Page 116 of Kiss Me Tonight

“You’re the reason this is even happening, you know. I’m not talking about the dick-in-a-sock thing either. I mean, honest to God, Asp, I’ve never had the courage or even the interest to show my pictures to anyone before I met you.”

“Uh-huh.”

Clang. Clang. CLANG.

The Monster jolts to a stop. I don’t know how high up we are. My eyes are closed and, oh, God, why do our seats have toswinglike that? Back and forth and back and forth, and there’s no doubt about it: I’m going to vomit that cinnamon buneverywhere. That’s just if I’m lucky, too. More likely than not, I’m going to die up here. Heart attack. Definitely a heart attack.

“Maybe we should have everyone over tonight for a pizza party. Not like I haven’t given Pizzeria Athena enough business already. But, you know, I really want the team to feel like we’re all a family, like how we took care of Harry. Did you see his aunt joined us earlier at Cookies and Joe Diner? Anyway, swimming at a private beach never hurt anyone. Could be good for morale—Aspen, you okay?”

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

We’re chugging our way up again. Higher, higher.

“I need to get off of here.”

“Here?” Dominic echoes.

“The Monster.”Clang! Clang! Clang!“I need to get off The Monster.”

“You mean the Ferris wheel?”

I nod. At least, I think I’m nodding. With my eyes closed and The Monster rotating around, gathering its victims from the loading zone, it feels like I’m floating.

“Aspen, baby, don’t tell me . . . Are you afraid of heights?”

My hands fist the metal bar. “Are you laughing at me?”

And then . . . and then I feel it. The arm that’s wrapped around me is shaking. His big body is shaking. The friggin’ seat isshaking.

I’m going to kill him.

“Dominic,” I mutter, my mouth completely dry as anxiety spikes, “stop. Stop laughing. We’re going to fall. The bolts are going to come loose and—oh, my God.”

The seat swings. Back and forth.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

More swinging, and suddenly I know it’s him.He’sdoing this. Teasing me. Playing with my emotions.

“I hate you,” I whisper out from between gritted teeth. “I hate you so much.”

I feel his lips on my exposed shoulder, and then hear his velvety voice by my ear. “You don’t, Asp. You don’t hate me at all. But you’re gonna hate yourself if you have to suffer the wrath of The Monster and can’t even enjoy the view.”

“I’ve lived in London most of my life. I’ve seen the view.”

“Not like this.” His hand rounds the back of my head, smoothing down the flyaway strands. “How are you gonna tell me you’re such a badass if you can’t handle opening your eyes on a Ferris wheel? How are we going to go skydiving together?”

My heart pitter-patters at the thought of us making plans for a life outside of the Wildcats. Then, it picks up speed at the mere thought of skydiving. Never going to happen. Weakly, I utter, “Topher will go with you.”

“Topher’s a great sidekick but you, Coach—you can’t be my partner-in-crime if you don’t go for the gold when it’s right in front of you.” His hot breath coasts over my cheek as he kisses my temple. “Take the risk, earn the reward.”

“What’s the reward?” I ask, but already my eyes are peeling open. I’m close to hyperventilating and there’s nothing I want more than to be back on solid ground. And then I see there’s a hand in front of my face, blocking the promised view.

“Breathe for me, baby,” comes his soft command.

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