Stripped Down (Tap That)

River ran off.

Sloane’s eyes had widened, her plump kissable lips parting slowly. “What is going on here?”

“I just want to ride the Ferris wheel. Do you know where Lilly is?”

“She’s still in the restroom. There must be a line. But she can take Finn as soon as she comes back.”

“I see her coming,” Axl said. “Here, give me Finn and get on the damn ride before Rick pops a vein.”

Axl knew what was up. Rick could see it on his face. His friend was grinning for all he was worth. Rick wasn’t going to argue with him.

“Perfect.” Rick took Finn and handed the baby off to Axl. Then he took Sloane’s hand and basically dragged her to the entrance to the Ferris wheel.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “And do you think we should be holding hands? Anyone might see us.”

Rick stopped walking and turned back to her. Sloane collided with him.

“Oomph. Sorry. Why did you stop walking?”

“Someone might see this too and I don’t care.” Rick cupped her cheeks, bent down and gave her a kiss he felt in the depths of his damn soul.

She shivered when he pulled back. Her eyelashes fluttered and she glanced around nervously. “I’m really confused.”

He wasn’t. “I know why.”

“What?” She looked at him blankly.

“I know why that kiss was so good in high school.”

Sloane sucked in a small breath. “Oh, really? Why is that?” She pushed her hair out of her face and eyed him.

“Just ride the Ferris wheel with me and I’ll tell you.”

“Sure.” She glanced back. “Lilly has Finn and River. That’s good.”

“That is good.” He trusted Axl completely but he was on duty. River was old enough to just stand beside the Ferris wheel and wait for him, but they were responsible for Finn since Sullivan was off being an idiot.

A few seconds later Rick was ushering Sloane onto the ride.

They were belted in and almost immediately they rose, not to load another swing but to rise all the way up into the warm summer air. They could see all of downtown and sailboats and fishing boats dotting all over the lake.

But truthfully, all he could see was Sloane.

“So what’s your answer?” she asked, as she pushed her hair back off her face. She wasn’t smiling.

He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. Here went nothing.

“When I was fifteen the guys and I came to the Fish Festival at night and we ran into you here with your boyfriend.”

She stared at him, looking a little puzzled. “I don’t really remember that. But I came to the festival every year. What does that have to do with anything?”

“You don’t remember it because it was no big deal. It was like any other day. But I stood down there and I watched you riding the Ferris wheel with what’s-his-name and you were making out with him. And I told myself that I was a fucking idiot because I’d had that one shot. That one kiss in the dark bathroom and it was amazing. It was… everything. And I just let you go. I let you walk away and go on with your life and that night, I watched you with that guy, knowing you were leaving for college. And I swore to myself if I was ever lucky enough to have a chance with you, I would never let you go.”

Sloane made a sound in the back of her throat. Her expression softened, her eyes growing glassy. “What does that mean?”

“It means that I don’t want to be a secret. It means

I’m an idiot for not picking up on what you were asking in the park. But I was afraid, you know? Afraid you like Rick the stripper and not Little Dickie. Afraid that somehow I’ll become my dad, and I won’t be worthy of you.”