I went to load the ride.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the ugly almost bald garbage queen.” Corbin stood in line grinning down at me.
My day was just ruined.
I didn’t respond and pointed to the row I wanted him to sit in. Surprisingly he didn’t say anything else. But I had a feeling this wasn’t over.
I loaded the ride and began my spiel.
“Welcome to Cyclops Revenge. Please step quickly but carefully into the ship. Loose items such as cameras, cell phones, hats and glasses are not permitted on the ride and must be left with a non-rider or placed on the exit platform. Haunted Valley is not responsible for items lost or damaged on the ride. When you are seated, please fasten your seat belt and pull down on your shoulder harness.”
I left the control booth and checked seat belts. Corbin sat in the middle of the first row and had his cell phone clutched in his hand.
“Corbin, you’ll need to give that to Becca. She’ll put it in a basket.”
“Right, like I’d listen to anything you say.”
Maybe Becca didn’t like me, but she was a stickler for rules. “Savannah’s right. It’s not allowed. If you drop it, it could hurt someone. You’ll need to give it to me.”
“Can I just put it in my pocket?”
I thought about just leaving it at that but I didn’t want him blaming me if something bad happened.
“Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve seen lots of cell phones fall out of pockets. If you just give it to Becca, nothing will happen to it.”
“It will be safer in my pocket.”
He was wrong, but I didn’t respond. His phone could very easily fall right out of his pocket while the ship was upside down. You know, gravity and all. But I supposed some people were above such laws.
I started the ride and began to watch. That was the worst part about Cyclops. The neck cramps. I had to watch the ship the entire time, even when it went completely upside down or when the sun was in my eyes. So annoying.
At night it wasn’t so bad though, because you couldn’t see much. Mostly I just watched for falling objects. And people doing stupid things.
Like Spitter, who now had his cell phone out and was texting or something. The ship was about to go upside down and he had the nerve to take his phone out. Honestly. I pushed the stop button and stomped back down to the ship. Becca was already arguing with him when I got there. It was nice to see her pissed off at someone else for a change.
I had really hoped that we’d be able to talk him into giving over his cell, but he reluctantly put it back in his pocket.
“If I see it again, I’m kicking you off the ride and calling security.”
Spitter grinned at me. “You won’t see it again. I promise.”
The ship went around once and there was no sign of a phone. A couple of pennies and dimes, but that’s normal. Twice, and still he was being good. On trip three, I saw the light of the phone screen again. There was no point in shutting down the ride. It would take just as long to stop on its own as it would if I pushed the stop button.
Then a miracle happened.
The phone somehow slipped from Spitter’s grip when he was upside down and plunged to the concrete below. I didn’t see it shatter. It was too dark, but I was sure Becca was smiling as much as I was right now.
I thought about calling maintenance to retrieve it but decided to wait until after I’d spoken with him.
By the time I made it back down the ride, Spitter was in full-blown panic mode.“My phone. I need to get my phone.”
“Sir, you are not allowed under the boat. Savannah will call maintenance right now to retrieve it.” I snorted at Becca’s use of Sir.
“Okay. I’ll wait.” He crossed his arms and stomped his feet. He looked like a three year old.
“That’s really not a good idea. Sometimes it takes them an hour or two before they come. Cell phone retrievals are low on the priority list,” said Becca.
He threw his arms up in the air. “But that’s my phone. How am I supposed to call my ride without it?”
Time for some enlightenment. “Corbin, I hate to tell you this but it is likely that your phone doesn’t work at all anymore.”
He turned to me. His eyes narrowed. “Don’t say that. You don’t know that. I need my phone back.”
“I’ll go call maintenance right now and see what I can do.”
An hour later the park closed and maintenance finally showed up. Corbin sat on the bench and waited the entire time. Wasted his last hour in the park.
He got his phone back in four pieces. He fumbled with it and tried to put it back together. It would not turn on. Served him right.
Dallas and I went to McDonald’s that night and ate hot fudge sundaes. Yum. Things between us were still pretty platonic. He touched me a lot, which I loved. But he hadn’t made any move to go beyond that.
Damn Grant. Damn my hearing. If I’d only heard what Dallas said the other night we’d be way past the “just friends” stage by now.
“When’s your next day off?” he asked between bites.
“Tuesday. When’s yours?”
“Saturday, but I can switch with Julia. Nobody likes working on Saturday. Do you wanna come to the lake with me?”
Bad idea. There were a lot of things I wanted to do with Dallas but going to the lake was not one of them. Not that’d I’d tell him no. A whole day with Dallas? Yes, please.
“Um, sure, but I have to warn you, I’m not much of a water person.”
He shrugged.
“That’s okay, going to the lake is mostly about relaxing in the sun. Maybe a bit of waterskiing. But that’s for me, I’ll teach you how to drive the boat.”
This, too, was a pretty bad idea. I hated driving. I didn’t want to kill him. Maybe it was time to reconsider my response.
“Uh, you know I’d love to spend the day with you on the lake, but maybe we should do something different instead. Big bodies of water scare me.”
He smiled.
“I didn’t think anything scared you.”
