Page 37 of Pages of Amber

Amber nodded, a smile climbing onto her face. “I haven’t taken the train in years.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened. “And you call yourself a New Yorker? Thank God I made you come with us, then.” Swinging her arm over Amber’s shoulder, she threw the front door open. “The world is our oyster today. Let’s go explore it!”

CHAPTER TWELVE

“YOU’RE SCREAMING RIGHT IN my ear!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

“Am not!” Evelyn shrieked, her face red as they climbed off the ride. She shoved her brother as she stumbled off the platform towards Amber and Noah who had refused to join them.

The chilling screams coming from the Brooklyn Flyer made Amber back up another foot. Evelyn had done everything she could to get her on the ride but Amber had dug her heels in. No way was she getting in there only to be flung a thousand feet in the air. She was fine right where she was.

“You guys missed out. That was so fun,” Evelyn exclaimed, forgetting the squabble with her twin.

Amber doubted it was as fun as she made it sound.

“Except for when you were screaming in my ear,” Emmett muttered.

“Shut up.” She clapped her hands, “Where should we go next? Noah, any suggestions?”

The boy standing beside her shrugged at the question, his gaze roaming the crowded amusement park. People were everywhere, having fun, stuffing their faces and stumbling from one ride to the next. Music played from different stores, screams rent the air and the sound of games being won and lost joined the cacophony.

The ride to Coney Island had been uneventful. Emmett and Evelyn had run off to the first roller coaster they’d seen and she’d been happy to join them on all the rides so far except this one.

“How about the Cyclone?” she asked. “We haven’t done that yet.”

“Not for long,” Evelyn sang. Hooking one arm in Amber’s and another in Noah’s, she yanked them over the rollercoaster. As they got into the surprisingly short line, Evelyn patted her stomach. “I’m hungry.”

“How could you be hungry after going on a ride like that?” Amber asked, referring to the Brooklyn Flyer.

Evelyn only laughed as she handed her ticket to the operator. “Are you kidding? That ride worked up my appetite.”

Amber giggled as they shuffled up to the platform and got into the cars. Evelyn’s elbow caught her side as they buckled up, the operator droning safety instructions through the microphone. The cars jerked into motion a minute later, building a tug of excitement in Amber. It had been years since she’d last been at Coney Island, even before her father had been hospitalized. The crowds of families and friends below sent a wave of nostalgia through her. In truth, she was happy to be here and even more, she was happy to be with her new friends.

Evelyn’s hand grasped hers just before the drop, their excited screams blending amongst others. Wind whipped past her ears, slapping her cheeks and reddening them. Her smile couldn’t be dimmed as they went over each turn. Amber raised their joined hands into the air as they went over a high plunge, her stomach roiling and her heart pounding in her chest. The adrenaline rush the ride gave her was almost as good as the one she got when she was scribbling a favorite scene into her stories.

The ride ended too soon, and they stepped out on unsteady feet, their hands held tight to each other. Breathless laughs escaped Amber uncontrollably as Evelyn clutched onto her side.

“That was the best one so far!” Evelyn exclaimed.

“I forgot how much I loved this ride,” Amber said as the boys walked up to him, their hair windblown and wide grins on their faces. Together they stumbled toward the exit, with Evelyn leading them to the first food booth on their right. The cute shack sold both snacks and beverages. As Evelyn and Emmett made their orders, Amber perused the small menu hung above the makeshift counter.

“What’s your pick?” Evelyn asked. “If you want food, we can go over to the shops near the boardwalk.”

Amber had already spotted her favorite beverage. “I’ll have the strawberry milkshake, please. With two cherries?”

Evelyn relayed her order to the vendor. “Extra whip cream?” she paused to confirm.

“Sure.” Amber shrugged. Holding up two fingers, she enunciated, “Don’t forget the double cherries.”

“Got it,” Evelyn laughed.

A few minutes later, the twins had scarfed down their snacks while Amber slurped the last bit of her milkshake. Noah crumpled up the wrapper for the tacos he’d bought, shooting for the closest garbage bin on their way out of Luna park.

“Good?” she asked him.

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