His responding noise of contemplation is more like a growl. I imagine that sound echoing in my ear, the hairs on the back of my neck standing at the sensation.
‘So, it probably wouldn’t besoft?’
‘No …’ I’m breathless at his words. Warm honey drips down my spine. ‘I think it would be—’ I stop to swallow, my mouth watering at the images flashing into my mind of Duke’s lips crashing against mine ‘—hard.Rough.’ The last word has his pupils completely blowing out, nothing but darkness filling his eyes. ‘Like you’d grab each other and …’
Duke wets his lips; his voice laced with gravel. ‘Hey, Cherry?’
‘Yeah?’
There’s a tightness to his jaw as he says, ‘Look to your left.’
It takes longer than I’d care to admit to drag my eyes away from Duke’s mouth but when I do, wonder flushes through my body, softening every muscle until I’m pliant and all-consumed by the scenery ahead of me.
The sky is a melting pot of pastel pinks, purples, and oranges, small wisps of cloud dappled across it all like drops of candyfloss. Inky mountains cut through the sugary skyline, a platform for the golden sun that’sbeginning to set behind them, raining deep orange rays between their peaks and flooding the valley below. Pinpricks of starlight break through the top of the sky where a faint stroke of darkness begins.
It’s goddamn breathtaking. I want to take a photo, but I don’t think anything could do this moment enough justice.
‘Look at that, a big thing for a small one,’ Duke whispers to me, squeezing my hand.
It’s then that I realise we’re still holding hands. That we’ve stopped moving. In fact, I think we might have stopped moving a while ago, but I just hadn’t noticed because I was too entranced by thinking about kissing Duke. By his full, hypnotising lips. The kind that I know would bring my body to life with a single touch.
I think … all of that was on purpose. A distraction to keep me safe from the climb until we reached the reward.
But how could I have been so scared ofthis?
I don’t care how high up we are if this is what I get – able to see the golden-drenched town of Willow Ridge from the heavens, as if I’m an emerging star, readying myself to gaze upon and watch over the beautiful world below. My skin tingles, limbs becoming lighter as I let my eyes trail over our surroundings. But it’s not from fear, not the usual faintness that sweeps through me on rides like these. Instead, it’spower. Aliveness. A strength that only comes from realising how great and vast the world is, how insignificant your worries and fears really are in comparison.
‘How are you feeling?’ Duke questions, his thumb running across my knuckles in a way that sparks through my body. He hasn’t let go yet…
My response is on the tip of my tongue, so unfamiliar, the only word I can use to describe how I feel right now. Because it’s a sensation I haven’t experienced in years, one I almost don’t dare to say through fear I’ve misunderstood what it truly is. But with the security of Duke’s hold on me, the golden sunset dousing me in its radiant warmth, and the knowledge that I survived – I got on this Ferris wheel and rose to my fear’s challenge, it feels only right to reply, ‘Invincible.’
And I carry that feeling through the rest of the night. Through the climb down, and back up again in the Ferris wheel with the rest of the crew, proving to my brother exactly how strong I am. Through letting loose as we dance to the lively music played by the country music band, allowing my body just to be free and do what feels right, never thinking that it’s too weak. And through the drive home, curled up in the backseat of Wyatt’s truck with Rory and Fliss, relishing in every time I catch Duke glancing at me in the rear-view mirror.
13
Cherry
‘Don’t you look all lovely and grown up,’ my mom gasps as I rush into the kitchen, checking I’ve got everything in my clutch bag before Levi picks me up to head into the city for Montana’s birthday. If I’m going to make it until closing time like my bucket list expects – and not give in to the usual paranoia of overexerting myself – I’ve got to make sure I’m fully stocked on makeup to keep it topped up all night.
My mom’s eyes zip up and down my outfit – a cute, tight black dress that cuts off high on my thighs so I’m showing off my long legs – my best asset, given that my boobs and ass are practically non-existent. I’ve paired it with some black strappy heels and a dark-red clutch bag to match my signature lipstick.
‘Thanks, Mom.’ I walk over to her and press a kiss to her cheek. ‘Hope your shift tonight goes okay.’
‘Thanks, sweetheart. Make sure you’ve got your meds with you. And you know your father can always pickyou up at midnight, you don’t have to stay out as late as everyone just to try and fit in—’
‘Mom, I’ll be fine. Please, stop worrying,’ I beg as her lecture instantly has my shoulders hunching. Still, it comes out a little snappier than I planned, and Mom’s eyes flash, probably because it’s the first time I’ve reacted that way, as opposed to holding back the frustration. But for some reason, today I feel a little bolder.
Maybe that bucket list is working its magic already.
‘I’m sorry. It’s just—’ I stop myself to sigh. ‘I’m twenty-one, Mom. I go out clubbing all the time at college. I haven’t had a fit for two years, despite doing a lot of the stuff you tell me not to, and it’s only beenmelooking out for me there. I … I’m not a kid anymore.’
A weight lifts from my chest, even though my heart is rattling at the words.
‘Oh, Cherry. Come here.’ Mom holds her arms out for me. I step into her embrace, letting her squeeze me tight. When she finally releases me, she strokes my hair, long and silky just like hers.
Her eyes soften. ‘I’m sorry. I’m afraid you’ll always be my baby, and your father’s, but …’ She sighs, a shine taking residence in her eyes. ‘I know you probably don’t need us watching over you so much. Don’t think we don’t trust you to look after yourself, because we do. I think it’s just ingrained into us to always be looking out for you, even if, like you said, you’re not a kid anymore.’
She gives me another quick hug, then holds me out in front of her to admire my outfit again. ‘Now, go break some hearts at that club.’
