Pippa and the girls smile and laugh and it’s the best sight and sound. Better than pizza or magic, or even football.
With all of us exhausted and dizzy, we get the girls cotton candy-candy floss. At the stall where workers spin it into clouds at the end of paper wands, we learn that in Concordia, it’s called “fairy sugar.”
“I have a special order of pink fairy sugar for Princess Paige.” I pass it to her and she grins. “And a special purple one for Princess Parker.”
“Thank you,” they chorus.
While Parker and Paige dance around, waving their wands like magic fairies, Pippa and I share a fluffy cloud of fairy sugar of our own. We take bites from opposite sides and our eyes meet. Pippa’s brown eyes shine. Her smile reaches mine. I’m pretty sure we’re having a moment and the only thing that’s keeping us from a kiss, something I deeply desire, is all the sticky candy between us.
24
PIPPA
After watching Chase being so sweet with Parker and Paige, the little heart fluffies bypass my chest and fill my head. The girls beg for one more turn on the teacups, but before we can grant their wish, a faint drizzle turns into a steady rain. We rush toward the exit and I lead us to Gemma and Amos’s place.
My best friend looks like she appreciated the break and took a bath. One runs in the background for the kids. We say goodnight. When Chase heads for the door, Gemma mouths,You owe me a story. She waggles her eyebrows.
I can’t hold back my grin, so I don’t try.
Back outside, the rain has let up, but we’re already wet, so we make our way back toward Blancbourg...or my place, it’s closer, but I’m not sure where to stop.
Where to draw the line.
How to end this evening.
“I wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel.” I pout.
“Rain check?” Chase asks.
I’ll take a rain check onThe Moment, the almost-kiss. I bubble and fizz inside just thinking about it.
“This was fun,” Chase says.
I keep a wary eye out for Marlow in case she tries to rain on my parade, er, time with Chase. Where’d she come from anyway? Why is she in Concordia? “About that...” There is something I have to know. “You didn’t buy the breadsticks for Marlow, did you?”
“No,” Chase says forcefully. “She surprised me in line—” He waves his hand dismissively. “Since moon-gate and then leaving the States, she seems to keep showing up wherever I am. Maybe she got ahold of my schedule. I’ll have to check with my assistant. I’ve had some intense fans, but I don’t think she’s one of them. It’s probably a coincidence. Let’s forget about Mean-Marlow.”
A nervous laugh escapes. “Not easy to do when it seems she has it in for me.”
“She’s just jealous.”
We stop on the corner that would take me to my apartment. “Jealous of—?” I tilt my head, waiting for Chase to finish.
“Your hair, for one.” A note of sincerity replaces the flirtation in his tone.
“My hair is plain brown.”
He smooths a damp lock from my face. “In this light, I see streaks of starlight. During the day, sunshine.”
I nearly stumble on the cobblestones at the poetry in his words and the depth of meaning in his eyes. Once more, Chase is here to catch me. His arms loop around my back and he pulls me close.
“She also is probably jealous of your eyes.” His gaze doesn’t waver.
“Again, plain brown.”
“Beautiful brown.”
The heart fluffies bounce off each other like the bumper car ride earlier.
