The smell of popcorn and cotton candy surrounds us as we stand clustered in the middle of the fair, air vibrating with carnival music and laughter. I always forget how loud the fair is, but it makes me feel alive.
With a wide smile, I look around, taking everything in and trying to decide what to do first. Mine and Gareth’s eyes meet for half a second, my heart seizing in my chest. The butterflies stir to life just as he looks away.
Dylan bumps into my shoulder. “What should we do first?”
His eyes glitter with excitement, and it feels like we’re ten again, not sixteen, almost seventeen. Not much has changed, we’re still best friends. But now we have Gareth, too.
My stomach jolts at the thought of him, even though he’s literally standing right here. I sneak another glance, biting my lip when I find him already looking at me. He always is, although it’s usually through careful glimpses.
We’ve been keeping thisthingbetween us quiet and calm for so long, it’s like we’ve built a language together—speaking through the silence.
“Let’s hit the games.” Gareth slides in his suggestion, nodding over at the booth with the giant teddy bears.
“You really want to carry around a prize if you win?” Dylan retorts. “We should hit the rides first.”
“You’re right. Indy can’t carry around a bear bigger than she is all night.” He tosses a swoon-worthy smirk in my direction, and my stomach does its usual somersault.
“C’mon, let’s go get some tickets. The line for the Zipper is short.” Dylan takes off toward the ticket booth, leaving no room for discussion.
“Seriously, Dyl? That ride looks like it hasn’t been inspected ever.” The faded blue metal stares ominously at me from across the dirt field. It’s no wonder the line is short, it looks like it might break during the next spin.
“Scared?” Gareth teases. His hand brushes against mine as Dylan pays for our rides.
“No,” I answer too quickly, knowing I am.
“Liar.” Gareth quickly steps away from me as Dylan turns around with an arm’s length worth of bright yellow tickets.
“Don’t worry, sis. I’ll be there rocking the hell out of the cage we’re in.” My brother grins as we walk to the line queue.
It feels like my heart might explode when the ride attendant waves us forward, opening the rusted cage door for us. The Zipper is as horrifying as it looks.
Sitting on the metal seat, Gareth slides in next to me, Dylan across, smiling at me like this is the most exciting thing he’s ever done. The cage is small, and as the door’s lock engages, my pulse skyrockets.
“You better not puke!” Dylan laughs at the terror on my face. “Need me to hold your hand, sis?”
Silently, Gareth slides his hand under mine and laces our fingers together.
My eyes dart from our connected hands to Gareth’s waiting gaze.
I’ll protect you,they reflect—or at least I think they do.
The ride lurches into motion, and my stomach drops. Tightening my grip on Gareth, the ride steals my breath with its first flip, and my body threatens to slam into the bars.
Shifting his other hand into mine, Gareth’s arm comes up around my shoulders, the hand I was just holding bracing against the side of my head, holding me firmly against his side.
I scream as we flip, over and over, as the ride accelerates past the point of what feels natural. Bright-colored lights smear across my vision as something between terror and excitement roots itself deep within me.
Gareth’s gaze is heavy as he watches my reaction, his brown eyes laser-focused on my emotions.
But I feel safe in his arms, and before I know it, I startlaughing.
The ride speeds up and flips in a loop, and I’m laughing like a maniac. Tears stream down my cheeks from how fast we’re going, and Gareth loosens his grip around my shoulder, just slightly, but still keeps his fingers laced with mine.
For the rest of the ride, it’s all I focus on. His touch, the warmth of his body pressed against mine. The world disappears—mybrotherdisappears.
It’s just me and Gareth.
Then the ride comes to a forceful halt, the mechanics whining as they grind to a stop.
