Page 21 of All Hallows' Haunt
“Are you ready?”Everett asked as he tugged on my lap belt. He’d taken us to the Ferris wheel.
“I don’t know. These things stop for a while, right?” There was a small bar in front of me and I grabbed it. We were a good way up, but not high enough to see over the entire park.
“Are you afraid of heights? I’m pretty sure I saw you getting off a roller coaster earlier.” He laughed it off, but he was almost correct.
“I’m not afraid of heights so long as we’re continuously moving. I’m scared of getting stuck and not being able to get back down.” He shot me a look, so I added, “There’s a difference. It’s true.”
“Well, I can guarantee that should a very unlikely event such as that occur, I will personally…yell out for help at least once?” He gave me a cheesy smirk, and I batted his chest with the back of my hand. When I rolled my eyes and turned to look over the edge of our basket, his fingers caught my chin and tilted me toward him. He moved in close.
“Yes?” I squeaked out.
“That did something to me. I’m not sure if it’s something good for you or something good for me.” His thumb parted my lips, and he pushed the tip inside. I wrapped my lips around him. “Do it again later. I want to see what my second reaction feels like.” He slipped his moistened thumb down my chin, and his nose circled the tip of mine.
“Yes, sir.”
I wanted to say more, but the ride jerked to a stop and sent me forward. I almost headbutted Everett in the process, but he steadied me against the back of our seat. My heart beat frantically between the feelings he drew out of me and the anticipation of the ride failing.
“You really don’t like this.” He chuckled before draping his arm over my shoulders. I relaxed a little more. He felt safe. Tightness formed in my chest at the attachment I was forming. “How about,” he said, intruding on my thoughts, “we play a game instead?”
“What kind of game?”
“Well, I’d like to know more about you. I’m captivated entirely.” His hand squeezed and massaged my shoulder as he spoke.
“Okay, I’ll bite.” I flinched when the ride jerked again. We were above the park enough that the immediate area beneath us looked like an ant farm. The horizon was still obstructed by the larger thrill rides.
“Hmm, what deep, dark secrets can I pull from sweet Sienna tonight,” he mused, playfully tapping his chin and looking away as if he actually contemplated cracking those stories open. “What did you dream about last night?” My face scrunched at the truly random question.
“Um, I was talking to a friend. But they weren’t recognizable, they were someone new. I guess, I couldn’t see them really. They were more like an entity or a feeling, not so much a solid being.” When I looked up, his eyes were squinted, and his face tilted in wonder as he listened to every word.
“What did they feel like?”
You.
“Kindness, safety, and warmth,” I whispered between us, unable to break eye contact.
“So, a friendly ghost then?” His grin widened.
“Everett!” I laughed at the insinuation.
“I hope you find that friend, Sienna.” His hand shifted to my shoulder blade, and he rubbed the same small circles over the muscles. “If I arranged a road trip, where would you want us to go?”
I had to think about that one for a minute. On one hand, I wanted to go everywhere. I wanted to tour museums, visit world wonders, and drive without a destination in mind. I also wanted to go nowhere beyond the comforter and sheets. I wanted to snuggle against him without disturbance. He was enough of a wonder for me.
“If I absolutely must choose a destination, I think I’d like to just go to the opposite coast. On the way there, I’d find at least one thing to do in each state we crossed through: a museum, a famous restaurant, or a state park. There’s not justone thingI want to experience with you. It’d be a waste to pass all that by only to end up at some beach.” I looked out to the park below. We were almost at the very top. He was so very right about the view.
“That sounds amazing. I’ll start planning.” He kissed my temple but didn’t bring me back to attention. “Do you like to read?”
“I do.”
“Favorite genre?”
“I like a lot of things. I pick up books based on mood and influence, so I like to keep the material rotating.” I looked back to him and asked, “Do you like to read?”
“Fucking hell, I love it. I like suspense. I dabble in romance and really love to get lost in fantasy. I’ve always wanted my moment on a sliding ladder, if I’m confessing my darkest, most scandalous secrets. I walked into this bookstore once, and it was huge. Three stories and books were stacked wall to wall and floor to ceiling. The basement was so eclectic; the walls had weird concrete formations that almost looked like seating carved out between bookcases. And on the top floor, it was a lounge with a kitchen. Their vinyl collection was phenomenal.” He sighed, relishing the memories that place flooded him with. “There was a ladder, but only staff was allowed to use it. Despite the libraries I’ve tracked down and visited in our area, I haven’t been able to find a single one with a ladder.”
“I hope you get your fairy tale ladder, Everett.” I laughed at the image, but I secretly wanted to be in that moment with him.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?”
