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It’d be nice if a little of his faith rubbed off on me. “How?”
He searched my face. “Because we finally have each other. The universe may have a fucked-up sense of humor, but you and I belong together. Now that I have you, no one else—not people or broken roller coasters or fucking God—is going to take you from me.”
And now my pulse was racing for entirely different reasons.
“I’d kiss you, but I can’t reach when I’m in the harness.” Nigel shrugged against the padded restraints, as if to prove his point.
For some reason, that made me laugh. Maybe because I was going insane, like Nigel and Landon laughing about scars earlier. “I’m still scared,” I said.
“That’s all right. You’re allowed to be. But I’m here, and I’m never letting go again.” Nigel pressed his palm to mine, and tangled our fingers together.
Nothing would tear us apart again.
Did that mean I was done with Landon?
Great. I was dangling and terrified for my life, and the man I’d loved forever had just all-but told me he felt the same. And I was thinking about how I could also keep the guy watching us from one row back.
How messed up was I?
21
nigel
Iwasn’t afraid of dying, though if someone pressed for the truth, I’d be forced to admit I was afraid of death.
Not mine. But after losing my mother, my boy, others I’d loved, there was always an underlying tension asking mewho’s next?
When the coaster stalled on the roof, the view was both beautiful and nauseating. I wasn’t worried that we wouldn’t make it out of the situation intact—we’d be fine. But Megan’s fear was tangible, and it summoned one of my own. What if something happened to her before…
For years I’d told myself the time was never right, and it seemed like a fair statement. I was with someone when she was single, she was with someone when I was single.
But at this moment, it all seemed flimsy. I couldn’t let her go. Not without making sure she knew this was more than whim.
The ride whirred to life again, and our car slid delicately back into its starting position. The instant things had stopped and our restraints lifted, Megan scrambled off and made her way toward the center of the roof.
I was barely aware of apologies from the staff and promises of compensation, but before I could follow Megan, Landon grabbed my arm.
“I’m going to wander the strip for a few hours,” he said. “Maybe longer. I’ll meet you both back at the room. Text me if you need me to stay away longer.”
This was where I should let him go. I could have Megan’s time for a few hours and then we’d find Landon after.
But it didn’t feel right. Sending him away. It felt like I was about to cut him out of something he should be a part of. “You don’t have to go,” I said before I could stop myself.
“I do. Because if I were in your place, I know exactly what I’d want to do right now.”
I searched his face, and saw understanding looking back at me. The loneliness underneath, the whispers of a life that left invisible scars like my own, was there too. That ached. “That doesn’t mean you need to vanish.”
“It does.” Landon nodded. “Tell Megan I hope she’s okay.” He turned on the words and headed toward a nearby staircase.
I wanted to chase him down, but I needed more to find Megan. As much as it would be better to bring Landon back, I already knew he wouldn’t come, no matter how much I asked.
I caught up with Megan, who was in a throng of people waiting for the elevator, since all of the rides were closed for the rest of the night.
Some of the people were grumbling and others were grateful, but I only cared about one person in the pack. Grasping Megan’s hand, I pulled her away from the group, to a tucked away corner.
“Where’s Landon?” she asked.
Because of course she did. I was aching to tell her how much I loved her, and she wanted to know where the other guy had gone. I should be spitting flames of envy, and instead I got it. It was as simple as that. I knew why he left, and I knew why she asked about him, and at this moment, I couldn’t do a thing about either one. “He left,” I said.
