Page 85 of The Hearts We've Broken
Lucky Sevens was Brady’s favorite place to go on Saturdays. I knew he’d show up at some point, it was just a matter of when.
I tried to be discreet about my attempts to find him in the sea of people, but clearly I wasn’t doing a good job, because every so often, Mikey would look at me with suspicion in his eyes. I didn’t know what I was doing here, what I was trying to achieve. The chances that Brady had already seen us on television, a magazine cover, or social media were high, so there really was no need to try to make him jealous.
I’d never been one to let things go easily, though. I wanted to drive the knife in, really make it hurt. I wanted him to regret what he did, to feel as much pain as I felt when I caught him and Ava together.
The song changed from an upbeat melody to a slow, sensual beat. My intention was to get off the dance floor, but Mikey had other ideas. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him, wrapping my arms around his neckbefore running his hands down the sides of my body until they reached my waist.
“I didn’t take you for a slow dancer,” I teased as a flash of copper hair caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. Sure enough, it was Ava, and Brady followed her shortly after.
“Anything for my girl,” he countered with an amused tone. “By the way, I got you something.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a silver necklace with a sapphire pendant and a copper bracelet.
“These are beautiful.” I pouted my lips as I let him clasp the chain around my neck and slide the bracelet on my wrist. “Thank you.”
“I can be a romantic sometimes.”
I watched as Ava stopped near the bar, getting Brady’s attention and pointing toward us.
This was my chance.
“Oh, yeah? Prove it, then. Kiss me.” I pulled my lips between my teeth, flicking my gaze from his eyes down to his lips and back up.
With one smooth movement, Mikey crashed his lips onto mine, yanking me toward him with a passion. One hand stayed on my waist, while the other roamed down to my ass, giving it a squeeze.
I opened my eyes just a sliver, finding Ava with her mouth gaped open, right before it clamped into a thin line. Brady’s eyes were narrowed, like he was trying to wrap his head around what was going on. Something like longing flickered in his gaze, but Ava seemed to snap at him and he shook his head, taking her hand to lead her to the back of the bar.
Returning my attention to the kiss, I closed my eyes, sliding my tongue past Mikey’s lips and grabbing a fistfulof hair from the back of his head. He moaned, and I felt him harden between us.
“Should we get out of here?” I whispered against his lips. I’d gotten what I needed, and Mikey would never have to know.
Easy and done.
“Yes, let’s go.” He pulled away, but when he looked at me again, his pupils grew. He smashed his lips against mine one more time for good measure then took my hand, practically dragging me out of the bar, adjusting himself as he went.
When we got outside, he scooped me up in his arms, drawing a squeal from my lips.
The fairgrounds were illuminated with lights from the carnival rides, and it reminded me that we still had one more thing to do.
“What about the Ferris wheel? We still have to ride the Ferris wheel!”
Mikey shook his head and put me down. “All right, then, come on.” Hand in hand, we walked back to the fairgrounds and got in line for the ride.
About ten minutes later, the line moved and we loaded into the cart. On the first time around, we didn’t say anything, just taking in the views. You could see the entire town of Goldfinch from the top—the college and football stadium, downtown’s lights, and even the silhouette of the mountains.
On the second time up, the Ferris wheel jerked to a stop, leaving our cart swinging.
“Folks, we’re experiencing some technical difficulties,” the operator announced through a megaphone. “We’re working as quickly as we can to get it running, but for now, just hang tight and relax.”
“Oh no, oh, God.” My heart raced in my chest as my breathing grew faster. I looked over at Mikey, but he wasn’t panicking. No, he was actuallylaughing. “Why are you laughing? We’re stuck up here!”
His lips curled. “I’m just thinking about how this will give us plenty of time to finish what we started at the bar.”
I smacked him lightly on the arm. “Seriously? You’re thinking about sex right now?”
He shrugged. “Might help take your mind off things.”
As much as I hated to admit it, he did have a point.
Swallowing my pride, and irrational fear of being stuck up here forever, I kissed him, unbuttoning his jeans in the process. We were all the way at the top, so it was unlikely that anyone would see us, but we’d need to be quick in case the Ferris wheel started running again.
