Jules
“Wait, I thought this one was mine?” I held the large cup with both hands.
“Oh, okay.” Olly turned, probably to order another one.
I wrapped my hand around his bicep and tugged him away from the woman waiting for his order. “We’re good. Thank you so much.” I handed him the cup. “Do you really think I can eat all this by myself?”
“My money is on you,” a voice said behind us.
I spun around and smiled. “Ryan. Lola. I thought I saw you earlier, but I wasn’t sure.”
Lola took a step forward, and we hugged. “We were trying to find something fun to do, and this seemed like the perfect second date option.”
“Second date?” I knew my eyes went wide. “Didn’t I introduce you only a few days ago?”
“I mean, it may technically be the first date.” Lola bumped her hip against Ryan. “Does playing video games and ordering Chinese food count as a first date?”
It was wild. Ryan’s shy and quiet at the market but is still one of my best employees. Tonight, at the fair, he looked sure of himself and confident. He was also latched on to every single word Lola was saying.
“I would call it a date.” Olly shrugged and reached for a french fry. “What would you say, Jules?”
“Yup. Agree.” I smiled. “Huh, very interesting. If I remember correctly, you declined my offer to meet Ryan. Thankfully, you changed your mind.”
“Don’t tell all my secrets, Jules.” She winked. “We need to hop in line for the Ferris Wheel before it gets any longer.” Lola glanced over at me. “Did you go on the Ferris Wheel yet?”
“Just got off.” I grabbed a french fry.
“I’m surprised you got him on the ride. It’s the one ride he works hard to avoid.” I noticed her wink at Olly as she walked away.
I stepped in front of Olly and leaned on tippy toes, trying to block Lola from his sight. “We need to eat these up before they get cold.” Then, I grabbed a french fry and put it near his lips.
His eyes dropped down to the fry, and he laughed. “Is this your way of distracting me?”
“Maybe.” I put a fry in my mouth. “Is it working?”
“Yup.” He grabbed a couple more fries. “Thank you.”
I turned slightly to stand beside him and wrapped my arm around his bicep. “Can I tell you a secret?” I used my free hand and grabbed a couple more fries.
“Is this secret as big as the one you told me earlier?” He grabbed the two fries left in the cup and handed me one.
“Not at all. It’s technically not even a secret.” I tugged him toward the delicious fried dough aroma wafting in the air. “I think there may be small print on the trailer that says elephant ears help you feel better.”
“Feel better?” He burst out laughing. “You think so, eh?”
“Sure. Well, I know they help me.” I threw the cup for the fries in the trash bin.
“We definitely need one now.” He was still chuckling as he stepped up to order us one. “Wait, Jules, do we need powdered sugar, cherries, or apple topping?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, to which one.”
“All of the above?”
“All.”
“All.” I was struggling to hold in my laugh.
The woman helping us laughed. “That can definitely be arranged.”
Olly turned back to face the woman. “It can? Oh, okay. Then what the lady ordered, please.” He stepped away so the next person could place their order. “So you’ve ordered this before?”
“No.” I smiled and moved closer to him. There was something about the night, the silly food, and how he made me feel. “Something told me to enjoy it all, so that’s what we’re about to do.” I placed my hand on his chest and felt a spark shoot through my hand and up my arm. “You’re going to love it.”
“I already do.” He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me closer. “I’m having a good time tonight, Jules.”
“Me, too.” The sounds of the people and the rides faded around me. All my focus was on him. It had been too long since I felt this way, and I could tell I missed it.
“Jules.” He grabbed my hand, resting his chest, and lightly shook me. “Are you okay?”
“What?” I glanced around. “Yeah, why?”
“I’ve called your name a couple of times.” He lightly touched my face and took a few steps back. “Our order is ready.” He winked and grabbed the plate with the fried dessert. “Wow.”
“What?” I grabbed a handful of napkins.
“This thing is heavy.” He moved his hand, holding the plate of food up and down several times.
“Whoa, be careful.” I placed my hands under his hands, just in case he accidentally dropped it.
He smiled. “Should we find a table?”
“Nah, we’ll tag team this crazy thing.” I stood before him and started to rip a piece off with some cherries.
“Tag team?” He didn’t move while I was grabbing my bite.
I shoved the large piece in my mouth and carefully grabbed the plate to hold. “Your turn.”
“Ahhh, I see—tag team.” He ripped off a piece with apples. “So, what should we do for our third date?”
“Oh, you’re already thinking about our next date?” I picked up a piece of apple that had fallen off the elephant ear and onto the plate. “Hmmm… I like what Lola and Ryan did for their first date.”
“Dinner at home?”
“Exactly.” I noticed a few spots of powdered sugar on Olly’s chin, so I reached up to wipe it off.
He inhaled when my fingers touched his skin. “Dinner at home. Yeah, that sounds good. Do you like to cook?”
“Are you asking because you don’t?” I grabbed another piece and shoved it into my mouth.
“Maybe.” He winked. “Or we could order takeout.”
“Nah, I want to cook for you now.” Without thinking, I leaned up on my tippy toes and kissed him. I didn’t care that we both had powdered sugar on our lips.
I made a mental note to buy something special for Stacy to thank her for introducing us.
AUTHOR NOTE:
Goodness, elephant ears make you do unexpected things, like kiss the man who has you smitten. The next chapter will bring Lola and Ryan back in, but should we still be at the fair? We could have Ryan talking to Jules the next day about the date.