Page 42 of Road Trip
Kelly didn’t look so sure. We got to the front of the line, and they directed us into a room that was set up like a library. I curled up into his arms, and he grunted.
“This might not be one of those times when it pays off for me,” he whispered.
I smiled up at him. “I’ll make sure it does.”
After a few more minutes the elevator doors opened and it was our turn to ride. Kelly hesitated before he followed me onto the carriage. We sat in the front row, his knees pressing against the rail in front. Once we were seat belted, I heard him exhale a breath harshly.
“You ready?” I asked him teasingly.
The look on his face said he was regretting letting me have my way.
The doors shut and we shot up high inside the tower. Kelly had a death grip on my hand as though he were terrified. Once we started getting tossed up and down like dough in a pizza parlor, the ride paused before sending us plummeting toward the ground. I heard Kelly groan on the way down, but I couldn’t stop laughing.
When the ride was over, we both stumbled off. I turned to hug Kelly, who had a scowl on his face, and I worried I’d pushed him a tad too far.
“That was pretty terrible,” Kelly said as I clutched onto his arm.
I glanced up at him and could see him finally starting to relax. “Yeah, who thought this was a good idea right after we ate?”
He gaped at me and started to protest.
“I’m just kidding, that was freaking AMAZING! Oh, man, the way the car shakes and—”
“Please! My stomach is just settling down.”
We had to exit through a gift shop, so we stopped to look at our photo. It took a moment for ours to pop up, and when it did, we both cracked up.
“Dude! Look at your face! You’re like made of stone!”
Kelly had the fiercest expression on his face. Gone was the farm boy along with any sign of amusement. In its place was a look of sheer determination and pissed-offery.
“Babe, you look like you’re going to slaughter someone’s whole family!” I was holding my side I was laughing so hard.
“Your face is priceless,” he said, a smile finally spreading across his full lips.
Thank God. I’d been worried for a minute that he’d be angry.
“You look like you are having so much fun.” He tugged on my hand and led me into the store.
“If you buy a picture, I’m totally getting you this shirt!” I pulled a shirt off the rack that said ‘I Survived The Tower.’ It had Smiley Sunny looking petrified on it. Perfect for him!
He rolled his eyes as we made our purchases.
“You have to wear this tomorrow,” I said to him, swinging the bag back and forth.
We wandered down the path toward the center of the park, and I noticed him beginning to yawn uncontrollably.
“I think we’re done for the day,” I murmured, anxious to get him back to the hotel room, even if it was just to hold him all night. I couldn’t believe my thoughts. I had always been a very sexual person. I had my first experiences in early high school, and throughout my twenties I was never long without a partner. If I thought too deeply about it, I’d have to admit I’d been searching that entire time for someone to love me for me, not for what I could give them. Sex had always been a way to get someone’s attention and keep it as long as I could. I just wanted affection that wasn’t tainted with darkness. I hadn’t been with anyone in a long time, so my personal handheld device got a steady workout. But here I was thinking that cuddling would be the perfect ending to this day. Who the fuck was I and what had happened to my dirty mind? I mean, this specimen next to me was perfection. He was like Channing Tatum perfect, and he actually wanted to be here with me, spending time together and getting to know each other, despite my little breakdown earlier. I felt like I’d fallen into some alternate universe where I was the chick who got the guy. I’d thought that once before in this very place.
“Abra?”
“Hmmm?” I must have spaced out because he pulled me to a stop.
“I was hoping I could take you back to the room and hold you tonight. Maybe rub your feet for you.” His expression was so loving that I wanted to cry. So I did.
Kelly
When her tears started to fall, I thought for sure I had managed to ruin this perfect day. But then she smiled.
