Page 64 of The Quiet After The Fall

“The disembodied head…It was creepy.” She laughs. “I can’t believe we ever went back in there.”

“I only did because you cried about it.”

She scowls at me. “You were scared.”

“I was not scared.”

“You grabbed my arm.”

“I was steadying you.”

“Whatever you say.” She’s smiling fully now, real and unguarded, and I’d say anything to keep it there.

We drift on. Past the darkening midway, past the last of the food carts rattling their shutters down. The park thins out around us until it’s almost just us and a few employees anxiously waiting to get home.

Then the speakers crackle overhead, and a voice that can only be described as aggressively cheery fills the park.

Hiya, Wonder World friends! This is your pal Giggles letting you know the magic is wrapping up for the night! The gates will be closing in fifteen minutes, so start making your way to the exit and remember, the fun never really ends when you carry Wonder World in your heart!

Sawyer stares at the nearest speaker. “That is genuinely disturbing.”

“You mean Giggles, your boyfriend?”

She turns to look at me with an expression of pure offense. “Absolutely not.”

“You’ve been coming here for years. That’s a long relationship.”

“I want you to know I genuinely cannot stand you.”

“Giggles would be devastated to hear that. He only wants to spread fun and magic.”

“Knox.” She glares at me. “Stop.”

“He’s carried Wonder World in his heart for you this whole time, Thorne. Years of loyalty.”

She’s trying not to laugh and failing completely. “You’re an ass.”

She’s quiet on the drive back to her car, but this time her body looks different. Looser, content. Her head’s resting back on the seat and she’s leaning slightly closer to me than necessary. That small change is everything.

The market comes up on my right, her car still where she left it. I park behind it, waiting for her to say something first. She doesn’t, so I say the first thing that comes to me.

“Happy birthday.”

Her eyes meet mine, a glint in them from the streetlight. “Thanks.”

She gets out and pauses at her hood, grabbing her keys. My heart races as I wait for something, anything else.

But she gets in and starts to drive.

“Fuck.” I pull out behind her and follow the whole way back to her motel, wondering the entire time when she’d slam on her breaks, or pull over and give me shit. But she doesn’t.

When she gets out of her car, keycard in hand, I follow.

She doesn’t say a word as she swipes the card and pushes the door open. Then she turns to me, rolling her lip between her teeth. I bring my hand to her waist and pull her against my chest, slow, giving her every chance to stop me.

There’s only an exhale of breaths—mine, hers…I can’t tell.

I cup her chin and inch closer. We’re so close I can taste the mint on her breath. I want her mouth. I want all of it…every soft curve, every sharp edge, all of her. I want to hear her moan my name again, tell me I’m the only one.