I continuously watch the clock as we walk around and grab some food before Finn becomes intoxicated. I keep my eye on him because I don’t want him to go overboard tonight.
When it reaches five to seven, I chew on the inside of my lip and shove my phone into my pocket. “Guys, I gotta go take a call,” I lie.
Finn turns to me and grabs my shoulder. “Who is it?”
“I’ll tell you later,” I say, moving away from his grip. Joel and Cal nod as I take a step backwards. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Alright.” Finn holds up his hand as I turn around and head straight towards the Ferris wheel.
I almost stop walking when I spot Ivy in the distance, her fingers laced together in front of her as she glances from side to side. “Oh my,” I whisper to myself as my eyes rake over her attire.
She’s wearing light denim wide-leg jeans with a white crop top that showcases a sliver of midriff and the top half of her scar. She normally covers that scar. But not tonight.
My fingers twitch at the sight of her.
Her hair sweeps over the tips of her narrow shoulders in gentle waves. Big green eyes flick over every person until they land on mine. Then she smiles.She smiles.And my entire world slows down.
I take long strides to reach her, and when I do, I tower over her short frame. I grip her cheeks between my fingers and draw our noses tip to tip. Ivy releases a quiet gasp as I bring our faces together.
“I want to kiss the hell out of you right now,” I murmur heavily.
Her eyes light up at my words, and then she glances around. “Same,” she confesses. “But?—”
“I know.” I drop my hands from her face. “Later.”
“Later,” she agrees.
“You look so beautiful,” I admit, my eyes taking a journey over her again.
Ivy’s cheeks heat as she presses a hand to her chest. “Oh, this is just?—”
I clutch her chin between my thumb and finger, tilting her eyes to mine until she stops talking. “Take the compliment, princess, or I’ll make you.”
She gulps. “Okay. Thank you.”
“That’s more like it,” I say as my mouth curls to the side.
We queue up for the Ferris wheel and I pay for both of us. She thanks me, and I motion for her to go first, taking her hand as the cart rocks gently. We pull the barrier close to us, and it begins to move.
I glance down at Ivy, and her hands are tight against her thighs. “You okay?”
She hums and then brushes her hair behind her ear. “Yeah. You?”
“I am now,” I say, smiling as I take in every little detail of her perfect face.
Pink creeps up across her freckled cheeks as I extend my arm across the back of the seats, my fingers tickling her bare arm. “I like what you’re wearing,” I say as I take it in again.
“I thought I’d step out of my comfort zone again,” she says timidly.
“Again?”
A hesitant laugh falls from her lips. “Buying that lingerie set and taking a picture of myself. That was very out of character for me.”
I flash her a grin as I scoot closer. “Well, I like you stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s like seeing another side of you. I like it.”
Her lashes brush her cheek. “I’m getting there.” She lowers her head.
“What did you want to talk about?”
