Page 71 of Facing the Line

He licks his lips. “Used to be the funnel cake, even though the powdered sugar is so messy. But now, cotton candy will always remind me of you. It’s my new favorite.”

I scoop the last bite off the cone and pretend to put it in his mouth before changing directions at the last minute and eating it myself.

“And how do you feel about Ferris wheels?” I point at the ride in front of us, painted white and pink with twinkling yellow lights.

“I’m up for it if you are.” He elbows me. “Get it? Up for it?”

“Oh, Joe. For that, I’m stealing the funnel cake, too.” I swipe the rest of dessert and throw away the plate while he gets us tickets to ride the Ferris wheel.

We don’t have long to wait before it’s our turn, and the guy manning the Ferris wheel lifts the bar and we climb into our cart. Jonas puts his arm around the back of it, ostensibly just resting it there, but I lean into him. I like sitting this close to him.

The car lurches forward and we zoom up. Jonas tenses next to me and tightens his grip.

“Hey, you okay?” I ask.

He stares straight ahead. “Maybe I should have mentioned I don’t love heights.”

“Jonas!” My tone scolds. “You said you were up for it! You liar.”

“It sounded like so much fun with you.” His voice wobbles. “I forgot it would be terrifying.”

I grab onto him as the car zooms up again. “I promise I won’t let go.”

He yelps a little and squeezes his eyes closed. “This is embarrassing.”

“No worse than me passing out at the sight of blood. We all have our things. Do you want me to tell them you need to get off?”

Still without looking, he shakes his head. “Distract me.”

“Okay. How about you tell me your favorite part of summer so far.”

“Is it too corny if I say you?”

“Yes, it is.” I roll my eyes, though he can’t see it.

“What about if I say spending time with friends?”

“I’ll allow it.” My chest warms at his words. “And what are you most concerned about when the semester starts?”

He huffs a shallow laugh. “Can I be honest?”

“Of course.”

Jonas opens his eyes and gazes right at me. “I’m concerned about hockey, that I’ll let the team down again. I’m concerned about the future, about making the right choice. I’m concerned things will get weird with my best friend once she—” He pauses and swallows. “Once she moves out. I’m concerned I’ll never be as happy as I am right now.”

“Oh, Joe.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “I guarantee you’ll be happier than you are on the Ferris wheel of death you hate.”

“Of death?” His voice climbs. “Why did you have to call it that?”

“Because it’s about to get worse.”

As I say this, the ride starts in earnest, spinning around once all the passengers are aboard. Jonas clings to me, and I can’t help it, I laugh at his terror.

“Hey, I need to tell you something,” I whisper in his ear. “You didn’t let anyone down on the hockey team. It wasn’t your fault.”

He shakes his head. “I should have made that goal. I could have changed everything.”

“That’s not how the game works, and you know it.” I squeeze him, letting my hands wander around his rock-hard abs. “You wouldn’t let any of your teammates talk to themselves that way, so don’t do it in your own head.”

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