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“Hey Mac,” Audrey turned her devious smile on her roommate, “you’re a guy.”
“Thank you for noticing.” Mac frowned into his mug.
“If you had a date with your dream girl, where would you take her?” Audrey twisted a strand of silky hair around her fingers. “We’re trying to source some ideas for Maggie.”
Mac blew on the steaming liquid in his cup, his lips forming a soft circle. He took a sip, and his eyes met Maggie’s as he looked up. He held her gaze as he tilted his head, thoughts flitting behind his dark eyes.
“If I were feeling romantic, I’d take her to the county fair. It’s setting up tomorrow, so perfect timing.”
Audrey nodded like it was a great idea.
“Why the fair?” Maggie asked. She wasn’t sure what was romantic about fried dough, farm animals, and monster trucks. It was a great idea for a movie, but sweat and crowds didn’t sound all that enticing.
“Because,” Mac said, “it’s a family friendly event in the middle of the day. The temptation to find a spot alone, to press a kiss to her neck, or slide my hands somewhere I shouldn’t would be overwhelming, impossible. I’d spend the day trying to make her smile while also keeping an eye out for a secluded corner so that I could get my hands on her. We’d trade something sweet between us, like a giant lollipop, or a cotton candy, or an ice cream and I wouldn’t even notice how it tasted because I’d only taste her. Just when I thought I couldn’t handle it anymore, when I’d be ready to consider public indecency charges and how they’d be worth it for a taste of her mouth, I’d take her on the Ferris wheel, and we’d sit with our thighs and hips and sides pressed to each other. I’d loop an arm around the back of her seat, and when we got stuck at the very top, with the fairgrounds spilling out below us, I’d kiss her like I’d wanted to all day. I’d kiss her until the wheel started moving and we’d have to get off. Kiss her until the other people riding with us either applauded or shot us dirty looks.”
Maggie could barely hear over the sound of her pulse thudding in her ears.
“It’s the perfect place to imagine a future together,” Mac said. “Bringing your own kids there, while reliving the past, like high schoolers on their very first date.”
“The fair, you said?” Audrey asked, her face a little flushed.
“That’s what I’d do.” Mac shrugged and tore his gaze away from Maggie. “I’ll be out back if anyone needs me.” He said and took his coffee cup with him on his way out the door.
Maggie thought she nodded, or waved, but she couldn’t be sure. She was having enough trouble pulling in a breath. The butterflies in her stomach had opted for tap shoes, and they were having a field day on her internal organs, and her cheeks burned so hot it felt like they could burst into flames. Maggie pressed her hands against the cool counter, shocked to see her limbs trembling against the Formica. Not outright shaking, but wavering. She pressed her cheek to the faux-stone countertop, surprised steam didn’t rise from the point of contact.
“We’re going to the damn fair.” Audrey said and Maggie said, “We?”
“Hell yes,” Audrey said and fanned her own flaming cheeks. “I’m making Cal take me after that. They’re related. If I’m lucky, Cal will have similar thoughts. About me. We’ll double date.”
“I’ll tell Dean,” Maggie said.
CHAPTER SIX
Maggiecouldn’trememberthelast time she had visited a county fair. She’d definitely never done so on a date. Dean pulled the car into the dirt lot and parked in the sea of other vehicles. With all the dust, Maggie felt a little guilty that they hadn’t brought her beater instead of Dean’s Mercedes, but he’d been all in when she mentioned the fair and had picked her up that morning with a smile. He’d even held the passenger door open for her and handed her into the car.
Dean popped the passenger door and held his hand out for her. Maggie took it. His palm was warm and smooth against hers and kicked up a few tiny flutters in her belly as he pulled her out of the vehicle, her front almost smacking up against his. The dull roar of the crowded fairgrounds was a buzz in her ears, and if she looked around Dean’s gigantic body the red and white tents and the fencing housing all the animals were just visible. The curve of a Ferris wheel rose above it all, calling to her.
“This was a fun idea.” Dean wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the fairground entrance. “Sweet, like you.”
Maggie grinned up at Dean, wishing she could see his green eyes, but he’d hidden them behind a set of mirrored aviator sunglasses. Her own reflection stared back at her, pointed chin, upturned nose, and all.
“Hot,” Maggie said.
Dean said, “That too,” and pulled his t-shirt away from his body to catch a breeze. It was still spring, but the weather had turned towards summer, and while the temperature itself was only hovering around the seventies, the sun and the humidity were already closing in even at ten in the morning. “What do you want to do first?” Dean paid both of their entrance fees and the ancient man inside the booth stamped their hands with smiley faces. “Food? Rides? Animals?”
“Everything.” Maggie said. She definitely wanted to go on the Ferris wheel, but not immediately. It would be the perfect end to a chapter, not the beginning. First, they could walk around, hold hands, talk about important stuff, and fall in love. Her phone buzzed from her back pocket at the same time Dean’s buzzed in his shorts.
“Maggie! Dean!” Audrey fought her way through the throng of people dragging Cal right along with her. “Hi! I just texted you guys!”
Dean smiled and hugged his sister, and Maggie forced herself to smile too. She’d thought they’d have a few minutes alone before dating in front of an audience.
“Hi Audrey,” Maggie waved at her best friend, who looked like she belonged on a movie set in her red gingham dress and cowboy boots. “Cal.” She nodded to the man with his arm wrapped around Audrey’s waist. “Mac.”
What was Mac doing here? She had expected a double date, not a group encounter. He wore a pair of worn jeans, and she half expected another sweater. The man only ever dressed for lectures or for bladesmithing, but his University of Michigan shirt was a welcome surprise. He still wore his customary frown, thick brows pinched together as he took in the throngs of people.
“We didn’t want to leave him home alone,” Audrey said with a smile for her grumpy roommate. “It was his idea to come here.”
Mac’s scowl darkened. “You make it sound like I was going to pee on the carpet. I’m not a puppy.”
