Page 42 of Dreaming Without Heartache

“Do you realize this is put together from town to town and constantly taken apart?”

“Yes.” Sam is clearly amused. “But people ride these all the time and they have a good time and survive. I’m sure they’re very experienced in what they do.”

“Until something breaks and someone falls out!”

Sam laughs. Her hand finds my face, pulling it toward hers, and she kisses me briefly. “Can you be any more charming?”

How can a woman be this sweet and sexy? “I mean, I can try.”

Finally, after a couple of rounds, our torturous journey ends. We exit the ride and meet up with Kara and Olivia.

“You missed it, Kara,” Maisie says. “We were so high. I could see everything! What do you want to ride next? I’m ready!” She’s so enthusiastic that my heart melts.

“That’s awesome, Maisie.” Kara guides her with an arm on her shoulder. It’s good to see them enjoy time together.

“What’s next?” Steven rubs his hands together, looking from me to Sam.

“Games?” I ask, looking between the two. “Food?”

Sam loops her arm inside the nook of mine. “Let’s get food. I’m hungry.”

“Girls.” Steven jogs up to the kids. “What shall we eat now and vomit up later from the rides?”

They all laugh as we make our way to the concession stand. We order food and drinks, then head to the nearby picnic tables. The girls chat about school, friends, and what rides they want to do next. Before long, we are headed out again. First, we stop at the games—I lose big on many of them—before the kids beg to go into the fun house.

“Okay.” I give in. “Kara, keep an eye on Maisie. I’m trusting you.” I don’t trust her, but I want to be a good aunt and new parent. Sam’s a good example to follow. They scurry off excitedly as I watch in worry and wait.

“Allie!” a female voice calls out, drawing me from my thoughts. I turn to see a woman waving. It’s Lorrie.

“Hi there,” I say as Lorrie comes straight in for a hug. “Oh!” I chuckle.

“It’s so good to see you again. Is your little helper here tonight?”

“Maisie’s in the fun house.”

“What a delight she is.” Lorrie unexpectedly takes my hands in hers. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me out.”

“Oh, it’s no problem at all. That house is a gem.” I turn to introduce Sam, who’s suddenly standing far away at the end of the fun house. I catch her eyes as she watches me. I drop Lorrie’s hands, feeling aware of how this may look.

“I’ve got to get back,” Lorrie says. Her smile is vibrant. I’m so happy to know that I could help her out. “See you soon.”

Chapter Fifteen

I drop the girls off at school and head straight to the A-frame on Hampton Avenue to meet Steven. I didn’t sleep well. Sam’s been quiet since the carnival two days ago. I’ve messaged her, and it takes hours for her to get back to me and then with only short responses. My mind has run rapidly with thoughts of what I could have said or done to make her distant. I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever thought about a woman this much or so intensely. It’s driving me insane.

“Hey, pumpkin,” Steven says as he turns to greet me. “Oh, hell no!” He points a finger at me as I approach. “What’s up with all of this today?” I’m assuming he’s talking about my lack of energy or my dejected expression.

I stare at him, unamused. “I’m having a bad day.”

“Uh-uh,” he says, placing a hand on his hip. “That’s more like multiple days stacked on top of each other strangling the ones below.”

Ignoring his on-point comment, I walk past him to check out the front porch that’s perfect for sitting with friends. It’s such great architecture. This house flip is going to make us mega money. Especially for the price we paid for it. I’ve driven by that place so many times admiring it. Seems like it was plucked from a magazine. The surrounding trees make it seem like it’s not in the city at all.

“I love this house.” I take a deep breath, relaxing into the moment. I love my job. I always have. This is what centers me. “Let’s go inside.” I don’t wait for Steven as I unlock the door and walk into the open area. It needs a lot of work, but this project is something I can get into. It’ll be good to occupy my mind and get the girls involved.

“This space is magnificent!” Steven inhales sharply. “I only saw it once, but I knew this was a steal.”

The open floor plan is truly spectacular. The large living area is adjacent to the kitchen and separated by a large island. An outdated fireplace has lots of potential. The staircase sits to the left with no railing up to the loft. It has a well-designed layout. I’m super impressed.