“That’s the other thing I have to admit.” He started with such a somber expression that it gave her pause. “The hot dog was actually an initiation. I had to see if you could pass the test.”
“And did I pass?”
“With flying colors.”
“So what do I get for my prize?”
“What do you want for it?” he asked.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Whatever you want to give me.”
He leaned forward, and the moonlight struck his eyes to where it highlighted a little bit of hazel that she hadn’t noticed earlier. It was the perfect moment. She realized that now was the time to close her eyes and also lean in.
“I’ll show you your prize,” he said. “Come on.”
Her eyelids snapped open, and she saw him much farther away from her lips than she’d imagined. He hopped off the edge of the stage and motioned her to follow.
He led back down into the heart of the carnival, where things were decidedly busier and louder since the afternoon. There were more groups and families, but particularly, there were more couples, walking hand-in-hand. She glanced down at his hand and wondered what it would feel like to hold. They were large, likely to envelop hers. She liked that.
They passed by a booth featuring an apple bob, which she hadn’t seen in years, and when she had, it was always during Halloween time. It was too early for that, but apparently the carnival employees didn’t mind.
A teenage boy started reluctantly, with just his nose and mouth breaching the water line, but soon he ended up dunking his entire face underwater. When he came back up, he held a bright red apple clenched in his teeth. The man and woman next to him cheered. Chelsea hoped he won something other than the apple as his prize.
They stopped at a crossroads, and she wondered which direction he’d take. His body wasn’t aimed in a particular direction, but he did have a glint in his eye. Finally, he took a step toward a short line leading up to a ticket station.
“Have you ever been on a Ferris wheel before?” he asked.
“Years ago,” she said. “It’s been so long.”
“I haven’t for a while, either, but when I do, I find that it really clears my thoughts.”
“How so?”
He made a gesture toward the pod with an open door, loading people on the ride ahead of them in line. “It probably sounds corny, but when I’m up in the air, it feels like I’m above my problems. Any headaches or issues—being physically above them makes me feel mentally above them, like they can’t touch me up there.”
“I know what you mean. My grandparents built a treehouse in their backyard for me and my cousins. It was silly. Everyone lived pretty far away, but my grandparents built it so that we could enjoy it on the off-chance we were visiting. They always did stuff like that. Anyway, when I climbed up into the treehouse, it felt like that. Above it all.”
“Exactly. It’s like that, only with this it’s probably double the treehouse.”
She looked up. The top pod of the Ferris wheel had a pretty good height to it, perhaps more than two treehouses. Even though she wasn’t particularly scared of heights, her stomach tightened when she looked straight up. She squeezed her hand against the side railing.
As they approached the front of the line, she started to get a little excited, which was silly. It certainly wasn’t a roller coaster or anything like that. It just went around in circles, and slowly at that. The only thing she could think of was the prospect of riding it with him, especially considering how small the pods were. Even with just two people, the seating would be cozy.
A man wearing yellow pants took Nate’s tickets at the front. “Does the boss know you’re having a night off?”
“I put in my work today,” Nate said.
The tickets found their way into the bucket along with the others. It was about half full, all casually ripped in half. Idly, she thought about what they did with the tickets after they were all turned in. They were useless, of course, but still, they must be a lot. They could probably fill a swimming pool after just a few months. Would a person sink in that?
“Hell, I’m just giving you a hard time,” the man said. “At least someone around here gets some time off. Enjoy the ride.”
The amount of tickets Nate handed over must’ve been enough for them both, because the man ushered them through—again, Nate being the gentleman. They only stood on the platform for a minute or two before a pod finally slowed down enough to open its doors and allow them on. The operator came behind them to shut and lock the door. There wasn’t anyone behind them for the moment, so hopefully they would get a chance at a few rotations before they had to stop again.
Not long after the door shut, the wheel shuddered and started moving. The jolt was so strong that she instinctively put out her hands to stabilize herself, and one hand landed on his leg. She apologized and snapped it back, while at the same time checking his expression. He didn’t seem to mind.
He eased his arm around her shoulders. “For your protection,” he said with a wink.
“I trust this thing will stay in one piece,” she said.
“Oh, it’ll hold. It’s not a new piece of equipment, but it’ll be fine. Probably just the wheels need to be greased.”
“Okay, I trust you.” In response to that, he gave her shoulder a squeeze.
The ride operator got smaller and smaller as the wheel slowly turned to lift them into the air. Before long, they passed the small hill height and kept climbing. In a way, everything looked even more spectacular there because they were in the middle of it. From the hill, they had looked down like gods would from Mount Olympus, but there, they were among the people.
She could see the parking lot, both of them, actually, as well as the route she’d taken to walk to Nate’s booth. It seemed like weeks ago when she’d first seen him there.
“Nice view, isn’t it?” he said.
She realized they were at the very top, at least for the moment. “It’s breathtaking. I would ride this every day if I worked here.”
