Page 18 of Wild Dreams

Chance crossed his arms over his chest. "Would you go out with John if he asked?"

"He has already, now that I think about it. I just didn't see it as a date. I've always said no before."

"But now?"

I stared off in the distance, aware that Chance was watching me. "I don’t think he’s my type.”

"What is your type?"

"Smart. Kind." I sighed. I'd dated responsible guys before, and they were boring. "I want to be with someone who wants a family as much as I do. I just haven't found someone who desires the same things." I wondered if my criteria were too broad. I should have more specific ideas of my ideal partner. But it had always been centered on creating a different future than my past. "What about you?"

His face was pinched. "I'm not looking for a partner."

"You don't think you'll ever change your mind?" I asked him as Joey ran out of the maze, then immediately went back in.

"This job isn't conducive to a family and kids."

"You might meet someone who doesn't want to have children."

"I wouldn't subject her to my job. The late nights. The stress."

"Your parents seemed happy."

Chance looked away. "Maybe to you. But I saw the strain when he didn't come home until late or he missed one of my football games."

"I wonder if you could have more of a work-life balance. That it's not one or the other."

Chance sighed. "This job is all-consuming, and it's what I've always wanted."

I could have saidthings change,but he wasn't receptive to that.

Joey ran up to us. "Can I get cotton candy?"

"Sure. Let's sugar you up before I hand you over to your father."

"Sugar me up. Sugar me up," Joey chanted as we made our way over to the stand.

Chance got a blue one for Joey, then a pink one.

When he handed it to me, I said, "Oh, I didn't need any."

Chance tipped his head toward it. "You know you love it."

I slowly unwrapped it as we walked toward the Wilde Ski Resort's booth. "I haven't had cotton candy since I was a kid."

"That's more of a reason to taste it." Chance took the plastic and threw it in a nearby garbage can.

I pulled a hunk off and let it dissolve in my mouth.

"It's still as sweet as you remember?" Chance leaned closer to ask, and my breath caught.

"More so."

Chance took a hunk for himself. "So good."

"You're just a big kid, aren't you? You don't want anyone to know, and that's why you're always seen in your uniform."

Chance chuckled. "I can't resist cotton candy, even though it's awful for your teeth."

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