Page 39 of Something Blue

She headed toward the ride, hoping they wouldn’t notice the pout creeping over her face. She refused to let anyone know how hard it would be for her. There was nothing she had to prove to Piper or anyone else.

Unfortunately, the line for the ride was short and went quicker than she’d hoped. Her hands shook on the railing as they waited next in line. Andy came up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. Warmth spread throughout her entire body. The extra heat made her tremble more. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

“You’re being brave, but you don’t have to be.” His lips tickled her skin as they lingered.

She wriggled out of his embrace, needing the heat to stop. “I’ll be fine.” Instead of watching the two buckets swing across from each other, she closed her eyes as the wind rushed past every few seconds. When the air stopped and the creaking of metal grinding against metal increased, Sadie sipped at her soda until she was pushed past the gate.

“See you afterward,” Chase called to them, waiting for the bucket on top.

Piper smirked. “Try not to lose your dinner.”

“Better hope you don’t get soaked.” Sadie pointed to the bucket seat they would be sitting in, either below or above them. If she threw up on the ride, they were bound to get splashed. Piper’s smile slipped from her face.

Andy patted her on the back and led her to the bucket, then whipped around. He brushed his hand against her cheek. “You’ve already proven your bravery today. Your face is as pale as the Destin sand.”

She could hear Piper behind them, and she gritted her teeth. “I can do this.” She climbed into the bucket seat without another word, clasping the seatbelt around both of them and taking his hand gratefully when he offered it. “Hope I don’t hurt you.”

He chuckled. “Squeeze my hand as hard as you need to. I timed the ride, and it’s only a minute and some change. It’ll be over before you know it.”

Sadie bit at her lip as the attendant checked the measly metal bar blocking them from death. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat. Too soon, the ride creaked and the bucket rose to the top, stopping to allow Chase and Piper on. So far, so good. The creaking started again, and the bucket flew again, except much faster. She let out a shriek and reached for Andy. She buried her face in his shoulder as they plummeted to the ground. Air whooshed around her as the bucket rose and dropped. The going up part wasn’t bad, but the rushing of food to the top of her stomach as they fell toward the ground was.

Andy patted her head, though with gravity, their freefall was more like a couple of slaps to the head. “You’re doing great.”

She squeezed the sides of the seat tighter as the rotations sped up. She focused on his scent, his hand patting her—slapping her—as she clung to him. His voice was soft in her ear as the world whizzed by. The seatbelt pulled her stomach tight, but she didn’t let him go. There was a point where she relaxed against him as the rotations evened out, but then she stole a peek at the ground, screamed, and clung to him even tighter.

He chuckled. “You looked, didn’t you?”

Despite her sour stomach, she laughed.

Andy was right. The “minute and some change” was eternally long, but it eventually came to a stop. She released her grip around Andy. “I did it!”

He squeezed her knee. The hydraulic bar hissed and rose to allow her to escape. The minute her feet hit the asphalt, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She ran to the nearest trash can and released every bit of liquid, seafood, fruit, or cheese she had left. It took a good three heaves to empty her stomach, and she stayed put, keeping her head down amongst the whispers and chuckles she heard.

When she finally stepped back, her legs buckled, and she fell forward. Andy caught her right before her face hit the ground.

“Whoa, take it easy,” Andy said, wrapping both arms around her waist. “Do you want me to see if the office has anti-nausea medicine?”

She took a shaky step back. “I doubt I have anything left in me since there’s not much left in me. I’m starting to see bile.”

“Sweetie, for a nurse, you have the weakest stomach I’ve ever seen. But you’re the cutest.”

“Funny,” she said, flashing him a dirty look. “Motion sickness is completely different.”

He chuckled and led her away from the trash can. “I ordered a taxi. They should be here already. Think you can go a bit farther?”

“Yeah.” More than anything, she wanted to lie down. The sooner they got back to the room, the sooner the earth would stop spinning.

They only took a few steps before Andy stopped her. Sadie lifted her head to see what the holdup was. Chase and Piper stood a few feet away. Piper hid a smile behind her hand.

Sadie wanted to sock her.

“I think we’ve done enough bonding for the week,” Andy said. “We’ll see you at your wedding.”

Chase raised his eyebrows. “What? You’re going to—”

Andy held up his hand as Chase advanced closer. “We’re leaving now.”

A taxi waited by the curb. Andy opened the door and helped her inside and then slid in on the other side. She leaned against the door, and he carefully helped her lie down in his lap.

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