Olly
We took the two steps up to the platform and waited for our seats. “I should probably tell you now…”
“Wait, you really are afraid of heights, aren’t you?” Jules gasped and turned to face me.
“No, not necessarily.” I squeezed her hand. “I do find the ride a bit uncomfortable, especially at the top.” Memories of the last time I had been on the Ferris Wheel flooded my mind.
“Let’s skip it. It’s fine.” She tried to turn and leave.
“Jules, it’s okay. I’ll be okay.” It was true, too; I was okay. The difference was I was with Jules this time.
The guy running the ride yelled, “Next.”
“Olly, we don’t have to go. It’s not that big of a deal.” She turned to the people behind us. “You can go; we need a few more minutes.”
I touched my hand on the side of her face. “Hey, we’re good. I’m good. I shouldn’t have said anything.” The next set of seats moved down, and the guy yelled next. “Do you trust me?”
“I think so. We’re still in the beginning phases of whatever this is.” Jules burst out laughing.
“Perfect, then come on.” I tugged her forward.
She said nothing until our seats were secured, and we started moving forward. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“Do what?” I turned to face her.
“Be a tough guy.” She turned away.
“My sister used to make me go on the ride. She hated going on it alone.” I glanced at the crowd for a split second and then back down at my hands resting in my lap. “I was just tall enough and only like five or six.” I slowly inched my hand over and placed it on her thigh. “I’m not afraid of heights. I wasn’t lying.” I sighed. “That discomfort I used to feel when I was a kid always creeps up when I’m near the ride.”
“I suck.” She grabbed my hand with both of hers.
“No, you don’t.” I smiled. “We don’t know enough about each other yet. Especially dark parts of our past.”
She turned to face me. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Only if you want to.” I squeezed her hands.
“You’re the first man I have agreed to go on a date with since my boyfriend passed away two years ago.” She dropped her head and let out a heavy sigh.
“Why me?” She drops a bomb like that, and all I can ask is, why me? I was curious, though.
“What do you mean?” She didn’t lift her head.
“Why me? I haven’t done anything special, so why me?” I shrugged. “Well, that’s a lie; I did introduce you to my mom, the best tortilla maker on the planet, and now you know how to make them.”
“That’s all true.” She looked over at me. “And—” she placed her hand on the side of my face— “You make me laugh. I haven’t laughed with someone in a long time, and by someone, I mean a guy.”
“Jules.” I attempted to inch closer, but the Ferris Wheel moved, and then I discovered the ride had ended. I grabbed her hand, and we hopped out of the seat together. “Hey, I have an idea.” I pointed at the food trailers. “Should we get elephant ears or greasy french fries?”
She wrapped her arm around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder as we walked down the platform and away from the ride. “Greasy fries, please.”
“That feels like a perfect choice.” I kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer. “Thank you for entrusting your secret with me.”
She stopped walking and turned to face me. “Olly, I should be the one thanking you.”
“Why?” I didn’t mean to scowl, but she had confused me.
“When Eric passed, I wasn’t interested in meeting anyone new.” Her eyes were locked onto something. “Wait.” She paused for a beat. “Is that your sister?” She gasped. “Oh my word, it is.” She threw her hand over her mouth.
“I turned around. “Um, yeah, it is. Who is she with?” My sister was with some guy at one of the game booths. The guy was holding darts and about to throw them.
“Ryan. He works in the produce department.” Jules giggled. “I introduced them the other day, and I guess it went well.”
My sister wrapped her arm around the guy’s waist and rested her head on his shoulder. “Did he just kiss her forehead?”
“They’re already to the kissing phase.” Jules bumped her hip against mine. “Does that mean we’re behind?”
“No.” I bumped my hip against hers. “And it’s not a race.”
“Are you sure about that?” Jules crossed her arms over her chest.
“Very.” I rolled my eyes. “What’s the story on the guy?”
“Are you playing big brother right now?” Jules burst out laughing. “Nope, not happening.” She covered my eyes and turned my body away. “Greasy fries. That’s your focus.” She tugged me forward.
“What? It was a simple question.” I couldn’t help but laugh. I could tell Jules was tugging me toward the fries because the greasy smell got stronger.
“I have a simple question for you.” We stopped in front of the French fry trailer. “Malt vinegar okay on your fries?”
“Always.” I bent down and kissed her temple. “Should we get two containers or one?”
She placed her hand on my chest and then quickly removed it. “One big one will be more than. Enough.” The woman working handed us a large cup with fries hanging over the edge. Right before a fry was about to fall, Jules leaned in and grabbed it with her mouth. “We can’t waste them.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Everything about Jules was different from any of the women I had dated in the past.
Whatever was happening right now, I was excited to see what happened next.
AUTHOR NOTE:
Aww, they finally reached the next phase in their relationship. The Ferris Wheel brought out a lot of secrets, LOL. Next, we need to find out what Lola and Ryan are up to. Should we have them interact with Jules and Olly or wait a little longer before we have them all meet?