“What man?” I asked.
Maisie pointed at the picture, not at Annie in the foreground, but to the background. It was a little hazy, and captured plenty of other carousel riders, but I suddenly realized there was someone else meant to be in the photo’s focus.A man, as my sister had said. His hand held onto the pole that anchored Annie’s horse, but higher up than her clasped hands, so I hadn’t noticed at first. He was tall and wearing a white polo shirt, although I couldn’t see his face because he had turned away from the camera’s crosshairs, as if someone behind him had called his name.
“Do you think it’s Pops?” Maisie asked.
“No.” I shook my head, mind whirring. Our grandfather’s travel anxiety hadn’t set in until he was older, but I knew this wasn’t him. “Pops had really dark hair.”
Mystery Man’s looked light brown, and upon squinting, it curled at the edges.
It kind of reminded me of my dad’s hair.
“Hmm.” Maisie was stumped. “I guess we’ll never know.”
I gave her a look. “Your investigative journalist skills need some work.”
“Why? I don’t want to be an investigative journalist anymore.”
“Okay, what do you want to be?”
Maisie shrugged before the carousel slowed and a woman with red hair cheered. She waved around something small. “The brass ring!” My sister locked eyes with me. “Iwantit, Olivia.”
“Then let’s get it,” I told her. It looked like we were going to make the cut for the next ride. “I believe in you!”
* * *
Naturally, Maisiedidtriumph and grab the brass ring, so I took a video of her victory lap for my dad and Erica. “Maisie’s riding without me?” Bryce was incredulous when he and Connor (and a to-go bag from Nancy’s) found me at the picket fence.
“You snooze, you lose,” I joked.
His disbelief turned indignant. “We weren’t snoozing! We had to park all the way up near the Steamship Authority, and then walk to Nancy’s—”
“How about we get in line?” Connor suggested. “I’m sure Maisie will be game for another ride.”
“Especially if she wins the brass ring again,” I said, pocketing my phone. “I nearly pulled a muscle trying to grab those rings.”
Connor cocked his head, bemused. “You didn’t stretch first?”
Not wanting to flash my middle finger in front of Bryce, I stuck out my tongue.
By way of a response, the corners of his eyes crinkled and he held up our food after Bryce took off to stake out our spot in line. “Teddy advised two hot dogs per person, so I got you the requisite two and Maisie three.”
“Very observant,” I commented. My sister could lowkey put awaya lotof food. “And…” I gave him a smile, one that surprisingly caught me off guard and warmed my face. Usually one reserved for Annie. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He smiled back, then reached into the bag, surreptitiously pulled out a french fry, and offered it to me. There was probably a no food or beverage sign around here somewhere. “These are also Teddy-endorsed.”
Our fingertips touched when I accepted his fry, and I felt blood rush to my cheeks after I fumbled the handoff and the fry fell to our feet.
If this plot twist is A GUY, Olivia, Gwen had texted when I didn’t respond,then YES, you should go for it! For once in your life!
“Party foul…” Connor teased as my lungs secretly sped up, but his eyes found mine when I didn’t laugh, let alone react.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You seem a little…”
“Do not say edgy,” I said, remembering our first time hanging out on our porch. “I am not on edge.”
Just painfully attracted to you, I realized.And I need to get out of here.
I was suddenly claustrophobic from all the people, the cutesy cloying music, the carousel, and Connor’s elbow brushing mine.I need to leave, I need to breathe, I need to—
