It's easy to hide from the world that way.
We flew through the gates into the park and with every inch of this place memorized, I navigated us over to the rides and parked in front of the Ferris wheel.
I helped her out and pulled out my keys to turn the ride on.
"You picked the tallest ride in the park, and you don't think people will notice it's on?" She shook her head.
"It's fine. Look, I'll text Fabian now to tell him you are here with me.”
"No!" She threw up her hands. "Don't. I don't want anyone to know..."
"That you're here with me?" I unlocked the control cupboard and pulled out the hand controller. I let the ride cycle through before opening one of the passenger cars and motioning for her to climb inside.
She bowed her head to avoid the umbrella and sat. "Yeah, I should explain."
"I'm all ears," I said as I joined her, hooking the hand controller to my belt and pushing the button to start the wheel.
"I kissed Koi," she confessed, her head hanging low. "I don't know how it happened, but..."
Of course, she'd want to tell me in person. My hand reached for hers, intertwining our fingers. I squeezed. "Did you like it?"
She didn't speak for a long moment. We reached the top of the ride and started back down.
"I did."
My heart beat loudly in my ears. This next question would either crush me completely, or I'd end up falling harder.
"Did you like kissing me?"
"I did." She set her camera beside her.
My heart exploded. Without another thought, I reached for her, turning my body and planting my lips on hers. I wrapped my arms around her body as she kissed me back.
"Wait, you're not mad?" She pulled back, and I chuckled.
"Hell no. I thought you liked him more and wanted to talk about cutting things off."
She shifted back and straightened her clothes. "I am. I kissed you both, and it was... nice. But... I can't pursue anything. I'm sorry."
"What do you mean?" She had just kissed me back. Her back had arched and she'd pressed into me. She wanted me.
Domino pulled her legs up and hugged them to her chest.
"I haven't been interested in anyone in... years. Childhood crushes, sure, but I never planned for... more than that."
"Domino, that's the fun part of relationships. It's not something that you plan. I never thought I'd have feelings for you."
"Thanks." She scoffed, resting her head on her knees.
"Not like that. Just... I'd vilified you in my head for the last seven years and then you came back and you're nothing like I expected. You're sweet and funny and pretty."
"I'm pretty?" She looked up from her knees.
I moved closer to her, urging her legs down. I placed my hand on her thigh and leaned in to kiss her again. "Domino, my broken little doll, you're beautiful." I pressed my lips to hers and felt wetness on my face from a tear.
"What's wrong?" I asked, pressing my forehead to hers.
She sniffled and pushed me back gently. She lifted her hoodie and shirt, revealing a simple red bra. Words littered her torso, just like her arms and legs. I realized then that most, if not all of her tattoos, were just various phrases. She was a living story created by piecing all of them together. Depending on what order you put them in, you'd get a different tale every time. My eyes raked down her perfect body. She pointed to words framing her breasts.
