AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think I might have peed a little from laughing so hard.”
“Charming as ever, Zahra.”
Something about the way he says the phrase has me grinning like an idiot.
“I’ve never seen a grown adult react like that on a kid’s ride.” I discreetly dab at the corners of my eyes again.
“You’re not as sweet as everyone thinks you are. Only a wicked woman would call a man out for being afraid like this.”
“Do you think they have it on camera? I’ll buy that insanely overpriced photo in a heartbeat.” My face feels like it might crack in half from how big I’m smiling.
He stares at me for a few seconds before facing forward.
The ride ends too soon. Our cart drags toward the exit and the handlebar lifts, releasing us. Rowan steps out before offering his hand to me.
I stare at it, blinking to check if my eyes are deceiving me. He rolls his eyes once more and grabs my arm, pulling me out before the cart disappears back into the queue. I expect him to let go but he holds on tight as the ride spits us out into a store selling merchandise from the Spooky Castle movie.
“Wait!” I call out as Rowan heads toward the front doors.
He drops my hand, and I walk up to the photo counter. The attendant helps me find the picture I’m looking for.
When he pulls up the image and blows it up, I lose it. My voice becomes hoarse from how hard I laugh.
“Delete it.” Rowan speaks behind me. The warmth of his chest heats my back.
I throw my hand up to stop the employee. “No! Please let me buy it first.” I stare at the photo with longing. I’m an image of grace while Rowan looks about two shades paler with his eyes threatening to burst out of their sockets. And strangest of all, his arm is plastered against my stomach as if he was protecting me. The notion is sweet, and I want a photo to never forget the memory.
I rush to grab my wallet from my purse. Before I have a chance to count my money, Rowan hands the employee a crisp bill over my shoulder. The Dreamland worker prints and wraps the photo up for me.
I turn around and stare at Rowan’s expressionless face. “Why did you pay for it?”
“Because I felt like it.”
His response is meant to throw me off, but I’m onto him. I think Rowan likes me more than he’s willing to let on, even to himself.
25
Zahra
We exit the store with my new present in tow. I smile up at the sky and breathe in the fresh scent of cookies in the air.
Rowan pulls out a package of Tums from his pocket. He pops one in his mouth and rubs his chest.
“Heartburn?” I prop my sunglasses back on my nose.
“Yup.”
“Interesting. I always wondered if you had your heart surgically removed to save you the trouble.”
“I tried. Turns out the doctor didn’t feel comfortable with the low survival rate.”
“Those cowards.”
He releases one of his laughs. The kind that’s so low, it’s hard to hear over the screaming and laughing children around us. The sound sends a warmth through my body I find impossible to ignore.
I really need to get the hell away from Rowan before I do something stupid like kiss him again. “Well, nice seeing you. I better get going—you know, places to go, rides to see and all.” I turn toward the next ride on my list.
His shadow follows me. He grabs onto my elbow and turns me with a softness someone like him shouldn’t possess. Why is it that whenever this man touches me, it feels like the world stops to take notice?