“It’s almost as beautiful as you are.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t think of what else to say. She didn’t change her position, exactly, but she angled her body so that she leaned into him more. She figured actions spoke louder than words. The night wasn’t cold by any means, but it was a little cooler, and warmth radiated off his body. She’d warm herself next to him any day of the week.
As the wheel reached the bottom and continued going, his comforting grip squeezed again. Her hand reached forward and found its place on his leg again, near his knee. She moved her fingertips back and forth a few times before resting them there. His cheek pressed against the crown of her head, and she hoped he could smell her shampoo. She’d tried out a new brand that morning, and she was glad she had.
She wasn’t sure if he timed it—bonus points to him if he did—but by the time the pod reached the very top again, he reached over and gently tilted her chin upward. At the same time, he moved closer to her, her chest rose as she inhaled, and their lips met. If it were a movie, fireworks would be exploding overhead. His lips felt so firm, so confident, as they pressed against hers.
He pulled back after that single kiss, so simple and sweet, like a single rose or a solitaire diamond. Clearly, he wasn’t being greedy with trying for another, although he probably could have. She glanced down at his lips and wished for that second one, thinking she couldn’t wait until the pod was back at the top again.
Chapter Eight
Chelsea loved road trips. There was something about the wind whipping through her hair as she tore down the interstate that really got her blood pumping. Arizona state troopers aside, she liked to drive a little faster than she would normally. There was just something about it that made her feel alive.
On a whim, she decided to roll down all four windows before she left, to really feel that wind effect. Her hair would pay the price for it, but in the moment, she didn’t care. She kept a spar
e brush in her glove compartment for exactly these types of circumstances.
Calling it a road trip was a bit deceiving, as it was only a twenty-minute drive from Red Canyon. Although it had been a month since she’d met Nate, the carnival stayed somewhat in the area, moving to a new small town every week, but so far staying close enough. Not that she was opposed to driving farther for him, but she enjoyed the convenience while it lasted.
She waited at the intersection of the off-ramp and wondered if he’d like the lunch she brought. They had planned on her coming over for his lunch break, but her bringing the lunch was a surprise. She liked egg salad sandwiches, but she had no idea if he did. If not, they could buy something there, but she thought the personal touch would be nice to offer. He was the considerate type enough to appreciate whatever she brought him, even if it wasn’t his favorite.
Taking a right at the intersection, she continued along the unusually straight road that led all the way to the new carnival site. This spot was less of a field and more a patch of desert, although they may have commandeered the adjacent parking lot, which would make sense. Asphalt was better than rocky soil with the risk of snakes and scorpions, and Arizona had all the above.
The last month had flown by, giving even more credence to the old saying that time flew when a person was having fun, and that was certainly true in her case. She’d enjoyed every minute she had with Nate, and any time that wasn’t given to work or unpacking, she pretty much spent with him.
She put the car into park and unloaded the lunch basket. It was one of her favorites, the kind that would be right at home in the 1950s. Along the inside were slots for silverware and ladles. There was a sleeve along the underside of the top that was strong enough to hold plates, either real or disposable. It had everything.
The setup to the carnival was completely different, and she found it hard to get her bearings once inside. Right at the opening was the bobbing for apples booth, which before had been closer to the Ferris wheel. She tried walking to the Ferris wheel to find Nate’s booth from there, but that led her to the opposite side without seeing him. It would make a lot more sense if they used the same layout each town, but she certainly was no expert.
She spotted a tent with dozens of benches set up underneath it, and she recognized the employee eating area. That’s probably a good place to start. She rested the basket on a corner of one of the tables as she surveyed the scene. A group of employees milled about, but she couldn’t spot Nate anywhere, even after looking around them, just in case he was standing just behind. Given his height, that probably wasn’t likely, but she was excited to see him. She couldn’t help it.
“You look lost,” a voice said behind her.
She turned to find Harper, one of the other booth operators who coincidentally was married to the woman who had collected tickets at the house of mirrors back when. Chelsea had met him while visiting Nate earlier that month.
“Oh, hey Harper. How’s it going?”
He leaned back against the edge of the table. “Not too bad. Busy day today. Where’s Nate at?”
“I’m not sure. I’m meeting him today for lunch. I’m sure he’s on his way.”
“So not lost, exactly. Although I wouldn’t blame you if you were with how everything looks different.”
She lit up. “No kidding. I was just thinking that on the way in. Is there a reason why everything is in different places?”
“Hell if I know. The word is the upper-ups are testing out a new set-up before we head out to California. Something about squeezing more things into the same space and all that crap. You know, like the airlines do with seats. Back in the seventies, airplanes looked like lounge rooms compared to what it’s like these days. Now everyone’s squeezed in like sardines.”
“California,” she said slowly. “That’s a little early, isn’t it? Aren’t you all staying in this area for a few more weeks?”
“Naw, next week, then off to Sacramento. I guess they couldn’t schedule any stops between here and there. Typical.”
Next week… She thought they had more time than that.
“Is that what he told you?” he asked.
