Rush Into You (19 page)

The waitress brought our food after a modestly timed wait. We thanked her and looked at our meals, our eyes widening at the exquisitely detailed presentation of the food. I didn’t know what Ryker had ordered, but I thought the meat I was looking at may have been duck. The small portion was directly centered on the dish, topping a precisely cut salad showcasing purple and green leaves. A smattering of burgundy sauce was meticulously spread around the duck, and three tiny pink and yellow flowers decorated the plate with their stems rooted in the thick liquid. There was no way that we would leave here without dropping a few hundred bucks first.

“This must be really expensive Ryker. I couldn’t even pronounce anything on the menu, but I know that this,” I looked down at my plate trying to confirm if it really were duck, “has to cost a fortune.”

“I have no problem spending the money on you. I told you, you deserve a nice night out.”

“I just don’t want you feeling as if you have to spend money in order for me to be happy. I don’t care what we do.”

Ryker didn’t respond as he cut into his food quietly. I watched him, feeling like a bitch all of a sudden. I just wanted him to know that I wasn’t high maintenance, and material things didn’t matter to me. As long as I got to be with Ryker, it didn’t matter where we were.

I cut into my own food, my knife sliding through the meat like melted butter. Bringing the fork to my lips, I couldn’t hold back the moan that escaped through my lips. These dishes were expensive for a reason.

“This is absolutely delicious.” I moaned again.

Ryker met my eyes and smiled at me but didn’t say anything. We kept eating in silence, the only sound the clatter of silverware against the glass dishes, and the indistinct chatter of the people around us speaking in hushed tones.

The waitress checked to see if we needed anything else, and after we’d assured her we were all set, she left the bill and cleared our food, taking the tension clouding the space between Ryker and me away with her.

“Listen, Ryker, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off as an ungrateful bitch earlier. Really. I think this restaurant is beautiful, and the food is obviously amazing. I’m happy you brought me here, but I just wanted you to know that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on one dinner to impress me.” I reached across the table and hooked my fingers with his. “Honestly, I just enjoy being with you.”

He squeezed his fingers around mine. “I know, babe. I wanted to do something nice for the both of us, though. I told you I don’t do dates, but I wanted to try with you. You want to know something?”

“Mm hmm.”

He leaned forward to get closer to me, then looked side to side at the people around us. I found myself leaning towards him, curious what he had to say.

“I had no idea the food was going to cost that much.” He laughed. “It’s no problem, I have the money, but I don’t normally spend hundreds of dollars on one dinner either.”

I laughed with him, happy to be back on track. We looked at each other for a moment, silently thinking over our options now that we were done eating.

“We should go—”

“Want to get—”

We both started laughing, and Ryker cleared his throat to try again. “Want to get out of here?”

“You took the words right out of my mouth.”A genuine smile spread my lips wide, displaying my straight teeth thanks to years of orthodontics. “What do you have in mind?”

“You’ll see.” He pulled out his wallet and slapped some money on the table under a skinny leather folder, not letting me see the bill. He winked and flashed a goofy grin at me before gently tugging me up from my chair and through the dim lit restaurant.

Although the food was divine, we didn’t need a fancy dinner to prove our feelings to each other. It wasn’t our style. It was really special that he’d wanted to spend a romantic night with me, but I was glad we were out of there because we hadn’t been acting like ourselves. We were trying so hard to fit in with the four star company that it just became awkward. Ryker and I were better off just chilling and having fun, so when we were back on Ryker’s bike speeding away from that fancy place, I was relieved.

Ryker had to yell over the wind and the roar of his bike for me to hear him. “Next time we go to dinner, it won’t be at some stuffy place for a bunch of rich snobs. We’ll go somewhere fun, deal?”

“Deal!” I yelled back, smiling even though he couldn’t see me. When I was with Ryker, I had a permanent smile glued on my face. “So where are we going now?”

“Nope, you’re not finding out that easy. It’s a surprise.”

My heart rate picked up as I noticed we were heading south of Boston to where I used to live. I had no clue what Ryker had planned for us in my hometown. He had to remember that this was where we’d first met and that I hadn’t been happy here.

As we got off the exit, I saw hundreds of lights, then Ryker slowed down at a red light, and I heard all the sounds of the fair. People were laughing and screaming, and the clanking and whirring sounds of the rides dominated the night. I had completely forgotten about the annual summer fair. I used to love it as a kid, and as a teenager it was a place to hang out and party. There was nothing else in Breckston to do, so it was a huge deal when the fair came around each year.

“This fair is huge. I come at least once every year. “Have you been here before?” Ryker asked me.

“Yeah, you could say that.” I dreaded walking through the gated entrance. Even though I’d moved to another town only thirty minutes away, I hadn’t been back here since I’d left. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be here right now. I never planned on coming back.

When the light turned green, we had trouble navigating the busy streets surrounding the fairgrounds. It proved to be difficult because of the drunken pedestrians and smiling families crossing the streets in excitement, everyone eager to join the fun of the infamous fair.

Ryker turned into the main lot and paid the fee before parking his bike close to the gates. His motorcycle fit in places that cars couldn’t, so he always managed to find great parking everywhere he went. We hopped off the bike and removed our helmets, staring over the tall chain linked fence at the rides that were closest to us. Ryker grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers together like pieces of a puzzle. He made a move to the gate, trying to lead the way for me, but stopped when he realized I wasn’t budging. He looked at me with a question in his eyes, then looked behind him to see if something were there that had stopped me.

“I don’t know if I can go in there, Ryker.”

