People with bored expressions man the kiosks, some leaning against the counters and others standing with their arms folded, waiting for the next customer. The Ferris wheel stands proudly at the back, while the smaller stalls surround it.
He rubs the back of his neck, a blush appearing. “Erm, so I know this is a bit unconventional, but I’ve never taken a girl on a date before. This was always somewhere I, uh, wanted to bring them.”
It wasn’t lost on me that we’d never gone on a proper date. Maybe it’s because we’d spend the day edging each other with words until neither one of us could take it anymore and we’d tumble into bed.
But yeah, Theo and I have never been on anactualdate.
“You’ve brought me on a date? In the middle of the day? Instead of working?”
“I fucked up, didn’t I?” he groans, and I laugh.
Now it’s my turn to blush. “No one’s ever taken me on a proper date like this before. It’s always something I’ve wanted to do as well.”
“Really?” he asks, his eyes wide and full of excitement.
“Yeah.” I nod. “But shouldn’t we be working?”
Theo smiles. “Another byproduct of BPD… we have impulse issues, which means once we get an idea in our heads, we can’t stop thinking about it until we’ve done it. This has been on my mind for a few days, and it's been driving me mad.” His lips purse, and I chuckle at his exasperated expression. “I asked Oscar the other night if he’d want to go, but he said no, it wasn’t his sort of thing.”
“He doesn’t like crowds of people,” I reply, then add, “It has nothing to do with you or spending time with you.”
“How did you know I was thinking that?” he asks, gazing down.
“Because my needy Viking needs reassurance, and I’m more than happy to give that to you,” I reply, stepping closer. “We all have our burdens to bear, Theo. If we’re going to try this out, I need you to know I’m not hiding from you. I see you, I see your demons, and I want to help.”
His eyes become glassy before he clears his throat. “I really don’t want to be bawling like a baby, so enough of that for now, please,” he admonishes jokingly.
Theo grabs my hand and pulls me along to the ticket office, my laughter echoing around us.
“Where to first?” I ask once he’s paid a god-awful amount in entrance fees.
“I’ve always wanted to have a kiss at the top of a Ferris wheel.” He winks.
“How original.” I roll my eyes, but my insides scream,yes. I’ve always wanted to do that too. So many memories of watching films as a teenager flash through my mind—all those wild, over-the-top things the guys did to win the girl. Maybe I’m about to get my own big romantic gesture?
We stroll through the fairground, hand in hand. It’s lunchtime now, and the fairgrounds are beginning to fill up, the atmosphere taking on a more positive aura rather than the sullen one it had when we arrived. Small children run around screaming in delight while parents run after them, completely frazzled and sleep-deprived.
Squeezing my hand, Theo lets out a gasp. I swing my head to where he’s pointing, his face lit up.
I begin laughing. “You’re adorable, you know that, right?”
“But look at it, Blake,” he gushes, smiling widely. “It’s perfect and would go on my office shelf perfectly.”
Theo pulls me along to the stall, my laughter echoing around us. He stops, offering the man some money before he picks up one of the balls, tossing it between his hands.
“You think you can hit them, big guy?” I tease.
He turns to me, a devilish look on his face. “Oh ye of little faith.”
In a move I didn’t know he possessed he throws the ball while his gaze is firmly locked on me. I hear the thud as it connects with the wooden board and my thighs clench.
Shit. Why was that so hot?
His grin widens as he picks up another ball, doing the same thing again. I step closer, still caught in his web, my own smile growing. Deciding on making this slightly harder for him, I bring my hand down to his dick, my body hiding the movement.
Caressing him gently, I say, “Okay, hot shot. Try it now.”
Theo’s hand falters and the ball drops back into its slot.
