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CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Hayden
“I’m soexcited to be here.” I stick my hand in the plastic bag of cotton candy we got as soon as we stepped onto the midway.
“It’s been years since I’ve come to the Thunderfest.” Danny puts his arm around my neck as we walk along the main thoroughfare.
“I missed this more than I thought I would.”
“One of the comforts of home?”
“Yeah, but you don’t realize how much you’re going to miss it until you aren’t around all the time.”
“Sometimes, I feel like I missed out on a lot. Most of my family doesn’t live here and the ones that do, either they like us or they don’t.”
This is a topic we haven’t discussed and I wonder if now’s the time to do that. “Why doesn’t your family who lives here get along?”
“It’s not that we don’t get along.” He pulls me closer as we stroll. “They don’t claim us. Little known fact about me. My grandfather is the mayor.”
We come to a complete stop in the middle of the crowd. “Are you serious?”
“Dead.”
“Danny, I’m sorry.” I wrap my hand around his neck, rubbing my thumb along his jawline.
Turning into my touch, he kisses my palm. “Don’t be sorry. It’s just how life goes and that’s what I’ve learned. Him not wanting anything to do with me says more about him than me.” He shrugs.
“You’re a good man.” I pull him in for a kiss in front of everyone.
“I try,” he whispers as we separate, “but right now, I don’t wanna talk about that anymore. I’d much rather have a good time with you.”
“I can guarantee we’ll do that.” I grin, running my hand down his arm and clasping our fingers together.
“Then let’s go.”
* * *
“C’mon Dad,”Trinity whines. “Please ride with me.”
“I don’t think I can,” Cam grumbles, holding his stomach. “I shouldn’t have eaten that last bit of cotton candy.”
“I can’t ride by myself,” she groans.
Danny and I are standing behind them and I can understand the little girl in front of us. I remember being the little girl in front of us, wanting my dad to ride a ride with me, but him having to do something with my sister. Or, he’d had to do so much that he was tired. Glancing up at Danny, we have a whole conversation just by looking in each other’s eyes.
“Go on.” He pushes me toward them.
“I’ll ride with her.” I put my hand on Cam’s shoulder so that he’ll turn around. “Danny doesn’t really wanna go on it anyway.”
“You sure?” He asks the both of us.
“Yeah, not too shot in the ass about going on something called The Scrambler,” he laughs, looking at his superior. “We can go sit over there. Wait on them.” He points to an empty picnic table.
The two of us girls watch as they leave.
“Have you been having fun?” I ask as we wait our turn in line.
“Yeah, but I wish Natalie was here with us.”
