“Then you quit.” She huffs out.
The attendant hands us a lopsided stuffed dog, and Serena’s eyes light up as I hand it to her. “For me?”
I can’t help but grin. “Of course.”
“Thanks, Ty.”
“What should we name it?” I ask as we walk away, connecting our hands.
“Potato?” Serena suggests with a playful smile.
I chuckle, nodding in agreement. “Potato?”
“Because I like french fries.”
With Serena’s laughter still ringing in my ears, she tucks Potato under my arm. I squeeze her hand as we navigate the game booth area, and we find ourselves closer to the food trucks. “I was thinking we could grab some food. Get you a turkey leg or corn dog, whatever you want, on me.”
“You don’t have to pay for everything, you know? I have money too.” Serena starts scrounging through her tote bag until I place my free hand over hers. “Pretty sure I have more money than you since you visited the boba shop every day for a week.”
“You know?”
“Jared told me one of his friends kept coming in everyday for Thai green tea.”
“I really like the drink!” I explain, trying to stifle my laughter.
“Uh-huh, sure.”
We make way through the vibrant chaos, occasionally dodging a kid or two running with cotton candy in hand. The bustling chatter keeps us from talking, but I don’t think we need it, as I take advantage of the time to look at her and how the young girl inside her leads the way. She turns around for a second and widens her eyes.
“The smell!” Serena yells as she points towards the food trucks that exude sizzling aromas. “Look at all these choices!”
“Deep fried shit,” I say, leading us toward the tantalizing scents that fill the air.
“Deep fried shit,” she repeats, instantly tugging me over to a booth to our right. “I want this.”
I study the menu on the booth further, then I bend over, laughter taking over my body. “You seriously want this?”
Serena nods happily.
And that’s how we end up with deep fried lasagna, deep fried sushi bombs, fried banana pudding, two big slices of loaded pizza fries and cotton candy lemonade in a plastic mason jar.
“I can’t believe I’ve never been to the Fall Fest until today,” Serena says in between chewing. “God, I can’t get enough of pizza, then this booth,” she waves a hand towards the booth, “has pizza withfrieson it. If this isn’t heaven and a recipe for a heartattack, I don’t know what is. Don’t get me started on this lasagna.”
Seeing Serena’s face light up with every bite, her laughter echoing through the crowd… it’s like finding a hidden treasure. She takes a bite of her pizza with fries, but a large chunk of fries fall off her plate, landing on the table.
“Fuck,” Serena mutters, hastily cleaning up the mess.
“Already did.”
Serena shoots me a glare, to which I respond with a snort.
“I was going to ask if you were enjoying this, but I think you just answered it.”
Serena flashes a soft smile. “Oh my god, I’m already in food heaven. Of course, I’m having fun.” She wipes her hands with a clean napkin and takes a sip of her blue cotton candy lemonade. “Want a sip?”
“Nah, I’m good.” I chuckle. She’s like a kid in a candy store, except it’s more like a deep-fried lover’s paradise in the middle of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“How come you’ve never been here before?” I ask.
