“We could just take our own car,” I finally say, but he shakes his head.
“Let Fergus have some time off. He probably didn’t even have lunch while waiting for us.”
This is another thing I’ve noticed about Ethan. He’s a hard taskmaster, but he does look after his employees. One of the girls from the lobby’s main desk had to go to the hospital for her sister’s surgery, and the application dropped on my desk while Ethan was there discussing something. As soon as he saw it, he told me to give her paid leave. I wasn’t going to argue with him, so I did.
The taxi drops us off at the entrance of the fair. My eyes widen in excitement when I see the colorful tents set up alongthe park, the sounds of laughter and music drifting through the warm evening air. The top of a large arch is just visible behind the front welcome center, illuminating the late afternoon with an array of lights.
“They have a Ferris Wheel!” I can’t help smiling broadly, my professional composure slipping entirely. Walking through the entrance, the scent of rich food hits my nose, and I quickly grab for one of pamphlets at the help center. I spread it open to find a list of all the amenities: shopping, restaurants, cruises, and—“There’s even rides!” I’m trying really hard to be dignified but failing entirely. I feel like a giddy child setting foot in a candy store.
“Do you want to try a ride first or eat first?” Ethan asks, his voice warm with indulgence.
I look at him, and my eyes fall on his expensive suit. My heart sinks. “You know, it won’t be the cleanest place. Kids with sticky fingers, and all sorts of food and crumbs...” I begin to deflate as I speak.
He reaches down and grabs my hand, his touch sending electricity up my arm. “That’s what dry cleaners are for, Natalie.” I’m so excited I don’t even think about pulling my hand away from him. It feels natural, right, despite everything between us.
“Mom would always take Lucas to the county fairs and amusement parks.” I continue to study the pamphlet map absent-mindedly as we walk through fair grounds. “I was too annoying as a child so she never took me, but I always kept those papers, the advertisements, like this one. I once saved up a lot of money babysitting. I was going to go with my classmate, but Lucas found out. He wanted to go out with his friends and needed money for gas. I didn’t want to give him the money, so he tattled on me to Mom, and she took my money away and gave it to him.”
I’m rubbing my thumb along the crease of the pamphlet inmy hand, not even realizing what I’m saying, but when Ethan’s hand tugs mine, I finally tear my gaze away from the paper.
His expression is grim, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“What—”
“Why did she take your money and give it to Lucas? Why weren’t you allowed to go?”
That’s when it occurs to me I was speaking out loud. Flushing, I gesture dismissively with my free hand. “It was a long time ago. I must’ve done something to deserve it. Anyway, it’s not important. I didn’t mean to say any of that. Let’s just go look at the rollercoasters.”
He stares at me for a minute longer, and for a second, I think he looks really angry. But when I blink, he’s leading me toward the rollercoasters, his grip on my hand firm and reassuring.
Since it’s late afternoon and most people are still at work, the fair isn’t very crowded. The waiting lines at the rides are short as well. We only have to wait ten minutes to get on, and when Ethan sits in the seat next to me, I give him a skeptical look. “Are you sure about this?”
“Do you really think I’m going to let you sit in one of these death traps all by yourself?” He gives me a disapproving look that somehow manages to be protective and endearing. “What if something happens to you? No. I’m staying with you.”
I can’t help but laugh, my heart doing strange things at his protectiveness. “Suit yourself.”
When the ride begins, my hands clutch onto the safety handle. It’s not very fast and it’s not very high, but I’m having the time of my life. Exhilaration burns within me as we fall from the steep drop. I don’t scream like the couple sitting behind us, but I smile broadly, pure joy coursing through me. When the ride finally comes to a stop, my heart is pounding with excitement, and I barely hear Ethan ask, “Do you want to go again?”
I want to say yes, but I also want to explore the rest of the fair. “No, let’s look around.”
This time, it’s me who’s grabbing his hand, the gesture feeling surprisingly natural. However, before we can leave, a man next to the ride attendant lifts his hand at us. “Do you want to buy your picture?”
He gestures toward a small screen in front of him, and we approach it. It’s a surprisingly clear photograph with me smiling like a crazy person and Ethan watching me with an expression so tender it takes my breath away.
It’s the way he’s looking at me, as if I’m the most precious thing in the world to him, that has me taking a step back and stammering. “No, thank you?—”
“I’ll take it.” Ethan takes out his wallet without hesitation. “How much?”
“For you, only thirty bucks.” The man eyes his expensive wallet greedily. Ethan takes out a fifty-dollar bill and hands it over. “You can keep the change.”
The man prints out a copy of the picture and hands it to him.
“You didn’t have to buy it.” I chastise him as he tucks it into his wallet while we walk away, but there’s no real heat in my voice.
“It’s a good memory.” He looks satisfied, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that makes my pulse quicken. “I’ve never seen you look this happy before. I would like to remember it.”
My heart flutters traitorously. “Why?”
He just smiles at me, that devastating smile that used to make my knees weak. “Do I need to have a reason, Natalie?”
