“Come on,” Knox says to her, once we reach them, gruff but with a hint of teasing affection. “You’re not this much of a lightweight.”
“Says the guy who threw up after the Scrambler when we were twelve,” Owen shoots back.
“That was food poisoning.”
“Sure it was.”
I can’t help but smile at their banter. It’s so much like the old days, it makes my chest ache.
We hang out around the bench for longer than necessary while Ella drinks some water. I narrowly avoid a Giggles encounter and my squeal as he passes behind me even makes Knox crack a grin.
“That’s our cue,” I say. Where Giggles goes, I leave.
“We should hit The Twister next,” Owen says, checking his phone again. “Wait time is only forty-five minutes if we go now.”
“Or...” Knox’s voice cuts through, and when I follow his gaze, I see what he’s looking at.
Velocity.
It’s a monstrosity…plain and simple. I’ve only ridden it once before, the last time we were here. It’s newer, not a part of our childhood memories, but I couldn’t turn down a dare from the guys.
I stare at the massive steel structure that towers over every other ride here. The track twists and loops and corkscrews in ways that make me sick to think about, before climbing to a peak that has to be at least two hundred feet and plummeting straight down at a ninety-degree angle.
My muffin churns in my gut.
“Absolutely not,” Ella says immediately, still looking greenish.
“Come on,” Knox says, and it’s the most animated he’s sounded all morning. “It’s the best ride here.”
“It’s also a death trap,” I mutter.
He pulls his sunglasses off and looks directly into my eyes—a full on stare, not just another indifferent glance. “Since when are you scared, Thorne?”
The challenge in his voice is so annoyingly Knox. The same tone he used at the high dive, at the Wonder Coaster when I was too short, at the wedding when we?—
Nevermind.
He’s used that damn tone every moment he’s ever dared me to prove myself and I hate it.
Or more like, I hate that it works.
“I’m not scared,” I lie.
“Then what’s the problem?”
Owen comes to my side, taking my hand. “Maybe we should work our way up to it. Hit a few less intense rides first, then?—”
“Nah, those are for pussies,” Knox says flatly.
“Not everyone needs to prove they have the biggest dick, Knox,” I snap before I can stop myself.
Surprise flickers across his face.Good.But then he smiles, and I already know I’ve made a mistake. You don’t throw Knox a reaction and walk away easily.
“Good thing I don’t need to prove anything then.” His eyes drag over me, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. “Some of us already know.”
My face burns and I look away. God, I hate him. But mostly, I hate how after all this time, one look and a few cocky words have me lighting up like a schoolgirl.
“Okay!” Ella cuts in, forcing brightness into her tone. She looks between us like we’re both absurd. She’s not too far off. “How about a compromise? We can do one or two more rides, grab lunch, and then decide about Velocity?”
