Time and Time Again(4)
“You get half an hour. And grab something to eat. Staff get lunch every day for free. There are sandwiches, wraps, muffins, fruit, and that kind of thing.”
My stomach grumbles, and Ryan flashes me an amused smirk. “Hungry are we?”
I was starving.
Free lunch? Every day? I could kiss Tag.
“Thank you,” I reply in a low tone. He didn’t know how much this meant to me, but holy fuck. Something must have given how I was feeling away because his expression softens.
“It’s nothing. All employees get lunch. Now go and eat and relax for a while. And grab whatever you want to drink.”
I smile gratefully then head to the pre-made sandwich selection and choose one—chicken and salad. I grab a Coke and a muffin too.
Best. Job. Ever.
*****
“Thank you,” I say softly to Tag as he drives me home after my shift.
“You’re welcome,” he replies, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. “You having a hard time with something?”
I sigh and turn my head to look out the window. “Just a string of bad luck, is all.”
“Hmmmm. When’s the last time you had some fun?”
I tilt my head to the side, trying to think.
Tag chuckles. “If you have to think that long, it can’t be good. I have an idea.” He takes a U-turn and heads in the opposite direction of my apartment.
“Where are we going?” I ask in suspicion.
He flashes a grin, showing off his straight, white teeth. “Surprise.”
“I don’t do well with surprises.”
I can’t remember the last time I had a good one. The last time I was surprised was bad. Like, really bad.
“Are you a control freak?” he asks, grinning to himself. Why? I have no idea.
“I don’t think so.”
When I see us nearing a carnival, excitement fills me. Turning to Tag, I say, “Please tell me we’re going there!”
He chuckles at my outburst. “We are. Thought you could relax a little, have some fun.”
“Sounds amazing,” I reply wistfully until I realise I literally have no money. This was going to be awkward.
“I didn’t know we were going to be going anywhere,” I say, fiddling with the hem of my shirt. “I didn’t bring money.”
Tag’s eyes dart to me. “If you think for one second I’d make a woman pay for anything, you don’t know me very well.”
“But—”
“I made you come. I would never expect you to be pay and would be insulted if you tried. Don’t worry about anything, okay? Work, money… anything. Right now is about fun.”
“I don’t think—”
“Clara.”
“Tag—”
“Oh, look. We’re here,” he says, tapping his fingers on his steering wheel. “I say we start at the rides then head towards the food.”
“Sounds perfect,” I murmur, staring at all the rides in vision as he parks the car.
“What’s your views on scary rides?”
I stare at his profile. “The scarier the better.”
“My kind of girl.”
We get out of his car and walk side by side to the entrance. Tag pays our fee, which makes me feel bad, but I stay quiet as he leads me towards the rollercoaster.
It was huge.
“You down for this?” he asks, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
I roll my eyes at him. “Oh please. This right here—child’s play.”
I’m sure his booming laugh could have been heard from all areas of the carnival. “Fuck, you’re cute, you know that? Let’s see if you’re as tough as you think you are.”
We wait in the short line, then grab a seat right in the very front.
“You can always hold my hand if you get scared,” he says once we’re buckled in.
“How considerate of you,” I reply dryly.
His mouth twitches as he stares down at me. When his gaze drops to my mouth, my breath hitches. “Are you single?”
I nod. “Are you?”
“I’m always single,” he replies, winking.
I don’t want to read into that comment.
Lucky for me, the ride starts, and everything else is forgotten.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, licking his lips.
I look at him, speaking through my laughter. “Look at you. Big, bald, muscled guy, covered in tattoos. Bad ass goatee. Eating pink candy floss!”
“Are you stereotyping me?” he asks, amusement filling his tone. “I happen to like candy floss. A hell of a lot.”
“I can see that,” I reply, breaking off some of my own.
We had gone on about ten rides, each more fun than the last. I can’t remember laughing so much in my life. Tag was so much fun, always joking around and always flaunting a friendly smile. He is charming, a bad boy with a good heart. How the hell am I supposed to resist that? We are co-workers however, and apart from some innocent flirting, I don’t think he is into me in that way, which is a good thing.