I really needed to get away from him, because in my current state there was no telling what I might do or say to him.
“I think we should go on the Ferris Wheel,” he suggested, his hand lowering from my elbow to my wrist. He chuckled when he felt my pulse jump.
I’d been in love once. I thought Brett was my forever, my everything. I thought we’d get married and have kids. Grow old together. But that couldn’t happen anymore.
Right now, with Cade touching me, and the way my body reacted, I couldn’t help but wonder if everything with Brett had been a lie. Well, maybe not a lie, but just not…right. Because this? This felt right. Perfect even. Cade made my pulse race and Goosebumps dot my body. I didn’t even know him but he pushed all my buttons and made me want him when I shouldn’t. After what happened to me I’d vowed never to love anyone ever again. Loving someone and losing them was too painful. But staring up into the depths of his blue eyes he made me want to take the plunge. I’d never known that someone you’d just met could have such a hold on you, but Cade did. I didn’t want him to, but that didn’t stop the feelings.
“Did you hear me, Rae?” He reached out and plucked the end of my braid.
“What?” I asked, blinking rapidly to clear my thoughts.
His lips quirked into a smile. “I said we should go on the Ferris Wheel.”
That was probably a really bad idea, but right now it sounded like the best thing ever. “Sounds good.” My voice seemed to catch in my throat as I stared up at him. I was trying to make sense of my feelings, to find some explanation, but there was none.
Cade nodded towards where the Ferris Wheel sat in the distance. “Let’s go.” I nodded and followed along.
I completely forgot about Thea and the fact that she was supposed to be coming back and would worry when she found me gone.
Cade and I stood in line side by side. I leaned my head back and looked up at the clear night sky. I took a deep breath and felt my heart begin to slow, the high from earlier beginning to disappear.
Slowly, I came back into myself and I turned to look at Cade. He was watching me closely with narrowed eyes. Back home, when someone looked at me like that I used to duck my head and run away, but Cade didn’t know what I’d done so I stared right back at him. Now that my mind was clearing I was angry at myself for agreeing to go on the Ferris Wheel with him. This only spelled trouble. The kind of trouble that used to be fun, but I wanted no parts in anymore—no matter how nice or good-looking Cade was.
“Go out with me,” he stated.
I snorted. “Didn’t we already have this conversation?”
“We did,” he grinned. “But that time you said no, and today is a new day so maybe you’ll say yes.”
“No.”
He put a hand over his heart and winced. “You wound me.”
“I don’t date, Cade.” I looked away and stared at the back of the head of the girl in front of me. She had pretty chestnut hair and she was smiling at the guy beside her who I assumed was her boyfriend. My stomach dipped. That used to be me. I looked at Cade again. That could still be me if I allowed myself such things.
“Okay…so how about we go out as friends then? No date.” He raised his hands in mock surrender.
I let out a laugh that held no humor. “We’re not friends.” I said for what felt like the hundredth time.
He sighed heavily and for the first time since the day he knocked me over I could sense his frustration with me. Good. Maybe he’d leave me alone. He should. I was no good for him and the sooner he learned that the better.
“Why don’t we go grab a burger next weekend as acquaintances getting to know one another?”
Jesus Christ, he wouldn’t let it go.
“Fine,” I relented. I could use this as an opportunity to show him how fucked up I was and why he should run the other way.
His eyes widened in surprise. “Great. I’ll text you a time when I know something.”
“I never gave you my phone number.”
He grinned. “I’ll get it from Thea.” Of course he would.
I was about to make an excuse to leave, and forget the whole Ferris Wheel thing, but then it was our turn to take a seat. Cade put his hand on my waist and I lost all rational thought. He guided me forward and I sat down.
He took the spot beside me and since he was so large and the seat wasn’t that big we ended up plastered together. Maybe that had been his plan all along.
My heart picked up speed and I grabbed ahold of the railing to hide the shaking in my fingers.