“Well then, you’ve highly overestimated me.”
He took a couple more bites of his sundae.
“Wear a sexy bikini and I’ll make sure you’re safe. I’ll pick you up at 8 a.m. Be ready.”
The next night was one of the best nights I’d had with the Demon Drop crew. Becca was off. I got to close Fast Lane, which was my favorite place to be at night for a number of reasons, mostly because I had a fantastic view of the fireworks and nothing to do. Deanna closed entrance loader. She was regaling me with tales of flirtatious teenage boys from Cyclops who proposed to her on several occasions.
I felt a hand snake around my waist. I jumped and a sexy voice spoke low in my ear.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
I spun and found myself way too close to Dallas. He held me against him. Deanna made rude noises behind me.
“Me either. But I am working, so you should probably let go of me.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
Grant’s voice boomed from stairs. “Oy. You are working. Get your hands off of each other.”
I jumped back and blushed. Dallas just grinned and took his iPad to survey the riders waiting to get on the train.
Grant set his stuff down on the railing next to me.
“I’m so unbelievably jealous, you know.”
I blinked. “What, of Dallas?”
Grant nodded.
“Because he’s so hot?”
Grant grinned.
“No, it’s the way he treats you. He comes to visit you, and when he’s around you it’s like no one else matters. I want someone to love me like that.”
Whoa. Deep. I rubbed the back of my neck. This was new territory for Grant and me. We never spoke about things that were deeper than the bagel shop. I loved that about living with him, he didn’t expect me to open up about anything. He was so different from my dad, who always wanted me to talk about everythin
g. Which pissed me off because then he wouldn’t talk about the important stuff. Perhaps if he had, he’d still be alive.
“Uh, I don’t think Dallas loves me. You’re making too much of this. Besides, you don’t have to look further than the office to find someone who feels the same way about you.”
“Savannah, I’ve known Dallas for a while. I’ve seen him with other girls and I’ve seen him with you. He treats you like you’re his best friend. That’s love.”
I scoffed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
We’d never even kissed or anything. Love. Whatever.
Grant was silent for a second.
“What do you mean I don’t have to look further than the office?”
“Open your eyes. You’ll see.”
Dallas snuck up behind me and tickled my ribs. I squirmed and looked at Grant. He winked.
“Grant, is it okay if I watch the fireworks with Savannah?”
“Sure, but no funny business.”
He saluted Grant. “Sure thing, boss.”
Grant rolled his eyes and joined Angelica in the control booth. She turned on the charm for him the same way she did for Dallas. Oh gag me. I could handle it if Grant and Julia got together but I’d move out if he hooked up with Angelica.
We watched the fireworks and I tried very, very hard to not pay attention to how close he stood. The fireworks inside my stomach were way better than the ones in the sky. However, those were good too. The purple and gold ones were my favorite.
“So, Mickey D’s or Perkin’s?” Dallas asked right before the finale.
“McDonald’s. I’ve got to get up early tomorrow because some psycho wants to take me waterskiing.”
“Oh shit,” Deanna yelled behind us.
I turned just as the fireworks finale began. A guest had puked all over the platform and the car.
Oh shit, indeed.
TUESDAY DAWNED BRIGHT and hot. It was a great day to go to a lake, I’d admit that. But it didn’t calm my nerves. I didn’t want to have anything to do with the water. What if I fell in? Then I wouldn’t be able to hear for two weeks. The things I was willing to do for that boy.
I dressed carefully that morning. I put on the deep plum bikini I’d bought at the mall. It almost looked black, but when the light hit it right you could see the purple. It fit well and showed off all right parts. Over the swimsuit I wore a semi-sheer white V-neck tee and navy sport shorts.
Grant was already gone by the time I went out into the living room. This day would be a turning point for Dallas and me. I could already tell. It would be the most time we’d spent together alone. I sat on the couch for a minute and bounced my knees, then stretched my arms above my head, then stood up and paced. This was ridiculous.
Finally, I just waited outside. No need for him to come all the way upstairs and stand awkwardly in the living room while I got my things together. This was much better.
When Dallas arrived, he helped me get my beach bag in the car and then opened the car door for me.
He held my hand as we drove.
“We’re going to my house to pick up the boat. More than likely my folks will be home. You okay meeting them?”
I choked on my own spit.
“Your parents?”
“Yeah, is that a problem?”
“No, I just wasn’t expecting that.”
He smiled and then looked back at the road. A lake and his parents. Maybe this wouldn’t be such a great day after all. I bounced my knees again. What had I gotten myself into?
We drove around a massive lake and Dallas pulled up to gate. He punched in code, the gate opened, and he waved to a security guard on the other side. The houses in the neighborhood were enormous with sprawling immaculate lawns. Dallas pulled in a driveway that wove around the backside of the house and parked in front of a garage. His lawn sloped down to the lake. I was so busy gaping at the lake that I didn’t notice that Dallas had gotten out of the car. He opened my door and held out his hand.
I took it and climbed out of the car. The house was made of dark timber and had floor to ceiling windows on the back.
“Wow.”
