingly attractive. He flashes his big, boyish smile and climbs into a gondola when it’s our turn.

I was afraid it might be rickety and unsafe, but it’s actually quite sturdy—the gondola’s enclosed and larger than I’d thought. Like a much smaller version of the London Eye I went on as a boy. A sight-seeing attraction more than a fairground ride.

The view, however, is quite breathtaking. You can see everything from up here. The strip of lights snaking down the boardwalk. The fairground rides reflecting off the water lapping the shore. The silhouettes of tall buildings stretching out into the city.

I have lived in New Jersey for four years and I have never known how pretty it is from up here. I’ve been so hyper focused on Princeton and being the best that I’ve missed things that have been within touching distance.

When I turn around, Will’s watching me, his expression a mix of surprise and admiration. I open my mouth to ask him what he’s looking at, but he brings his face closer and I shut up. I want him to kiss me so badly it hurts. The word please ping pongs around my head until I’m dizzy. And then his mouth is on mine and I’m closing my eyes, taking him in, tasting him, breathing in his scent.

When he puts his hand on my face, I allow myself to melt into him. He presses his body close to mine and sighs into my mouth.

Oh god.

I let my hands roam greedily over his chest and let out a moan.

Someone clears their throat and we break apart.

Gondolas hold up to six people, and well, ours has four.

“Sorry,” Will apologizes to the couple my parents’ age. The lady smiles while her husband pretends to have his attention taken by something outside the window.

My face is on fire and I can’t look at Will, but I also can’t stop smiling.

18

WILL

My heart pounds in my ears as I lead Priestley through the crowds gathering on the boardwalk. Everyone’s out now in big groups. Families, teenagers, married couples—like that one we just gave an eyeful to in the big wheel.

I don’t care who sees me pulling Priestley down the boardwalk by the hand, I just need to get him alone, away from people, away from everything. I need to have him to myself.

He’s flustered by the time we get into the car. He tries to smooth his hair back into its usual coif, but it doesn’t work.

“Leave it like that.” I say, my voice hoarse. “It looks good.”

His cheeks get pinker than they already were and he gives me a quick nod before starting the car.