Page 28 of The Waiter at Table 6

“Come on, I’ve always wanted to try the water shooting game.”

Ryder guides me in a different direction. “Uh uh. Between every game, we get food. You know the rules.”

I let out a groan. “Ryder, I can’t,” I whine. “We’ve already had a corn dog, funnel cake, and fudge. I’m so full you’re going to have to roll me home.”

“I’m okay with that,” he says. “It’s unforgiveable that you’ve never experienced carnival foods. And besides, you had, like, one bite of everything.”

“I had more than that,” I say defensively, my cheeks warming at the memory of scarfing down almost the entire funnel cake.

Ryder pulls me to a stop before one of the food stands, and suddenly we’re closer than we’ve been all night. Or maybe it just feels that way because he’s smiling and looking at my lips.

“You’re right, that funnel cake did agree with you,” he chuckles. When he swipes a thumb over the corner of my mouth, I see it come away with some powdered sugar.

“Oh my God,” I gasp, mortified. I quickly wipe my face with my hands as much as I’m able. “Why didn’t you tell me I’m covered in sugar? Do I have more on my face?”

“Unfortunately not,” he says a little dazedly, his eyes still on my lips.

The heat between us becomes stifling. It’s been waves of this all night, with both of us mostly keeping our distance, but occasionally with one look or accidental touch, the flames roar right back to life.

And God… I want to give in so badly. The idea of letting lust take over my brain is so tempting. It’s not like I regretted the first night, so a second night wouldn’t hurt, right?

But then Ryder does something sweet, and I appreciate his friendship even more. Even him bringing me here and encouraging me to do a bunch of things I’ve never done before…it means a lot. And I don’t want to mess that up.

So it takes everything in me to whisper, “I think we’re up next.”

Ryder blinks the surprise from his eyes. Sure enough, when he turns toward the food stand, the guy behind the counter is waiting impatiently for us to order.

“Just a fried Oreo, please,” Ryder says in a tight voice.

“One fried Oreo, coming up. That’ll be five dollars.”

Ryder pays for the food. He’s been paying for most things tonight, actually—all the food, and for all the games he’s wanted to play. The one time he hasn’t reached for his wallet is when I wanted to play a game. Which is the only reason I didn’t say anything. If he had paid for everything, it would’ve made this already-too-friendly night feel a little too date-like, but as it stands, I think he’s just being…Ryder. He’s independent and capable, and I know he’d pay if he didn’t think me paying for my own things was important to me.

When the fried Oreo is handed down, my mouth instantly starts watering. Which Ryder notices, of course.

“Told you.” Chuckling, he nudges the paper plate toward me. “Go ahead, try it.”

“I’ve never had so much fried food in my life,” I groan as I reach for one of the desserts. I place my lips on the dough to take a bite, but the heat seeping through it makes me pause.

Stepping closer, he blows gently on the dough. “Careful, it’s hot,” he says in a low voice.

And there burst the flames again.

I think I’m barely breathing as I take a careful bite. His gaze holds me captive, hunger glowing in his eyes. And when I moan at the taste of the dessert on my tongue, I watch his jaw clench.

“Oh my God. That wins. That’s the best food we’ve had tonight.”

Ryder swallows thickly, right before he reaches up and swipes more powdered sugar from my lip. His voice is rough when he says, “You’re killing me, smalls.”

And yeah, I’m kind of dying to kiss him right now. It would be so easy to just tilt my head up and?—

But then his comment registers, and the fire recedes—slightly. Because Ryder just quoted one of my favorite movies.

My eyebrows shoot to my hairline in delight. “I’m sorry, was that a Sandlot reference?”

He grins, some of the heat banking in his eyes. “It was. Didn’t think I knew the classics, did you?”

My eyes narrow. “Were you even born when that movie came out?”

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