Page 42 of How You See Me
“I’m only asking because it’s my choice again, and we’re ridingthatnext.” I point over the restaurant to the towering rollercoaster behind it. Only the highest loop peeks over the trees, and it’s a doozy.
She goes pale. “I—”
“Kidding,” I smirk. “But I do want to ride it.”
She smacks a hand across my abs. “Hayes Montgomery, don’t do that to me.” She pivots toward the restaurant, then again to face me. “And good job, Sergeant. You made a joke, and I’m pretty sure I caught you enjoying the bear ride.”
“We rode metal bears like horses through a forest. Who wouldn’t like that?”
“True. But I’m still proud of you.”
Satisfaction trickles through me, and I stand a little straighter by her side.
???
“You’ve stalled long enough,” I tell Josie, guiding her toward the coaster I picked out after talking to a few staffers. They promised this one won’t traumatize my fragile companion.
“I’m not stalling.”
I tick off the contradicting evidence with my fingers. “Since the Grist Mill, we've stopped by three gift shops, taken more photos of flowers, and watched a concert.”
“All necessary since I may never make it back here. And that band was amazing.”
“Maybe so, but it’s time. We need to get back on the road.”
“Fine,” she complains with a whine, “but we can’t leave until we ride the steam engine through the park.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“It is now.”
Reaching the coaster entrance minutes later, we join the line.
“You really want to ride this thing?” Her hand comes up under my arm to wrap around my bicep. “It’s a death trap.”
“Yes. I need to go, but you don’t.”
“Need? Why?”
“I . . . I’ve been looking forward to it. To me, it’s no differentthan skydiving.”
“Ugh. I could never listen to Jordan talk about that. Why would you ever jump out of a perfectly safe airplane?”
“The mission.”
“Right.” She lets go of me to cross her arms over her stomach. “Both of you are too dedicated for your own good.”
“You aren’t the first person to tell me that.”
“Yeah?” We move forward a few steps with the line. “Who else?”
“My doctor.”
“You’ve been working harder than your body can take, haven’t you, Staff Sergeant?” She watches me, waiting for me to disagree.
“Something like that.” Ava comes to mind, and my focus dips. I don’t notice Josie creeping closer. Her body reconnects with mine, a familiar tension takes over my muscles.
“Will riding this thing make you forget about it all for a few minutes?”
