Don't Go Baking My Heart

The crowd had died down some since most of the people who had been waiting were now happily ramming into each other’s cars. She could see Devon and Jeremy clearly now. Devon’s body language was sending all sorts of ‘I don’t want to do this’ messages. He kept folding and unfolding his arms and fidgeting. But they kept up their conversation, Jeremy nodding along to whatever Devon was saying.

“No one’s tussling on the ground, so that’s something.”

“My brother doesn’t really do physical altercations. He doesn’t need to. He just gives you this look. Makes you question your whole existence.”

“Oh, really? I’d like to see that. Bet he looks so hot and intimidating.” Maxi’s brow raised, and Reba considered retracting, but that would create more questions. She shrugged instead. “Your brother is hot. I’m not tryna make this awkward, but facts are facts.”

Maxi laughed. “Reba, I’m used to you just saying whatever by now, so it’s fine. But mummy did tell me you were over there this morning. With him. Baking?”

“That’s exactly what happened. Baking.” And so much more, but talking about having sex with her brother would be weird, even for Reba. “Is there something you’re trying to ask me, though? Because I feel like you are.”

Maxi pursed her lip. “Well, I mean, you do look kind of cute together. Just saying.”

“It’s a working relationship,” she echoed Devon’s words. “Now, if you wanna talk about the relationship you and Remi have, which is not all business.”

“I don’t…um…we talk? So we’re sort of friends now? That’s…yeah. Friends.” Maxi fumbled out.

Reba patted her shoulder. “Girl, that was weak as hell.”

Maxi covered her face and shook her head before looking back at Reba. “It’s complicated. That’s all I’m willing to say at the moment.”

“Just fuck and have fun.”

“That’s your life motto?”

“Eh...” She rocked her hand back and forth. “Loosely.”

They both laughed, and mission success. Maxi might still have questions about her and Devon, but she was too flustered now to keep asking. Adorable.

“Hey, I see some cotton candy over there. Should we…?” She didn’t get to finish her sentence before Devon appeared, eyes focused on both of them.

“Ferris wheel?”

“What?” She blinked up at him.

“You wanted to go, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes, but—” She looked over at Maxi, who was watching her brother like he had grown another head all of a sudden.

She waved them off. “Go ahead. I’m going to check on mummy and Leah.”

He took her hand and led her over to the line.

“What are you doing? How’d the talk go?”

“We’re doing what everyone else is. Going on rides. Great. He’ll come to the party.”

“Okaaaaaay.” None of that explained why he was holding onto her hand for dear life as they were ushered forward. He only released her when they were led to a seat and buckled in. He didn’t look at her, just stared straight ahead, that damn Adam’s apple bobbing.

The wheel started moving, and Reba enjoyed that initial dip in her stomach. She loved peering down as they went higher and higher. The night sky was especially gorgeous, and everything looked so tiny from up here.

“Shit,” Devon uttered.

She looked over at him, and shit indeed. He looked so tense, ready to jump off the ride, one hand gripping the railing, the other in his lap curled into a tight ball.

“You okay?”

“Yes. Fine.”