Page 44

It’s like a game of roulette.

I drink water slowly before pulling out my reusable water bottle from my bag and topping it off. I drank some on the walk and it needs it.

Arran watches me as he drinks his own water. “Stop it. Is there really a pocket in there for your bottle?”

“There’s a strap to keep it upright too,” I laugh, securing it before I close my bag.

“I’m in awe of women’s purses,” he says, collecting our trash. “Ready to listen to some music?”

I nod as I stand up, gathering my dress to carefully escape the bench. It’s easier to sit than get up for me.

Arran comes around and helps me with a small smile. I have a feeling if we were more comfortable with each other, he’d just lift me up. He drops off our trash and leads us into the middle of the crowd as a new band plays. I grin as I realize that I recognize one of their songs, and my lips move as they sing.

A few minutes into standing, I find myself swaying again. My feet begin to lift up and down underneath my dress, my body moving to keep the blood from pooling.

“Can I give you a seat?” Arran asks, bending down to press his lips to my ear.

“Seat?” I ask. I don’t understand what he means.

“On my shoulder. You can probably see better there too.”

“Ah. Okay…”

Arran steps behind me and his hands grab my waist before I’m airborne. I squeak as he lifts me, my butt on his shoulder without breaking a sweat. I fix my dress so it’s not in his eyes and he clamps his arm around my thighs to keep me steady.

My fingers find my way into his hair, and I find that it lays the way it does naturally. I’ve never sat on someone’s shoulder before, and it checks the box as a legitimate chair in my body’s mind. I can’t help but giggle as I watch the band play, and I feel the vibration from Arran’s voice move through my body as he sings along with a song.

Relaxing, I tell myself he’s not going to drop me, and that even if I pass out for some reason, he’ll catch me. I find myself singing again as I enjoy myself, and decide this is a really good first date.

My cheeks hurt from smiling as Arran brings me back down, and his arm bands around my waist. Leaning against him seems to help my issue with blood pooling now that I’ve digested my food, and I breathe in his scent until it’s time to go.

His hand finds mine as he leads me out, and people move out of his way to allow us to pass. It’s beginning to get too crowded for me to enjoy the event, and I’m beginning to get tired. Apparently, word of the free event traveled fast.

“I was starting to get worried you were going to get squished,” he says apologetically.

“I don’t love crowds,” I confess. “It was definitely time to go.”

“Can I ask a question?”

“Sure,” I drawl as we walk.

“Are you naturally twitchy or is there a reason you’re always moving?”

“There’s a reason,” I reply, chuckling.

“I see,” he grins. “You’re going to make me work for this, huh?”

“I’m more worried this may be a deal breaker…”

“Since when is ADHD a deal breaker?” he asks.

“Oh, I would give my baby toe to have ADHD,” I laugh.

“I’m trying to remind myself I do not have a foot fetish,” Arran mumbles. I giggle as I shake my head, covering my mouth to attempt to hold back my laughter. “Your laugh is so pretty. I don’t mind being the object of your laughter. I am being kind of ridiculous. Why do you never wear sandals?”

The subject change makes me blink slowly to follow his direction.

“I wear compression socks year round,” I say. “It keeps my circulation going.”