Olivia bit her lip, before busting out laughing.
“What?” Why was she laughing at him?
“I’m just having a hard time picturing you enjoying yourself at a carnival.”
“And where do you picture me?” In your bed?
“I don’t know, anywhere but a carnival, though.” By the look in her eyes, her mind was where his was, but she wasn’t going to say it out loud. Hopefully over time, she’d be freer with her thoughts and not fear his reaction.
“It’s true this isn’t my normal scene. I usually like to hang out at home with my friends, but I’m starting to see the appeal of the carnival.” He looked pointedly at her, so she didn’t miss his meaning. He wouldn’t be here for anyone else, and he hoped she appreciated the lengths he went through to be with her.
Olivia dropped her gaze to the ground, before looking back at him. A subtle blush gracing her cheeks. “I haven’t been to a carnival in years.”
“Well, then this will be an experience for the both of us.” Heath went to take her hand, but then caught himself at the last second, remembering his promise. Olivia smiled and took it, allowing him to lead her to the closest stand that was selling cotton candy. Heath couldn’t remember ever having cotton candy growing up. His parents hadn’t allowed their children to get hyped up on sugar. He had never even been to a carnival. They had instead gone to Broadway plays and symphonies. Adult stuff, which was really boring for a kid.
Right now, he was feeling like a kid, who had been deprived all his life and wanted to see everything. Olivia looked just as excited, as she tore off a piece of cotton candy and popped it into her mouth.
Heath watched in fascination, as Olivia’s eyes closed, as she savored the treat. Her whole body swayed side-to-side. He even heard a soft moan coming from her. All from candy? Heath popped a piece in his mouth, seeing what the big deal was. As soon as it hit his tongue, it instantly started dissolving, but left the flavor of berries in its wake. He tore off another piece, and it did the same thing.
“Someone seems to like cotton candy.” Olivia commented, as Heath looked down, shocked to see the cotton candy almost gone.
He did like it. Even though, he had been denied sugary things as a child, it had continued into adulthood. Working out as much as he did and the strains of his job, Heath stuck to healthy foods to keep fit. Now, he was second guessing that regime. What else had he been missing out on?
They finished off the cotton candy quickly, both laughing at the other for their blue tongues, before moving onto the next stand and buying a bag of caramel popcorn. It was different. It was sweet and not sticky, like he thought it would be. Heath couldn’t say it was his favorite, but it tasted good. Heath wanted to try everything, when Olivia gasped in delight.
“What?” He looked around to see what might have caught her eye, but he couldn’t tell what it might be.
“Come on,” Olivia grabbed his bicep and pulled him a few stalls over. He didn’t think about where she was pulling him, only loving the feeling of her touching him, when they stopped, and she looked at him expectantly. Heath was clueless as to why, until he looked up, where a man stood next to a barrel with what appeared to be apples bobbing in it.
“It’s called bobbing for apples.” She said gleefully.
“Okay,” he wasn’t getting her point.
“You have to grab an apple with your teeth, while having your hands behind your back.”
Heath looked at the barrel then back at her. That was it? “What do you get, when you get one?” He asked her.
“You can pick any of these prizes.” The man interjected, waving his arm at the wall behind him, holding up different stuffed animals.
It didn’t seem like much of a prize to him, but Heath saw the joy on Olivia’s face and didn’t want to ruin it. She had dragged him here for a reason. “Is there any prize that has caught your eye?” If she said yes, it would be hers.
Olivia looked startled at first, like she hadn’t expected him to agree to try, before looking at the wall. “That one.” She pointed at a bird at the top.
“The hawk?” He was shocked that’s what she picked, because that was his nickname. Was it some kind of sign, or was he reading into it too much?
“I’ve always liked birds.”
“Then it will be yours.” He vowed.
“Don’t get too cocky. Bobbing for apples is harder than it looks.”
If only she knew half the things he did for a living, it would make her hair turn white. Bobbing for apples was child’s play in comparison. He wasn’t like Ben, when it came to perfecting things the first time trying them, earning him the nickname Midas, but Heath wasn’t known as Hawk just because he had sharp vision. He had a sharp mind and knew how to go after his prey. The stuffed animal would be Olivia’s.
“It’s three tries for a dollar.” The man said, holding out his hand.
He would only need one try. Heath pulled out his wallet handing the man a dollar.
“Hands behind your back.”
