He tilts his head with an impressed grin. “So much I have to learn about you. But for now, you wanted fun… I will give you fun.”
I follow his lead, keeping close, with my eyes searching the surroundings. The sign outside says Funland Amusement Park. It’s no Disneyland, just a small booth at the front and some rides scattered around the field.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“You said somewhere fun. This is called Funland, so why the hell not?”
His hand disappears into the pocket of his jacket, and moments later, he removes a flask. I don’t want to know what’s inside.
After tonight’s phone call from Phoebe and Carson’s sleazy moves—which I decide to keep from Wesley so as to not anger him—I’m more than happy to drink anything and make it all go away.
“Okay, shall we hit the games, first?”
I can barely answer. The spirit I swallow burns my throat and makes my head spin. God, this tastes awful. It almost makes me dry heave, yet I manage to stomach whatever sits inside that flask.
I don’t know why he bothers to ask me what I want to do, since he does what he wants anyway, pulling the tarpaulin off the game and finding a switch nearby. The clown’s head turns on, eerily moving in the dead of the night while Wesley laughs and shoves balls in its mouth.
“Everyone’s a winner, right?” He climbs over the clown’s head, a large thump sounding when his feet hit the metal floor. “Take a pick, my lady,” he says, bowing.
“We can’t steal that.”
Minutely shaking his head with an annoyed expression, he yanks some bills out of his front pocket, shoving it in the clown’s mouth. “Better? I’ll fucking pay for one. Now pick.”
“Wesley, you don’t have to.”
“So, what if I don’t win it?” Another cigarette makes its way to his mouth, the smoke lingering in the air. “I want to buy it for you.”
“Fine, the purple monkey.”
With a pleased smile, he pulls it off the wall, passing it to me. “Sweet, aren’t I?”
He jumps off the side, spinning around like a crazed lunatic. “If only life is like this… an amusement park. Laughing all day long. Cotton candy on tap.”
“I’m sure there’s a downside to it,” I say out loud, without thinking.
“Why do you have to be so cynical?”
“Uh… hello? Pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Vigorously shaking his head, he finishes
the remnants of the flask, following with a satisfied moan. “Now, you wanted to have fun. Have fun with me.” He grabs my hand, taking the monkey and placing it on the ground, bringing me closer to his body and leading me into a waltz, right in the middle of the amusement park while he sings Barry Manilow’s Can’t Smile Without You. It’s corny, cheesy, yet perfect at this moment.
“You’re crazy.” I laugh as he dips me. “Who would have thought you were a closet Barry lover?”
“And you’re beautiful. Just for tonight, be crazy with me.”
I laugh again, spinning around. “There, crazy enough for you?”
He shakes his head, determined for me to let loose and be wild. “You can do better than that.”
I look around us. There’s a bumper car lot on the right, but bumper cars aren’t exactly living on the edge. In front, are a few kiddie rides, and beside them, a spinning octopus. It isn’t the ride that catches my attention, it’s the crazy adventure house beside it, standing tall, oddly-shaped mirrors in front with stairs and a spinning circle on top. It reminds me of the movie Grease when Sandy gets her groove on at the end.
“Okay, you want crazy? I’ll give you crazy.” I pull his hand, leading him to the adventure house.
The mirrors show our reflection as we walk past while our bodies morph from abnormally short and fat to tall and skinny. We both laugh at ourselves, moving inside where the ground becomes uneven, and it’s incredibly dark. The moonlight provides limited light, but I don’t care. My adrenaline is high, something that often happens whenever I’m around him.
My hands clutch onto his shirt, pulling his body to mine, allowing me to bring his lips closer. The beat of my heart quickens while his lips warm mine and taste so goddamn good.