“Now that you’re here, I’m done.”
“You sure do seem to have flexible work hours.”
“That’s because I’m a foreman.”
“Oh, and that lets you work half time?”
“It does when Papa Smurf isn’t busting my ass.” I glance over at him, my eyebrows knitted together. He catches my eyes and holds them. I forget to put my foot in front of me and carry on walking.
I swallow under the intensity of his gaze, and say, “Papa Smurf?”
“The owner,” Steel says. His smile spreads impossibly wider. How does a carny get so damn good looking?
Stargazer (Steel)
Emily and I stand still, looking at each other through the fence. How fucking long is this fence? If it wasn’t between us now, I pull her to me and hold her in my arms.
I step forward and reach my hands above my head. Grabbing tight, I pull myself up, get a toe-hold and manage to get one leg over the top in one smooth movement.
When I land on the ground beside her, Emily’s eyes are popping wide out of her pretty head.
“That fence was pissing me off,” I say.
Emily bursts out laughing, relaxing her crossed arms to her sides.
When the carnival was in its full, noisy swing, I didn't realize how amazing her laugh sounds. Now that it’s quiet, I want to hear more of it. To let it fill the silence around us.
“You’re like a monkey who’s just escaped from the zoo,” she says.
“Sometimes it feels like I live in a zoo.”
“You live in a carnival, isn’t that pretty much the same thing?”
“Yep. Come on.” I grab her hand and pull her along the fence.
We’re almost at a jog when we reach the carny entrance. Emily halts when she sees it, her feet suddenly seemly stuck in cement. The smile’s gone, and her face is a frozen as her feet.
She’s probably never seen anything like it before. But it’s only a shitload of trailers and a few tents in a field. And some people drinking and smoking weed.
Shit, she really is as innocent as she looks.
“How do you fancy a ride on the Ferris wheel? Just the two of us,” I say, putting my arm around her back to turn her eyes away from the camp. I don’t want her to feel scared.
“Sounds fun. Is it still on?”
“On? Oh, yeah, I have the key.”
“You hop on first, and I’ll get you up there.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll come join you.”
I guide her into the waiting car and latch the door shut.
“Bon voyage,” I say, tipping a pretend hat.
“What happened to enjoying the carnival with you?”
“Don’t worry, Goldie.”
Taking three big strides, I reach the control panel and turn the Ferris wheel on, but leave the lights off. Don’t want to attract anyone’s attention. When Emily’s car gets near the top, I turn it off.
Damn, I wish I had a couple of beers with me. Instead, I grab the extra fleece we keep by the controls, and tie it around my waist.
With a firm grip on the strut, I start monkeying my way up the wheel. When I reach the top, I notice Emily’s been watching me climb.
“How long did it take for you to learn how to do that?” she asks when I hop into the car.
“Not near as long as it took me to run along the wall of The Gravitron,” I say, crouching with one hand holding the plastic umbrella.
“Shut up! While it’s moving?”
“Of course while it’s moving, how else could I run along a wall? I can dance and do other tricks in it too.”
“I’d have to see it before I believe that.”
“Maybe later, we’ll see. Cold? I brought you a fleece, but it might stink.” I take the fleece from my waist and pass it to her.
“Thanks.” She takes it and, using her fingertips, lays it over her bare legs. Damn, I was enjoying the view of them. They’re crazy long, and I can’t wait to have them wrapped around my waist.
I take the seat beside her and prop my feet up on the seat across from us. I pull her tight against me, my arm slipped around her waist. Emily is tense, her arms crossed over her chest. Is she scared or cold?
“Everything okay?” I pull her closer against me.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Just want to make sure you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Yeah, it’s nice up here when it’s quiet like this. I can even see my house from here.”
“Oh yeah. Where?”
“It’s that one, with the blue spotlights on it.” She points to where the rich houses are. Can’t say I’m surprised. She screams rich person vibe.
“You sure have a nice house.”
“My parents do, I still live at home.” Figures.