Page 27 of Love Me, I Dare You

At only twelve years old, Brynn could stay so long as she remained close to my side. That was the deal. Even at sixteen, I still had a curfew I couldn’t risk breaking.

“Please,” she pleaded, but her sweet puppy eyes would not work on me.

“Brynn, it’s Sunday tomorrow, and mama’s going to want us up bright and early for church.”

Billie jumped in front of us and took Brynn by the hand. “Oh come on Bailey, it’s summer. Live a little. I’ll take you, Brynn, since Bailey here doesn’t understand the meaning of fun.”

The two of them ran off to the front of the line, and with a quick wink from Billie to the attendee, they were quickly let on. I tossed the nearly finished funnel cake in the trash and wiped my hands against my dress, dusting the remaining sugar off my fingers.

“Bailey doesn’t know the meaning of fun,” I huffed under my breath. “Yeah, I’ll show you fun.”

I stomped toward the ride, eager to show them I could break the rules now and then, but crashed into a hard body right before I got to the front of the line. “Woah, there. Where are you off to in such a hurry, Angel?”

My heart was caught in my lungs and I forced myself to breathe as Nash Bishop caught me with a firm hand on my waist before I fell to the dirt. “Nash,” I whimpered, feeling the muscles of his arms flex beneath my fingers as I gripped him tight.

The smile he gave me made me weak in the knees and if he wasn’t already holding me up, I’d be falling at his feet. “Whyaren’t you home and all tucked up in your bed like a good little girl?” he asked, wiping away at the whipped cream on the edge of my lips with his thumb.

I was mesmerized as I watched him bring his thumb to his mouth and lick it clean.

“Brynn wanted to ride the Ferris wheel one more time,” I stuttered nervously, not letting go of my hold on him. He hadn’t removed his hand from my waist either, and I felt his fingers dig deeper into me. “Billie and her ran off before I could say no.”

The teasing smile spread wider as he set me back on my feet and took a step back, forcing space between us. “And left you here all alone?”

His question was taunting, like I was some little girl who needed to be watched after. “I was on my way to join them. Billie said I was no fun because I wanted to go home.”

Embarrassment washed over me as I realized how childish I sounded.What the hell was wrong with me, and why did I become a rambling mess anytime Nash was around?My cheeks burned as his gaze stayed on me, never straying despite how eager I was to disappear or run and hide, pretending this conversation never occurred.

“So now you’re off to break the rules, huh, trouble?” Nash reached for my hand and led me to the front of the line. He pulled me toward him, sneaking us into the next cart before the rest of the people who were patiently waiting to board.

I heard a guy groan in frustration, but we quickly were locked up and on our way. “What are you doing?” I asked, mortified.

“Let’s go get in trouble, B.”

I frantically looked around, terrified that someone would see us and word would get back to my brothers, only I didn’t recognize any of the people in front of us. Bailey and Brynn were already in one of the other carts, but could still see us at any moment.

“Nash, we cut in line.”

He ignored me, of course, something he always did when he didn't like what I had to say. “I said we were breaking the rules, Bailey. You wanted tobefun? Fun people don’t wait in lines.”

“And how are you suddenly the expert on fun?” I asked as the ride began turning. I gasped in shock when I nearly fell back into my seat.

Nash leaned over me, his toned, warm body pressing into me as he reached to fasten the safety bar. I inhaled as he leaned so close to me, I could taste him if I tried. Would he be as sweet as the funnel cake I’d indulge in, or better? My tongue wanted so badly to find out, but I didn’t dare.

“Angel,” he whispered into my ear, his hot breath tickling my cheek. “No one can show you fun like me. What do you say, B? Want to get into trouble with me?”

There’s nothing I wanted more than to be all alone with Nash in a Ferris wheel cart suspended eighty feet in the air where no one could see us. My crush on him had become unmanageable, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to get a moment alone with him where I could. Brynn may have made my night by requesting to spend more time here. If it weren’t for her, I’d be just as Nash said, tucked in bed like a good little girl and not sitting next to the hottest, baddest boy in all of Crossroads. Even if said boy saw me as nothing more than his best friend’s little sister.

I turned my head toward him, my lips lightly brushing against his, and he groaned in response. I wanted to reach for him, to tangle my fingers in his hair, to take his face in my hands and force a kiss on him, but I didn’t dare. I was too afraid of rejection. Goosebumps spread over my skin at the mere thought he might feel the same way I did, but I was only fooling myself.

“Don’t, B. Don’t do something we’ll both regret.”

Embarrassment rushed through me at what I almost allowed myself to do. I felt my cheeks turn bright red as heat crept up my chest and neck. I couldn’t let him think I was about to kiss him. I would never live it down if anyone found out I had and he’d rejected me.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Nash. I was simply turning my head. You’re the one that needs to sit back before people get the wrong idea.”

He laughed, a full belly rumbling laugh that sounded almost angelic, knowing full well he caught me in a lie, but he didn’t push me on it. Instead, he settled back in the seat beside me and threw his arm over my shoulder.

“Sit back, take in the cool summer breeze, and relax. You think too much, do too much. Live a little, B and you’ll realize fun isn’t something you do or something you are. It’s the way you look at life. Carefree and careless.”

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