Page 87 of Watching Her

“I’ve found no need.” For whatever reason, I laughed.

She pointed her finger toward me. “Stick with me, kid, and by the end of the night, you’ll be an old pro with how to wrangle a fair.”

“Alright. I’ll see if you’re as good as you say you are.”

“Oh, sugar,” she purred, offering a Southern drawl, “you haven’t seen anything yet.”

“Then I’m very much looking forward to seeing how you can influence me. Just remember, that’s very difficult.”

Why was it that even her wink suggested salacious offerings?

From the carousel, we moved to teacups. Teacups, for fuck’s sake. I had no idea what the ride was called but evidently, she had full control of how much the neon pink cup we were in moved from side to side.

And she was laughing the entire time, likely from the expression that I knew had been plastered on my face.

“Come on. Get into this,” she encouraged.

The only thing I did was bump into her on purpose, which caused her to kick me in the shin. In turn, I was the one laughing.

By the time we stumbled off, she noticed a cotton candy stand. Thank God I’d ensured a few dozen employees were being paid a hefty paycheck given how fast she was moving from one destination to another, obviously determined to enjoy as much of the fair as possible.

“Cotton candy. Now, please tell me you’ve tried it before.” She was already drumming her fingers on the counter.

“I can’t say I have. What is it?”

She slowly turned her head toward the young man behind the counter, both shaking their head as if sharing a private joke. “We’ll take two. Blueberry in flavor.”

“Blueberry?”

“Absolutely. Wait until I make you try a blue raspberry Slurpee.”

“What in God’s name is a Slurpee?”

“What kind of family did you grow up in? Slurpees come from a corner convenience store where these vats churn the most delicious flavors with crushed ice. On a hot day, there is nothing better. Although I must admit since I’m an adult, I do prefer the kind laced with rum.”

When the guy offered her two strange-looking balls of spun air on what looked like a toilet paper holder, she rolled her eyes almost instantly.

“You are going to eat this.”

I accepted the gesture, watching as she pulled off a hunk with her fingers, shoving it into her mouth. In the crazy swirl of neon lights coming from every direction, I was allowed to see a sparkle in her eyes.

She was enjoying the hell out of making me uncomfortable and I’d pay her back tenfold.

I finally gave in, taking a pinch and putting it on my tongue. “I didn’t taste anything.”

Every time she shook her head as if in disgust, I knew she was up to something. “Open your mouth.”

“If I don’t?”

Her smile was truly wicked. “Try me.”

As she pulled off a hunk, a bad feeling rolled through me. What had I gotten myself into? She was kind, shoving the wad of flavorless sugar into my mouth instead of rubbing it all over my face. But she still did a little dance as if she was fully in control.

When I’d swallowed, she lifted both eyebrows. “Be honest.”

“I’d prefer champagne and lobster.”

She poked me with her elbow, walking away and toward a row of games of some sort. In remembering the details about her father, I’d seen such a look of sadness on her face, which of course led me to being determined to win a stuffed animal for her.