“No…he didn’t. Well, we talked about it a week or two ago, but I didn’t follow up.” Maybe I didn’t want to know.
He shrugged and avoided her gaze. “Well, you two had to know it would happen eventually, right?”
“I guess so.”
“That’s the curse of being a carny. Relationships are tough unless we meet one of our own already in the crew, which is harder than you’d think.”
“We never really discussed the future.” Maybe we were too busy enjoying the moment.
“Hell, I shouldn’t have said anything. Look, I’ve gone and upset you. I’m sorry. Just pretend I didn’t say anything.” His eyes, framed with weathered wrinkles, expressed his apology even before he did.
She didn’t realize it was affecting her so much until she reached up and felt the damp corners of her eyes. “It’s all right. You didn’t mean anything by it.”
“You two are good people, and I hate to see anyone get hurt. I met someone once, years ago. She lived in a small town in Idaho and was the prettiest woman I’d ever seen. Without a second breath, I’d say she could’ve easily been a runway model in New York City, but it’s like she didn’t even know how beautiful she was.”
She could have guessed the ending to the story, but she asked anyway. “What happened?”
He propped up his leg on a bench seat. “We hung on as long as we could, but the distance was awful. We’d call each other when we could, but eventually she moved on, and I moved on too. Things like that happen.”
Does it have to happen to everyone? “Would you have done anything different if you went back and did it all again?”
He tapped the table top with his knuckle twice. “I’m not sure what else we could’ve done. Sometimes the cards are just stacked against you. I’m a bit of a downer. Sorry. My wife keeps telling me I need to lighten up. The glass is half-empty to me most of the time, especially when someone else drank the first half.”
“Maybe we can make it work.”
He nodded. “It’s possible. I’m probably not the best one to give advice. Anything’s possible, I guess.”
She wiped her nose with the back of her sleeve. “Can you excuse me please?”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
Not really. Right as a gust of wind blew through the break area, tossing napkins and plastic cups about, she stood and walked to the nearest entrance—she had many to choose from. Harper had gotten it right when he’d said that things were packed closer in. She had a hard time finding an open space to catch her breath.
There wasn’t an open, vacant hill in the floor plan of this setup. She spotted the stage area, but it was level with everything else and inconveniently occupied, filled to the brim with people in the audience and the storyteller himself on the stage. He wore a long, white wig and a fake mustache that went down to his chest. The cane he walked with smacked the wooden platform whenever he took a step.
Finally, she spotted an area where she wouldn’t be stared at, despite its unlikely place. It was an alleyway—that is, if you could call the corridor between two tents an alley, wedged between two food vendors. The smell of corn on the cob permeated the area, and it was anything but quiet, but at least she was alone.
She felt stupid. Of course she knew the carnival would eventually move on to another town and that he’d go with it. What did she expect? Did she really expect him to quit the carnival and live in Red Canyon? Or did she think it would work long distance, filled with lonely nights and phone calls acting as a poor substitute?
She leaned against one of the tent poles, careful to ease back to make sure it held her weight. The cool metal bit through her tank top. She should have worn something warmer, but she wasn’t entirely sure the chill had to do with the temperature. Despite her discomfort, she stayed there. It helped somehow.
A
part of her felt selfish, expecting the planets to line up in a way that would fulfill her happiness. There were more people to consider than just herself. Although, she imagined it would make two people happy. She’d never cornered him about his intentions, but she was pretty sure he wanted that too. Maybe she was wrong.
He didn’t seem like the type of guy to use her. He was kind and sincere, more so than any other man she’d known. It couldn’t be possible that he was stringing her along, but it wasn’t the first time she’d misread someone.
“Bring it over here,” someone yelled.
It sounded so close, she jumped, the hair on the back of her neck standing up on end. She couldn’t hide there between the tents forever. She needed to do something. Or begin to stop doing something. She shook her head. Everything felt like it was crashing down at once, and she struggled to stay on top of it.
Exiting the alleyway, she checked to see if anyone noticed. If anyone did, they weren’t giving her a second glance. Probably most people who worked there kept to themselves or respected privacy enough. Or they recognized her and knew she wasn’t just some simple trespasser. Either way, she appreciated it.
By the time she returned to the break area, Harper wasn’t there anymore. On top of everything else, she felt horrible about making him feel bad, even though it was technically his fault. He was only telling the truth. Or was he?
She gripped the handle of the basket tighter than was necessary and picked it up. She wasn’t exactly sure which direction she was walking, but she had the vague idea that it wasn’t in Nate’s direction. Perhaps she was leaving it to chance, that if she accidentally walked up to him, everything would be all right, and if her path led to the parking lot, that was her answer, too. It wasn’t like her. She wasn’t the type of girl to leave things to chance.
Maybe they could make their own truth. Maybe their future wasn’t tied to fate or someone else’s jaded experiences, but it didn’t feel like that at the moment. All she could think about was having to say goodbye to Nate for the last time.
Carnival Ride: A Sweet Romance (Red Canyon Series Book 2) Page 6
