“Did he say we’re stuck?” I ask, panicked. “Oh, my god! What if they can’t get us down?”
I’m going to die. I’m going to die. I’m going to die.
“Yes, he said we are stuck, but it’s okay. Focus on me. Nothing bad is going to happen. I’m here. It’s fine. We’re fine. You’re fine.” He turns towards me more.
“I’m not fine.” My voice starts to rise, and I just want my feet to touch the ground. I nuzzle my head harder against his chest.
“Wren,” he says, a little breathlessly. “It’s okay. Look at me.”
I peer upward and let my eyes land on his. “You’re okay. They’re going to get it moving any minute, and then we will be back on the ground.”
Sitting up a little straighter, I nod my head and try to hold back tears.
“Breathe,” he urges. Reaching out, he pushes a piece of my hair behind my ear. A gust of wind blows, and our seat begins to rock again. I let out a scream, and he cups my face with both of his hands, causing my breath to catch.
“Breathe,” he says, staring into my eyes.
“I’m really fucking scared,” I say, biting my lip. “I need you to distract me.”
“Distract you?”
“Yes, say something. Do something. I don’t?—”
Without warning, his lips find mine, and he kisses me so damn hard, my head scrambles. His lips are soft, and his rough beard scratches against my skin. His tongue presses forward as he continues to kiss me, and I open, letting him in. He tastes like cotton candy, and I melt into him. Our tongues twist, and his hands move through my hair. Goosebumps erupt down my arms. The kiss is everything I’ve ever wanted and didn’t know I needed.
The ferris wheel begins to move, and as he pulls away, it hits me—I was just kissing Tanner Mitchell.
Confusion takes over, and I don’t know what to make of the moment we just shared. We both sit there a little stunned.
“Wren—” he begins, but we're back on the ground, and I need to get off this thing. The operator removes the lap bar, and I pop off, moving away from him. Trying to get a grasp on my emotions, I bypass our friends, ignoring them calling my name.
“Wren, wait!” he calls behind me, but I don’t stop. My fingers find my lips, and I can still taste him. I can still feel him, and it’s confusing. It doesn’t make any sense why he would kiss me, and I need to find somewhere quiet to process it all.
I turn a corner and stop when I find a secluded place on the other side of one of the small buildings. Leaning up against the wall, I try to regain control of my emotions.
“Wren!” he yells, turning the corner after me.
“What the fuck was that?” I yell, a little too loud. “I told you to distract me. Not kiss me.”
“Look, I’m sorry. You were just so scared, and you said to do something, so I did the one thing I can’t stop thinking about doing.”
“No, you don’t get to say that kissing me is all you’ve been thinking about.” I point at him. “What am I supposed todo with that, Tanner? A few hours ago you were calling me your friend, and now you’re kissing me on top of the ferris wheel like you’re some character inThe Notebook.”
“Just let me explain,” he begs.
“No. I’m going back to the apartment. I don’t want to do this here, around all of our friends, and especially not dressed like a mermaid.” I walk away, and don’t stop until I’m in my car.
CHAPTER 31: SHARE IT?
WREN
My head spins with thoughts of the kiss the whole way to the apartment, and I can’t make sense of any of it. Fuck, that was a good kiss. Maybe the best, but it’s him and it’s me and we’re roommates and he made it clear earlier that he saw me as a friend.
I make my way out of my car and into the apartment, still holding the little cheetah he won me. I place Goldie on the bedside table, and it’s not until my clothes are changed and my face is washed that I realize that I still haven’t picked up a new mattress. So, it’s either the couch or the floor because as of last night, the hole is too big to be taped.How fucking perfect.
Walking back into the living room, I throw my pillow and a blanket on to the couch and then head to the kitchen to get something to drink.
I’m filling a glass with water when I hear the door click open.
