“Uh-huh.” I gulped. I knew exactly what I’d said and what his reaction would be. Aaron had two weaknesses—well, just one now. They used to be competition and women. But, women were off-limits for six months, so his competitive streak had to be on high alert, desperate for anything. It worked.Yes!
“Oh. Hell. No.” He then pulled on my earlobe with his fingers and kept his arm around me. “We are going on thatfuckingride. But I pick the next activity.”
“Deal. Perfect, actually.” I grinned a little too wide.
He ignored my smile, his sole focus on surviving the ride. “And, if I puke all over you, I will laugh.”
“You’re doing it?” I yelled in excitement. “Yes!”
“You used my weakness on me. I never should’ve told you that story with that nickname.” He tickled my side, making me jump into the air. I swatted his hand away as we approached the entrance.
“Guess you shouldn’t have.” I giggled, my heart hammering. The ride looked wicked. The guy motioned for us to enter once it stopped and we did. We went into a carriage, the only protection a small metal bar over our legs. Aaron’s leg bounced, and he tapped the bar over and over. “You good, big guy?”
“Scared as fuck.” He kept his eyes closed. I put my hand over his in a reassuring squeeze. It didn’t work. “If we die, I’m going to haunt your dumb ass.”
“I expect nothing less.” I screamed when the carriage was lifted upward. We spun, over and over, each one picking up speed. “Oh my god!”
“Ah!” Aaron screeched, releasing a string of cuss words I didn’t know he knew. He screamed again, his pitch almost higher than mine. It went on and on, the swooping sensation in my gut repeating. My adrenaline kicked in and when we stopped, I had tears in my eyes.
“Fuck. Fuck. No.” Aaron mumbled over and over. He fidgeted with the metal bar. I hurried with mine, trying to get out as fast as I could. It wasn’t fast enough, because Aaron picked me up from the waist and dragged my ass outside. “You’re crazy. Fucking nuts. No. No more.”
He set me down on a bench and paced aggressively in front of me. “Greta.”
“You are cracking me up right now.” I shook with laughter, his face killing me. “Do you need a pill or something?”
“Do I need a pill? Oh my god. That was… Torture. Prison. Hell. All the above. My heart went through my asshole, G.Through my asshole!”
His yelling stirred the families around us and I got up to drag him away. “Come on, you need a soda.”
“I need something more than that. I almost died.” He held his stomach in his hands and followed me toward the food court.
“Always so dramatic. At least you’re pretty.” I found a stand with soda and ordered him one. He sat at a table far away from everyone with his head in his hands. If I was a total asshole, I would’ve laughed. I had never seen anyone act like that from a ride. “I brought you a soda, princess.”
He looked up with a pale face and took it immediately. “Thank you.”
“My bad. I guess we won’t do any more rides. And I won’t use your safe word.” I pursed my lips at him and waited for color to come back to his face. Slowly, it returned to its normal shade and he looked like himself again.
“Fun fact. I hate upside-down rides.”
“Uh, yeah. I noticed. Thank you.” I swatted away a bee that landed on the table. “Maybe I should apologize for making you go on it.”
“I don’t forgive you. I’ll get you back. I just need my equilibrium restored first.” He narrowed his eyes in a threat and I flinched. Hewouldseek revenge.
“Did I make today worse?”
“Nah.” He managed a tight smile. “I definitely lost the stick up my ass in there. It fell out during a flip.”
“Funny guy.”
He cleared his throat and took another sip. “How am I doing so far?”
“In what context? The rides are kicking your ass.”
“No shit. Asshole.” He shook his head. “I meant, boyfriend-wise. Am I doing okay?”
“Uh, A-a-ron, you haven’t done anything boyfriend-y besides the hand holding. Everything else is normal you.” I frowned, trying to figure out what was fake or real.Shit. Is the whole six months going to be like this? Me questioning everything?
“Hmm.” He shifted in his chair, his shoulders stiffening. “I might need some help as this moves forward.”
