Candi Honeycutt pushes through the crowd in a pale pink dress that sparkles beneath the festival lights. Last year’s Frosting Queen sash is draped across her chest, and the rhinestone tiara sits on her head. For having only seen her a few times over the past couple weeks, she seems to wear her tiara a lot.
She lifts one hand and waves. “Save me a seat!”
Lila’s expression dims. She loosens her hold on me, hand slipping from mine.
I don’t like it.
Candi gestures for people to move as she works her way toward the ride. They do, although several look annoyed by the faint pink sparks dancing around her fingertips.
The father ahead of us reaches the loading gate with two little girls. One is wearing glittery cat ears, and the other is clutching a shark stuffy nearly as big as she is.
I tear the two tickets Lila and I need from my strip and hand the rest to him. “Would you mind letting us go ahead?”
He stares at the tickets—enough for the three of them to take at least four more rides.
“Seriously?”
“Please,” I say, pulling Lila closer.
Both girls bounce on their toes.
“Now we can ride the Sea Serpent!” Shark stuffy cheers.
“It’s like we got coupons!” Cat Ears adds. “Mom will be so excited.”
The father looks from them to me. “Absolutely. Go ahead.”
“Thank you.” I blow out a pent-up breath and guide Lila around them.
She glances back at the delighted girls, her smile returning. “They’re so happy. That was really sweet.”
I’d buy every person here ride tickets if it meant keeping that smile on her face.
I offer her my hand and help her inside. The gondola shifts beneath our combined weight, and she sucks in a breath.
“I’ve got you.”
Lila settles beside me, her soft thigh pressed against mine as I pull the metal bar across our laps. The attendant checks the latch just as Candi pushes her way through to the loading gate.
“Max, I said to save me a seat.”
“I did.” I slide one arm around Lila’s shoulders and pull her against my side. “For the woman I came here with.”
Candi’s mouth falls open.
The attendant releases the brake, and our gondola rises.
Lila turns toward me. “Did you just publicly choose me over Candi Honeycutt?”
“There was never a choice.”
Her breath catches, a fragile, disbelieving hope in her widened eyes. Then she blinks it away and hides behind a teasing smile.
“I don’t know about that, Lark. She has magickandexcellent bone structure.”
“I have claws.” I shrug. “And I like your bone structure.”
Her laugh floats into the night as the gondola climbs higher. The festival turns into a glimmering patchwork of color beneath our feet, and the music blends with the steady rush of the ocean.
