Her gaze dipped down, then back up. For a second, he thought she would make a comment about his injured leg. But she gave him a smile. “Are you kidding me? The daytime is the best time to go because it’s not as full. And you don’t have to fight through all the annoying teenagers.”
He turned away. “We used to be them, you know.”
“Used to be. But now we’re the annoying old people going to the carnival, and want nothing to do with the old us.”
He grabbed his mug, and hers. “Let me clean up the mess and then we’ll go.”
“Wait.” She stood and took it back. “I’m not done with my coffee yet.”
“It’s cold.”
She took another sip. “No, it’s not. It’s drinkable.”
He stared at her, unable to understand this woman’s train of thought. Reaching out, he touched the porcelain, his fingers brushing hers. It was lukewarm at best. “No. It’s cold.”
She laughed breathlessly; her cheeks flushed pink. “Is everything black and white for you?”
Yeah. He wouldn’t touch her because she wasn’t his, and he wasn’t good enough for her. On top of that, they were only together for a short time to do some mutual work. Black and white. No gray. He cocked a brow at her. “Do I really need to answer that?”
“Nope.” She laughed and checked out his living room. “You know, this room would be a lot more inviting if I—”
He clamped his jaw tight. “Oh, hell no. Don’t think it. Don’t look at my living room like that.”
She turned to him with a furrowed brow. “Like what?”
“Like you want to feng wui it.”
She burst into laughter. “It’s feng shui.”
“Whatever.” He headed for the kitchen. “Keep your chakra off my shit.”
“But—”
“No.”
He stalked over to the sink and washed his mug. He couldn’t believe he was going to a fucking carnival, of all places. On a workday. During business hours. Sure, he’d already told Cooper he would be staying home today, so it wasn’t a big deal. And if it took a little bit of fun to get her to cooperate, then it was all for the greater good. And truth be told?
He wanted to go.
Wanted to be the man he’d once been, before all this shit went down. Wanted to be the man he’d been when he was with her…if only for a few hours. Then he’d go back to being the new him. The one who never stepped out of line.
The one he didn’t even really like.
Chapter Five
Tara shoved her sunglasses higher, grinning as she took in the bustle and energy of the carnival. She always felt so alive at this type of event. So free and energized.
She stood at the booth of stickers, bending forward to study each one. The scent of baking funnel cake teased her senses. She’d have to stop by that booth before they left. Maybe she’d get some cotton candy, too. Her gaze latched on a round sticker toward the back of the table. It would be perfect.
“Oh, I’ll take that one, too, please.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the young man behind the table said, eyeing her boobs the whole time. “That’ll be twenty.”
After she dug the cash out, she peeked over her shoulder. Behind her, a couple swung a toddler in between them, and her giggles filled the air. She forced her attention away from the charming scene. She had to finish this transaction before Jake came back. The man gave her the merchandise, and Tara grinned as she shoved the stickers inside her purse.
She had big plans for these, but it would have to wait.
For now, she needed to quickly act innocent because Jake was almost at her side. She wandered off, trying to look as if she didn’t have a care in the world. But she did.
A lot of them.
Jake walked past the family she’d been watching, not even a hint of a smile playing at his lips. He looked as if he were on death row, rather than at a place where most people would be having fun. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Jake was a different man. And, yeah, people grew up.
But he’d really, really changed.
It was growing increasingly hard to believe this straitlaced man was the same boy who tied her shoelaces together so she tripped. The same one who replaced her conditioner with mayonnaise not once…not twice…but three times.
The knowledge that the fun boy he’d been might truly be gone left her feeling empty inside. And sad. So, so sad for him. He might be trying to blackmail her into submission—which would not work at all—but she had to save him.
It was time someone brought some laughter back in his life.
When he stumbled in his stride a little, he curled his hands into fists. After standing still for a little while, he mumbled something under his breath, straightened his back, and walked a little slower. Her heart twisted at his obvious frustration. He didn’t like what he perceived as his “weakness.” His “imperfection.” She knew it drove him insane, though he probably told himself otherwise.