Dallas shrugged and tugged on my hand. “Come on, let’s go get the boat ready.”
We walked down to a small boathouse. It contained tools and oars, a couple of kayaks, and jet skis.
“You sure you don’t want to waterski?”
I nodded.
“I tried once when I was twelve. I nearly drowned. I don’t want to repeat it.”
“How’d you almost drown?”
“I can’t swim.”
He paused in his perusal of the boathouse.
“At all?”
“No. My mom enrolled me in swim lessons when I was seven, but I couldn’t hear the instructor and was too shy to speak up. So I never learned. The instructor told my mom I wouldn’t listen.”
He looked perplexed.
“Your mom didn’t do you any favors. No waterskiing, but I am going to teach you how to tread water. We’ll take the big boat then.”
He snatched a set of keys labeled “Big Boat” off the wall. Creative. There were three other sets of keys, each with its own label. “Fishing Boat,” “Speed Boat,” and “Yacht.”
Dallas pointed at the keys.
“Unless you want to go fishing.”
I laughed. “No, but I would like to try the yacht.”
He shrugged. “Okay.” He moved to switch the keys.
“No, I’m just kidding. I’ve never known anyone with a yacht before.”
He held onto the Big Boat keys and seemed unbothered by my comment.
“The yacht really is too big for this occasion, we usually only take it out when my parents throw big parties with lots of people. Like the Fourth of July. You should come. We take out all four boats and spend the day on the lake. At dark we watch the fireworks over the water.”
When was he going to get that I didn’t like water? Or boats? He’d definitely figure it out today. Especially if I drowned.
We walked out of the boathouse and made our way up to the house. The grass was trimmed and even. My yard at home never looked that nice. An old man with a pair of gardening shears met us about halfway up the hill.
“Bob!” Dallas exclaimed. “Can you get the big boat ready?” He handed over the keys.
Bob nodded and changed course, muttering something about the trees never getting trimmed.
“Let’s go meet my folks. Bob will need about twenty minutes or so to get the boat ready. Besides, we need food.”
A door on the back of the house opened into the garage. Dallas grabbed a cooler and pointed to a picnic basket.
“Grab that, will you?”
The door from the garage led straight into a wide-open kitchen with a monstrous island that had at least twenty stools around it. A tiny blond woman was slicing peppers.
“Dallas!” she exclaimed as we walked in the room. He approached her and she planted a big kiss on his cheek. “I never see you anymore.”
He set down the cooler on the counter.
“I’m working too much, Ma.”
“Working or dating?” she asked, pointing the knife at me.
He motioned for me to come closer. Then he took my hand.
“This is actually our first real date. Ma, this is Savannah. Savannah, Ma.”
She set the knife down, wiped her hands on a towel, and embraced me.
“Lovely to meet you. I hope my son hasn’t been too uncivilized.”
I shook my head. If I had known I would be meeting his mother I would’ve worn something a little more appropriate.
She held me at arm’s length and looked me up and down.
“I love your hair. So daring. Most women can’t pull that off, but it suits your face.”
I blushed and ran a hand over my short locks.
“Thanks. It was kind of a hasty decision.”
“Oh, a story. Do tell.”
Her eyes were wide
and I could tell she genuinely wanted to know. I looked over at Dallas. He rolled his eyes.
“You’ll have to forgive Ma. She loves stories. Normally I would tell her to leave you alone but I want to hear this one too.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and found a good picture of my pre-shaven head.
“This is what my hair looked like before I took a razor to it.”
Dallas took the phone from his mom and studied it.
“I like the way you look now better.” He passed back the phone and began to dig around in the fridge.
“Me too,” said his mom. “But I bet your mother was devastated.”
“That is an understatement.” I shivered at the memory. Then I realized that if I hadn’t shaved my head I wouldn’t be here.
“I was off school one day,” I began. Dallas’s mom didn’t have to know all the gritty details of my suspension. “I wanted to paint my nails. But the color I wanted was over at Candie’s, my best friend’s house. We had keys to each other’s place. I was going to just grab the color and go home.”
I stopped and took a breath. Both Dallas and his mom were staring at me; they had the same eyes, wide and intense.
“When I opened the door to her room, I saw something I didn’t quite expect. Apparently, Candie was home. She was in her bed and lying on top of her, naked, was my boyfriend. They didn’t even notice me.”
Dallas’s mom leaned closer to me. “What did you do?”
“Locked myself in her bathroom to calm down. I found my nail polish in there. So I left a note on her mirror with it.”
“What did it say?”
“I hope the condom broke.”
Dallas’s mom laughed.
“But that doesn’t explain your hair.”
“Oh, that. Well, when I got home I shaved it all off in anger.”
That was only a little white lie. The other part would take too long to explain.
“A worthy cause,” she said matter-of-factly.
Dallas came back from the fridge loaded down with meat and cheese. “You wouldn’t be here if your boyfriend hadn’t done that. And then you never would have met me, so I’m glad he was an asshole.”
His mother nodded and cocked her head in thought. “But you are a horrible storyteller. I think I will have to rewrite that one. Do you mind?”
Bittersweet Page 10
