“Are you making fun of me?”
“Not at all. It’s fuckin’ cute.” He’s grinning like an idiot.
We stand in line for close to ten minutes before it’s our turn to get on the Ferris Wheel. We take one car, while Minx and Raze take the next one.
“I’m glad you’re havin’ so much fun today,” Rascal says as the Ferris Wheel begins to move. “Thank you for letting me be the one you’ve experienced your first carnival with.”
“Thank you for bringing me. This whole week has been much needed. I hate what led to us coming out here, but it’s been refreshing,” I tell him. The wind blows making me shiver. Rascal instantly wraps an arm around my shoulders and I lean into him. His body heat helps warm me up.
We stop near the top of the Ferris Wheel. From here, we can see the whole carnival and then some.
“This view is amazing,” I say.
“Yeah it is,” Rascal agrees. I turn to him and he’s already looking at me. Heat rises in my cheeks. “This week has done nothing but confirm one thing for me.”
“What’s that?”
“I want you to be my Ol’ Lady,” he tells me. “I don’t want random hook ups. I don’t want cut bunnies. I want you and only you.”
I’m at a loss for words, so instead, I press my lips to his. When I pull away, I can’t fight the smile on my face.
“Is that a yes?” He smiles a half smile.
“I’ve thought about us a lot this week and have realized that I want that, too. So, yes, it’s a yes.”
His hand comes to the side of my face and his lips are back on mine. He slides his tongue along my bottom lip. I part my lips, letting him in and he deepens the kiss. When the Ferris Wheel starts to move again, we break the kiss.
We come to a stop and both of us are smiling like fools. We step out of the car and walk to the exit, stopping to wait for Minx and Raze. Rascal pulls me into him and I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest.
“What’s going on here?” Minx says, walking over to us. She’s grinning like a cat who caught the canary.
“I’m keepin’ my girl warm,” Rascal tells her. By his tone, I can tell he’s smirking.
“Oh, she’s your girl now, huh,” Raze asks.
“Hell, fuckin’, yeah she is.” Rascal gives me a squeeze before letting me go, but keeping an arm around my shoulders.
“It’s about time,” Minx mutters.
I yawn and lean into Rascal.
“Ready to head back to the house,” he asks.
I nod my head.
“Are y’all ready,” he asks Minx and Raze.
“Yeah, I’m exhausted,” Minx says.
We make our way back to the truck and drive back to the house. Once we get back to the house, I head straight to my room to change into my pajamas, then go into the bathroom to wash my face. When I come out of the bathroom, Rascal is laying on the bed. I smile at him and climb into bed next to him.
“Thank you again for today.” I cuddle against his side.
“You’re welcome, Princess,” he says. I fall asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, I wake up before Rascal and hop in the shower. A couple minutes into my shower, he surprises me by joining me.
“Hey there, gorgeous,” he says.
“Good Morning, sleepy head.” I giggle. I move to the side to let the stream of water hit him so he can wet his hair. He grabs my bottle of shampoo, squeezing some into his hand and gestures for me to turn around. I comply and he massages the shampoo into my hair. After thoroughly lathering my hair, he turns me around to rinse it out. He repeats his movements with the conditioner. Only this time, once he rinses my hair, he kisses me.
“After we shower, do you want to go back to the festival to buy some things,” Rascal asks.
“That would be awesome. I’d like that a lot,” I tell him. We finish our shower and dry off. I wrap my towel around myself while he does the same and we walk out of the bathroom.
“I need to get clothes out of the other room. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He kisses my forehead and walks out, leaving me to get ready alone.
Twenty minutes later, I’m dressed and ready to go. I walk out to the kitchen where Rascal is talking to Minx and Raze.
“Hey! Are y’all coming back to the festival with us?” I sit at the island next to Minx.
“Yes! There’s so many things I want to buy,” Minx tells me.
A couple hours later, we’re walking around the festival. Minx and I each have two big bags full of things we’ve bought. From candles and bath bombs to Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations.
“We should put a pause on our shopping and get something to eat,” Minx suggests.
“I second that! I’m starving,” I agree. “Plus, I really have to pee.”
Rascal chuckles. “Alright, alright. Let’s go feed the monsters.”
“Hey, now!” I laugh.
“What do you want to eat,” Rascal asks me.
“Hmm, a corn dog and some nachos!”
“Interesting combo, but you got it.” He smirks at me.
“Can you hold my bags while I go to the restroom,” I ask.
“Of course.” He takes my bags and I plant a kiss on his cheek.
“I’ll come with you,” Minx says. She hands Raze her bags and we walk to the bathrooms. “I’m really happy for the two of you. I’m glad Ras found you.”
There’s a line for the bathrooms. I get in one before Minx does. I do my business and get out. When I walk out, I glance around for Minx and don’t see her.
She must still be in the bathroom; I think to myself. Before I can step away from the port-a-potty, a hand comes over my mouth and nose and I’m pulled backward. Within seconds, everything goes black.
30
Rascal
I order mine and Marley’s food and take it to a table, Raze right behind me with his and Minx’s food. As we sit down, Minx is running to the table. Her face is pale. My heart sinks as a sense of dread washes over me.
I stand from the table. “Where’s Marley?”
“Sh-she . . . I came out of the bathroom and she wasn’t there. I waited near the port-a-potty she had gone into, but when the door opened, it wasn’t her. She’s gone!” Tears are pouring down her face. Raze pulls Minx against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.
“Son of a bitch!” I slam my hand on the table.
“Stupid question, but you don’t think she ran, do you,” Raze asks.
“No,” I grit through my teeth. “Not after last night. Someone had to have been following us.”
“I need to call Prez,” he says.
“She’s my Ol’ Lady. Let me call him.”
“I’ll go scope out the port-a-potty area, see if I find anything.” Raze walks away while I dial Bull’s number and wait for him to answer.
“What?” he answers.
“Prez, we have a problem,” I tell him.
“Damn it. What happened?”
“Marley’s been taken.”