Page 38 of Lovers Fate

“Yeah,” she says, looking at the others through the windshield as they wave at us to hurry up.

“Same as everyone else, I guess. Make enough money and move on.”

“For what?”

I shrug, not wanting to tell her it’s a stupid question, but I get why she’s asking. She wants to know, like everyone else, why I’m still staying at the hotel. “I don’t know. A car. A place to live.”

“You could have both right now.”

She wants to know why I don’t sleep with any of the regulars to make more money and get out faster.

“It’s not my thing to sleep with men I don’t know,” I say truthfully. “To be honest, I don’t feel comfortable.”

She snorts. “You sound like a virgin.”

If you only knew…

Yeah, well. You’ve seen me dance.”

I hear her laugh as I get out of the car; at the same time, she walks around the front of the car. The distortion of the flashing neon lights caught my attention, giving the impression that it’s malfunctioning.

The haunted side of the carnival is more intimidating than I remember. The speakers emit haunting and distorted music. The fog curls around the bottom of the ticket machines.

As I follow Rachel to the automated ticket booth with the flashing sign warning that tickets are almost sold out, my nerves are frayed.

“Hurry, or you won’t be able to get a ticket,” she says, walking briskly to the line.

I slide my prepaid card in the slot. The machine spits the ticket out, and I follow Rachel and the four girls from the club waiting for us to get in line.

Since I never made friends in high school, I always feel awkward around them. They laugh and talk about their weekend. Guys they fucked. Who sucked in bed. Which one of the regulars as a bigger cock than the other. I guess that’s how they make themselves feel better under the circumstances.

My phone goes off in my jean shorts’ pocket.

Rose:Where are you? I’ve finished my drink at the bar.

Athena:Haunted Carnival with Rachel and the other girls.

Rose:Be there in ten?

Athena:I’ll get you a ticket. They’re almost sold out. Call me when you get here, and I’ll meet you out front.

Rose:See you in fifteen. :)

“That was Rose,” I tell Rachel. “She’ll be here in fifteen.”

I swipe my card and purchase a ticket for her.

“We’re going to have so much fun,” Rachel says excitedly after the other girls walk ahead.

It depends on what you call fun.

By the time I hand over the ticket to the park attendant using a tablet, the girls have already made their way to the first haunted house.

The man wearing a ghost face mask motions for us to step forward. The security guard, wearing a staff T-shirt, raises a brow with a smirk playing on his lips and waves the metal detector wand closer to my chest than he should.

“What’s so funny?” I ask derisively.

His brown eyes meet mine. “Nothing. It’s my job to check.”

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