Page 94 of My Best Years

A besotted smile fills my cheeks as street lights flicker across my face. I look down at the flowers sitting in my passenger seat and hope like hell that I made the right decision.

TWENTY-FIVE

Callum

“You should have seen your face,” I throw my head back and belly laugh. “You were scared shitless.”

“No, I wasn’t!” Birdie retorts, scowling at me. “You’re over-exaggerating. I was just surprised by the drop.”

We just got off the Cliffhanger, one of the high-thrill rides at the Gulf Shores Summer Fair. The ride attendant buckles you up in a flimsy ass seat that takes you close to two hundred feet in the air before the chair drops when you least expect it. I love the adrenaline rush, but it’s also unsettling to think about how these carnival rides were assembled in less than twenty-four hours.

“You were scared,” I taunt. “Just admit it.”

“I was not.” Her brows furrow as she walks beside me. “As a matter of fact, you might want to check your pants—I think you pissed yourself. I heard you scream like a little girl when we dropped.”

Her lips turn up in a sly grin, proud of her comeback.

“Oh really?” I scoff. “Because I was hoping we could ride it a few more times before we leave.”

Birdie’s trying her best to act brave, but I don’t miss how her shoulders stiffen at the thought of going another round on the Cliffhanger. She doesn’t seem to pick up on my sarcasm because I don’t even want to ride that deathtrap again. It’s a matter of time until that rusty old thing breaks down.

“I doubt we’ll have time,” she shrugs off my suggestion. “We still haven’t ridden the ferris wheel. Have you seen the line for it?”

“No. I haven't really been paying attention to the lines.”

Because I haven’t been able to stop staring at her today.

She looks so damn beautiful. Her long hair hangs in a loose braid down her back, wild strands falling free as the day goes on. She’s in a pair of jean shorts and a little orange tank top that shows off her tan stomach and freckled shoulders.

A soft breeze gusts by, blowing a lock of golden hair across Birdie’s face. I almost groan when the lingering scent of her coconut shampoo fills my nostrils.

Fuck, that smell.

It takes me back to a few nights ago when I had her spread out on my kitchen counter. It took all of my self-control not to rip those flimsy panties from her body and bury myself in her tight pussy. Just feeling her surround my fingers had me ready to blow. She was so wet and snug, sucking me in as I finger fucked her into the hottest orgasm I’ve ever witnessed.

The needy sounds she made…Fuck, I need to hear those whimpers and moans again. All the blood in my body rushes south when I think about how incredible it felt to have her tongue rubbing against mine. Even though I jerked off in the shower this morning, painting the tiled wall with cum as I imagined her fist around my cock, it still didn’t come close to scratching the obsession I have with her.

Nothing could compare to the real thing. To the feeling of Birdie’s soft fingers stroking my length as she soaks my fingers and moans against my lips.

God, that night was so fucking hot. It’s all I’ve been able to think about. I feel like a horny teenager again, desperate to get off any chance I get. Just having Birdie walk beside me is setting all my senses on fire. Each time her arm brushes mine, it feels like a searing brand against my skin.

We’re trying to navigate this new path, but in truth, we’ve been playing this game for a long fucking time. Eleven years to be exact.

If I thought Birdie had wrecked me before, then I’m fucking obliterated now. I’m a pile of rubble, begging for Birdie to put me back together piece by piece. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

“Well, the line is extremely long,” she replies, pulling me back to reality. “It was wrapped around when we first got here. I’m sure it’s at least an hour wait.”

“Damn,” I exhale. “That makes sense though. Most people come to the fair just to ride the ferris wheel. But if you don’t want to wait in line, we can skip it. An hour’s a long time to stand around.”

She purses her lips together and thinks.

“I mean… You’ve ridden it, right? Is it worth it?”

“Yeah,” I nod. “Once before. And I can’t lie, it’s the best view of Gulf Shores I’ve ever seen. You have a bird’s-eye view of everything.”

Birdie turns her head, staring at the shore off in the distance. The sun is getting ready to begin its descent, which means we’re running out of time to see everything in broad daylight.

She turns back to me and flashes me a childlike smile.Her silver eyes sparkle as she reaches for my hand and threads our fingers together.

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