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We head to the ticket booth and his friends go first and pay for their tickets and bands. Lane steps up to the booth ahead of Exie and me.
My head tilts down and I slide my hand in the pocket of my worn, ripped jeans to retrieve the money for my ticket and the band. Lane turns around with two extra bands and two extra tickets, one for me and his sister.
“How much do I owe you?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “It’s on me,” he says with a smile.
“That’s really sweet, but I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair. You paid for the bracelet, and I would feel really bad for you to pay for my ticket.”
“It’s okay, Aura,” Exie chimes in with a laugh. “My brother’s loaded.”
I swallow nervously and hold out the money in my hand to him. “I can’t. Please take it.”
He takes the opportunity to place the band on my wrist. He looks at the money like it’s a disease. “I’m not going to take it, so it’s best you put it away. It’s my treat.”
Taking a deep sigh, I reluctantly place the money in my pocket. “Thank you.”
He nods and looks up behind him to his friends waiting for us by the gate. “Let’s go. What would you girls like to go on first?”
I know he means the rides and I look around and figure to it is better to go on the faster rides before getting food. So you don’t get sick and throw up.
“I think we should hit the fast rides first before we eat so we don’t get sick,” Exie says.
That makes perfect sense and I’m glad she was thinking the same thing. The last thing I need is to throw up in front of everyone. I’ve been to one fair, and it was when I was younger. My parents always encouraged me to go but I would feel guilty about letting them spend the money.
“Okay.”
We walk ahead of Lane, Blake, and Dex. “Told you he does,” Exie says softly with laughter in her eyes.
Lane is attractive but I have enough with Kalum and my personal issues right now. My thoughts go to Kalum, wondering if it’s possible to run into him. I hope not. I know if I see him with Sarah, it would be the same as walking over a thousand needles.
We walk toward the midway rides and the sun is setting in the sky, the lights from the rides becoming brighter. The smell of cotton candy mixed with corn on the cob billows in the air from the tents as we pass by.
The ringing of the bell when someone wins a prize from games set up on the other side echoing as we make it to the first ride. You can hear the laughter from people riding rides and the generators making a humming noise as you pass each concession, ride, and carnival game.
We wait in line, and Lane is behind me with his hand in his pocket. His friends are talking about their latest build in the shop and Exie is scrolling through her phone. When it is our turn, the ride operator stops me from getting on the ride with Exie.
“I’m sorry, girls, you ride separately, or you ride with someone bigger. The ride is really fast and it’s for your safety.” He points to the sign that shows smaller individuals need to ride with someone taller.
I’m petite and short for my age, and Exie is about my height. Lane steps forward and places his hand on my lower back. “Exie, ride with Dex. I’ll ride with Aura.”
We get on the ride and Lane makes sure I’m secure. The ride goes up and swings in the air in a clockwise motion. He double checks the straps, making sure we are both secure. He places his arm behind me and gets the thumbs up from Dex, signaling Exie is strapped.
I’m nervous and I’m afraid the gravity will have me thrown against Lane. I don’t know him well enough to feel comfortable around him.
If it was Kalum, you wouldn’t be thinking like that.I don’t know why I’m comparing. Kalum is in this same fair on a date with his girlfriend. Lane takes his baseball hat before the ride begins and places it behind his back. His straight black hair is flat and falls over his brow. Reminding me again that he looks like the old school Josh Hartnett.
“Has anyone ever told you that you look like a young Josh Hartnett?” I blurt, instantly regretting my thoughts leaving my mouth.
He chuckles. “Sometimes. Is that a good thing or bad thing?” he says, licking his lips.
My cheeks heat. He is so close I can smell the smell of his cologne. Not too light but not offensive.
I shrug. “Good, I guess.”
Now I’m shamelessly flirting and he is flirting back. He leans forward and whispers in my ear. “I was trying to get you to admit that you find me good looking.”
My cheeks heat. I do find him good looking but I’m not going to admit that. Look what happened last time.