I hated how weak my voice sounded. I hated how this place could turn me into the terrified and angry girl that I used to be. I’d spent the last year and a half trying to get better, and although I was nowhere near fully healed, I was stronger than I was when I left here. I’d started a new life for myself with friends, laughter, health, and happiness. I couldn’t let myself fall back into the weak state I was in just because we were here.

“Why n…” Ryker’s eyes lit up quickly with understanding as he looked around. He pulled the corner of his lip into his mouth by his teeth, then looked at me with a pained expression in his eyes before letting his gaze land on his feet. “Wow. I really fucked up this date tonight, didn’t I? Two strikes already.”

“Ryker, stop. Look at me.” I waited until his vivid blue and gold eyes were locked on mine. “You didn’t fuck anything up. Dinner was delicious and beautiful. We were just out of our element, and I still had a great time because I was with you. And it’s not your fault that I’m a freak and refuse to go into a fair. Everyone loves fairs.”

He shook his head. “No, you’re not a freak. I wasn’t thinking past bringing you to the fair for a fun night. I never gave my mind a chance to connect the dots. Come on, let me bring you home.”

I resisted the pull of his hand on my elbow. “Wait.”

Ryker let his hand fall to his side, confusion etched on his face. “You need a minute?”

“I’m okay.”

I looked over Ryker’s shoulder, seeing the fair in full swing. Sounds of terrified yet excited screams filled the air as people rode the carnival rides. My favorite ride as a teenager was just on the other side of this fence—
The Ring of Fire
. The ride was simply a giant circle with a roller coaster cart that followed the tracks around. The cart would begin by going halfway up the side of the circle, trying to pick up speed before rolling back and up the other side. When the cart built enough momentum, it would loop around the circle continuously as the people on the ride screamed for their lives. The scariest part of the ride was when the cart rested upside down at the top of the massive ring, everyone praying the rickety lap bar would be enough to hold them in. I never understood why this ride hadn’t upgraded their seat belts to a harness, especially since
The Ring of Fire
had been known to get stuck on multiple occasions, including one time when I was on it.

I let my eyes close as my ears filled with so many different sounds all trying to battle for the spotlight. The music and swooshing sounds of the rides, the twinkling ring of bells when a game was won, the victory cheers from people receiving their prizes, and the crying children.

I rolled my neck in a slow half circle, and shook my shoulders out, trying to relieve the tension building in my muscles. Letting my mind relax, it somehow seemed that the clashing sounds joined together and created one musically combined song, resulting in an amusement park soundtrack. It sounded happy.

I opened my eyes and saw Ryker staring at me. His shoulders were slumped over, his hands jammed into his pockets. He had gone out of his way to try and give me a memorable night, and I’d ruined it. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut at dinner and had appeared ungrateful, then I’d freaked out when he tried to lighten the mood by bringing me to the Breckston fair.

If this were any other fair in any other city, I wouldn’t have hesitated. I loved fairs.

All of a sudden, I wanted to be a part of it all. I knew that I would end up seeing people from my past, whether I searched for anyone or not. In a boring city, the fair was the most exciting thing to do. I just hoped I didn’t bump into too many people, especially my old friends. Ryker had brought me here for a reason, though. He wanted to have some fun and share that with me. I’d be okay if I stayed by Ryker’s side and focused on us, instead of being paranoid and dwelling on the past.

“Let’s go in.” I smiled cheerfully as if nothing had happened.

“Gabby, it’s fine. We can go home. You don’t have to go in there because of me. I’m not going to force you to do anything.”

“Thanks, Ryker, but I really do want to go in. I love this fair, and I haven’t been here in a long time.”

He still looked skeptical. “Are you sure?”

I nodded, and stood on the tips of my toes to kiss his lips. I pulled back slightly and looked in his eyes, seeing my own reflection glance back at me through his pupils. “Just stay with me, okay?”

He took off his leather jacket and helped me into it. I hadn’t even realized I was cold until the warmth of his jacket touched my chilly skin. His lips brushed mine gently. Once…twice…three times. He dropped his forehead onto mine, our eyes level with each other.

“Of course.”

STEPPING THROUGH THE main gates of the fair somehow made everything more real. My memories of this very place were more vivid, remembering small details of events that I otherwise would have forgotten. Not all my memories were bad; I used to have good ones before my life turned to shit. One of the first games when you walked into the park was a dunk tank. A trash talking drunk clown sat on a lever controlled chair over a small pool of water. Everyone who played got three chances to throw a baseball at a small target and the clown would goad them the entire time. The game always attracted attention and had a large crowd circled around it. People would either cheer on the player, or talk shit right alongside the clown. It was the most entertaining game at the fair, at least to me.

I remember going to the fair with my friend Kasey, and her brother Sean when I was a teenager, maybe fifteen. Her brother was an amazing baseball player and the star pitcher of his varsity team. When it was his turn to try and dunk the clown, the clown started his usual shit talking, but was shut up quickly when Sean hit the target dead on with his first ball and dropped him in the murky water. He nailed the target with all three balls, the clown getting submerged in the water before he had a chance to start provoking Sean again. I remember how proud Kasey and I were, jumping around and clapping like the cheerleaders we were.

Ryker bumped his shoulder into me, snapping me out of my memory. “What are you thinking over there?”

I shook my head and smiled. “Just that all my memories here weren’t bad.”

“Good.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the clown. “Let’s add to the good ones with some of our own.”

“How’d you know I wanted to play this?”

“Lucky guess.” He shrugged, and I raised my eyebrows at him. “Or maybe because you were just staring at it for ten minutes.”

I laughed. I hadn’t even realized that I’d stopped walking. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts.