The aerialists had made this look so much easier than what it really was.
“Put your legs on either side of me. I’ll lift myself up and then sit on your lap.”
“That isn’t a good idea.” His tone was stiff. Perhaps the heights were rattling his nerves. But they had both climbed up trees when they were young. The rooftop they’d always sit on was not as high as they were now, but it was close.
“Just do it, please. I only have two minutes to perform.”
She raised her other arm and gripped the top of the hoop. She pulled herself up as much as her muscles would allow as he lowered himself down. When he was seated, she eased her bottom onto his lap.
She fit so perfectly against him. As if the curves of her body had been built to mold into his like a puzzle.
“What now?” he asked, his voice strained.
She tilted her head back and met his gaze. The air grew thick between them. And for a second, the world faded away as they spun in slow circles. Her gaze flicked to his lips. Would they be as soft as she remembered? Would they make her insides melt like before?
“Dovie.”
His voice snapped her back into reality.
“Hold perfectly still,” she ordered. “And keep your toes pointed up. I’m going to attempt to do something rather risky.”
“I hate the sound of that.”
His warm breath brushed across her neck. The sensation made the hairs on her arms stand on end. Good thing they were hidden away by the gloves.
“Keep steady and I won’t fall to my death.”
“What?!”
With all the flare she could muster, she scooted off his lap.
The audience gasped, but she did not fall. She had slid her body down the length of Ignacio’s long legs and caught herself from plummeting to her doom by wrapping her underarms around his ankles.
She dangled in midair.
People stood on their feet and applauded. But not all. Many were still watching the other acts perform. She had to do better.
She flicked her fingers like she’d seen the ringmaster do countless times. The cards she’d tucked inside her gloves fanned out like a bouquet of flowers. She closed her eyes and over-dramatically shouted, “Spirits, guide me.” When she opened her eyes, she tucked in her legs so the hoop wove in circles. She made a great show of searching through the audience. She gasped like she’d been touched by her spirits and pointed at a tall woman dressed as a giraffe.
“You have been chosen!” Esmeralda bellowed.
She released one of her cards. It folded itself as it fluttered in the air, taking the shape of a paper dove.
“The spirits wish to show you what great fortunes lie ahead!” Esmeralda yelled.
The dove darted downward, flapping its little wings towardthe woman. The audience pointed and exclaimed their excitement as the paper bird swooped low and then fluttered around the woman’s head.
“Grab it!” someone in the crowd hollered.
The woman did so, and the dove flattened into a single card. The woman’s mouth dropped into the shape of an O. “It’s a drawing of a storefront with my name on the sign,” she cried. “This is what I’ve always wanted!”
Esmeralda kicked her legs once more and spun herself and Ignacio about. She repeated the act again. This time to a man sporting a lollipop mask. More people in the crowd took notice. They watched with anticipation as the dove flew into the man’s awaiting palm.
He waved the flattened card in the air. “It’s a depiction of twins!” He turned and kissed the man in a matching lollipop mask.
“I want my fortune told!” someone yelled.
“Me too!”
