Page 157 of Fame & Chaos

This morning, I saw an advertisement on television for a traveling funfair that’s rolled into town, and it seemed like the perfect way to spend the afternoon with Indi, seeing as we both miraculously have the night off together.

Something fun.

Lighthearted.

A chance to show off my superior sideshow skills and keep my girl smiling all day long.

Indi walks into the living room carrying two mugs of coffee, and the second she smiles at me, my chest does that stupid fucking thing where it feels too tight and too full all at once.

“So, I was thinking—”

“Oh no,” she interrupts immediately. “Did it hurt?” She grins while I roll my eyes dramatically.

“Yes, actually, it did. So you better listen carefully, or my suffering was for nothing.”

Laughing softly to herself, she sits beside me and places the mugs on the coffee table. “I’m listening.”

“I wanna take you out today.”

“Okay…” Her eyes light up instantly. “Movies? I wanna see that new Marvel movie. You know I love the hot men and action.”

I chuckle at her enthusiasm and shake my head. “Nope, I was thinking something more carnival-ish.”

Her brows furrow. “Huh?”

“A funfair’s come into town. Thought we could go. Win some giant stuffed animals. Eat terrible food. I’ll dominate all the shooting games and impress you with my masculinity.”

That earns me an immediate suspicious look. “Will there be clowns?”

I bark out a laugh. “Are you seriously still scared of clowns?”

She slaps my arm instantly. “They’re evil.”

Still laughing, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tug her closer. “If I promise to protect you from any lurking clowns, will you come with me?”

She pretends to think about it carefully. “Will there be cotton candy?”

“Yes.”

“And toffee apples?”

“Yes.”

“And deep-fried unhealthy garbage food?”

“A whole abundance of disgusting carnival food.”

She immediately brightens. “Okay, fine. But I’m holding you to winning me a giant teddy bear.”

Grinning, I hold my hand out toward her. “Deal.”

She places her hand in mine, and we shake once before I suddenly yank her into my lap. She squeals in surprise right before I crash my mouth onto hers. And like always, the second I kiss Indi, the rest of the world completely disappears.

There’s no such thing as a simple kiss with her.

I physically can’t do it.

Every kiss turns hungry and desperate because just touching her never feels like enough. I need more. More of her taste, more of her body, more of her wrapped around me. I’m addicted to this woman. Completely and utterly addicted.