My Summer in Seoul

How had I ever thought these guys were selfish?

Hard-working? Yes.

Protective? Yes.

Terrified of failure? Every second of every day.

I smiled to myself and then saw a really cool-looking carousel. Without even thinking, I just started walking in that direction. Someone fell into step beside me.

Rae grinned. “A child at heart, huh?”

“Something like that.” A soft giggle slipped out. “Wanna ride?”

He burst out laughing.

I rolled my eyes. “You know what I meant!”

“I did.” There was no line since the park was closed to the public. I chose a white horse and loved that everyone else followed and got on, even grumpy Solia, who somehow settled on one of the short horses that didn’t move up and down. The poor girl even had her black pantsuit on, with heels, so her legs were dangled to the side.

How she managed to still look graceful was amazing. I should really take lessons. As I leaned back and stared up at the pretty mirrors and colors, I understood that I would never be that reserved. Even if I was taught how it wouldn’t be me.

“Your laugh,” Rae said over the fun music. “It’s addicting.”

“Did you just give me another compliment?” I teased.

His eyes flickered to my mouth. “Guess I just can’t help it.”

Something about the way he looked at me was different from before like he saw something in me he hadn’t seen earlier and liked it.

I shrugged the goosebumps away along with the voice in the back of my head that advised me to be careful.

I was reading into things.

Besides, tonight was all about letting loose.

I might have sprinted from ride to ride like a lunatic, but it wasn’t too hot outside. Everyone was laughing, and I just felt something I hadn’t felt ever.

Like I belonged.

Which was crazy, right? Who knew it would take hanging out with a famous K-pop group, an actor, and an uptight assistant to do it for me?

After about an hour of rides, I was just getting ready to ask if anyone wanted to go on the cool-looking sky ride thing when a corn dog appeared in front of my face.

It did, in fact, have sugar on it.

I scrunched up my nose at Dae-Jung. “Really?”

“Yes.” Slowly, everyone gathered around; each person had a sugared corn dog they were dipping in some sort of sauce. “But it’s sugar, bread, and a hot dog.” I reached for it then pulled back. “You promise it’s good?”

“Would your Oppa ever lead you astray?” He actually looked hurt.

“Nice.” I lifted it to my lips. “Make me feel guilty about it.”

He winked.

“Okay.” I took a small bite and chewed.

Everyone waited, even Solia seemed interested.

I swallowed.

Waited for dramatic effect.

Then announced, “Fine, it’s amazing, and I wish they came by the dozens like donuts.”

Everyone started laughing as we moved to the next few rides, which of course, made me want to just do more and more.

I loved the atmosphere, and as our group dispersed and started grabbing more food and exploring, I decided to do the same. This was my adventure after all, right?

I stopped in front of the Ferris wheel and stared up, up, up.

“We should go on,” Lucas said from my right.

I’d had no clue he was even there. “Were you following me?”

He rocked back on his heels. “More like making sure you didn’t end up offending anyone, killing yourself, harming the rides…”

“Yeah, yeah.” I laughed. “Sure, let’s go!”

It was our first ride together, and the first thing I noticed was how different it was from the ride I had gone on with Rae.

Rae had been fun, solid. Everything about him was good and pure. I could read him like a map—most days, at least it felt like that.

But with Lucas?

He looked petrified the minute we got in our chair.

The handlebars came down, and he cursed under his breath.

“Are you okay?”

“Yup,” he said quickly. “Just excited.”

The ride started to move. I clapped my hands, super pumped to be going to the top, and was so distracted I didn’t even realize that Lucas had gone rigid and completely pale until I turned to him.

“Oh my gosh, are you okay?” I reached for his hand then pulled back. It wasn’t my hand to grab, and clearly, that had been a fluke, right?

I mean, he hated me.

Though his kiss had been absolute perfection, something that could ruin a girl for all men if he wasn’t careful. He’d been so attentive, slow, only to turn it into this burn of passion that had me ready to straddle his hips and ride him.

Like the ride.

But soooo much more inappropriately.

I fanned my face.

“Are you hot?” he asked.

“No, no, ha-ha, no.” I gulped. “Just… we’re high.”

He looked down then squeezed his eyes shut as he gripped the bar. “So high.”

“Wait a minute.” I tapped his thigh. “Are you afraid of heights?”

“Maybe.” He didn’t open his eyes. “Yes, sometimes. Hey, why aren’t we moving?”