"You ready to get our date started?" he questions, handing me a clean white towel to wipe off my hands.
"Is this a date?" My heart races at the possibility.
"You bet your sweet ass it is, beautiful. I’m fixin’ to make how we met up to you. I promise to be a true gentleman." We both laugh as he places his hand on my lower back, leading me out of the stables, back across the fairgrounds, and toward the rides. "You ever been to the fair for a date?"
"I've been to the fair plenty of times, but not on a date." I avoid telling him I've never even been on a date.
"Well, ma’am, I'm glad I'll be your first." Cody calling me ma'am makes me giggle. Something tells me he's going to be a lot of firsts for me; he just doesn't know it. "Really, though, if I knew my way around this city of yours, I’d take you somewhere better."
"This is perfect. I was afraid you were going to cut it short.”
His brows pull down. “Why? Because of what was happenin’ in there?”
I nod.
“I’m tryin’ to stay in control of myself, Sonya, and I’m findin’ it real fuckin’ hard around you. But I want every minute I can get with you. I’m not here for long, and I don’t really know how far to take this with you. I’ve never been in this kind of situation.”
I think I understand what he’s trying to say, and it makes sense. Instead of addressing that, I change the subject. “You have a strong southern accent. Where are you from?"
After Cody pays for our tickets and we’re out of the line, he slides his fingers down my forearm, lacing our fingers together. I glance down at our hands, feeling my heart rate pick up, and my pulse starts to pound. I've never held hands with a guy before, but I realize I like it. It’s innocent yet powerful.
"I'm from a small town in North Carolina called Cherokee." That's like a thousand miles from here.
"How long are you here?" My heart drops into my stomach because, after today, I won’t want him to leave. What will happen when he does, when he has no choice except to leave?
"Tomorrow." Fuck, that soon? My chin drops to my chest as I begin to kick at the ground. "Hey.” His thumb presses against my chin as he lifts my gaze to meet his. “Let’s have fun while we can and not think about me leaving. What do you wanna ride first?"
Looking around, I find my favorite. Gripping Cody’s hand tighter in mine, I start running in that direction. We get in line behind a few other people. "This is my favorite ride. Do you like it?"
"Honestly, I don't usually ride anythin’. I've never been on a date to the fair either." Cody’s cheeks flush pink, and I’m guessing it’s from his admission.
Reaching my free hand up, I lay my palm against his cheek. He leans into my touch, closing his eyes for a brief second. "Well, sir, I'm glad I'll be your first, too." We both laugh and hand our tickets to the carny who is controlling the ride.
Since he weighs more than I do, Cody sits on the inside. After the carny walks around, making sure everyone’s bar is locked in place, the ride begins. Starting slow, we go to one side of the gate, then it picks up more speed while we make it to the opposite side. The ride moves faster, and I start sliding toward Cody. His arm snakes around my shoulders while we zoom full speed to each of the four points of the ride. I'm pressed tightly against him, and my head flies back with laughter. As the ride comes to a stop, I look at Cody and find him watching me with that sexy smile.
We hop off The Sizzler, and I head straight for the Tilt o' Whirl. "Okay, now, this is my second favorite. I hope you don't get sick very easily." I give him an evil smile and waggle my eyebrows.
He chuckles and shakes his head. "Given that I ride bulls, I think I’ll manage just fine." He winks, which makes me want to fall at his feet. Cody is handsome, sexy, and perfect.
Once we hand over our tickets, I rush to get our seats. The happiness I’m feeling is like a kid in a candy store. I can’t ever remember feeling this happy and free. After all of the seats are checked, the ride begins moving, and as soon as we get to the part I love, I scream, "Spin!" We both lean my way, taking the bar with us. We’re spinning in fast circles, our heads are pinned to the back of the seat, and our laughter rings out.
I thought last night was great, but that was nothing compared to today. Going on all of the rides with Pudge is fun, but with Cody, it’s a different kind of fun.
Next, we ride the Ferris Wheel. We both stare across the fairgrounds from the bucket seat. You can see everything from up here, and Cody lays his hand on my thigh during our ascent. "Sonya, today has been one of the best days I can ever remember. It’s been a lot of fun." His words echo my own feelings.
Our eyes connect, and I tell him honestly, “It’s been one of the best for me too." I’m drowning in him. Trying to ignore the electricity, I ask, "Are you ready for tonight?"
His tongue skims across his bottom lip. "As long as you'll be there, I'm ready. I want you close. I wanna look in the stands and see you there."
My belly swarms with butterflies. "I'll be there, cheering you on from the front row. What bull are you riding?"
"I won't know until later. We pick from a bowl, and it's the luck of the draw." I can’t look away. His hand moves up my shoulder to the back of my neck. I think he’s about to kiss me, and I turn my head, taking away his chance.
The Ferris Wheel stops at the bottom, and we step out of our bucket. "Those are the only three rides I like. Wanna ride them again?"
We end up riding each one five more times, and our hands are still full of unused tickets. "I think you overdid it with all these tickets, Cody. What are we gonna do with the rest of them?"
He scans the area around us. "Let me have 'em." Cody takes the tickets from me and heads in the direction directly behind me. Turning around to follow him, I stop in my tracks when I see him kneel before a little boy dressed as a cowboy. "Here, you can have these tickets."
The parents look on adoringly, and the mom says, "Thank you. Aren't you Cody Sterling?"
"Yes, ma’am,” he replies with a wide smile.
She nods, her grin matching his. "I thought so. Braxton loves you. He's always saying how he’s going to grow up and be just like you."
Cody is eye level with the boy who is no older than six. "Braxton, you wanna ride bulls one day?"
"Yes!” The boy's smile is beaming as he nods vigorously.
"Do you have a pen, ma’am?" Cody asks the mom.
"No, I'm sorry, I don't."
Gliding over to them, I dig in my handbag and find one. “Here.” I hold it out for Cody to take. I watch in awe as he signs the boy's hat and pats him on the back.
"Are y’all goin’ to be there tonight, watchin’ in the stands?” Cody inquires, and Braxton nods happily while Cody gives his hat back. The woman mouths thank you as they walk away.
Cody steps back and takes my hand once again. This time a feeling of him being way too good for me falls over me. "You hungry?" Cody questions, handing me back the pen.