Page 105 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘I adore you, Berkley. I always have. When I’m with you, you’re all I see. When I’m away from you, you’re all I think about. I know you hate the attention, but people recognizing me will probably fade with time. You can trust me. I worked out my issues. No one will ever steal me away from you. I promise.’

He read my mind. I didn’t have to tell him how I felt for once; he saw it. I pull him to me by his jacket lapels and kiss his lips. The way he touches my face and neck when he kisses me makes me weak at the knees.

‘If we’re not careful, we won’t make it to part three and that’s the best part,’ he says.

I’m already having so much fun with him I can’t picture it getting better.

35

WILL

‘The Rose Festival fair?’ she asks with a laugh as we walk from the parking garage.

‘I feel like winning ya something,’ I say with a wink. ‘I haven’t been to this in years. Last time was with you.’

I pay the entrance fee, buy some ride tickets and hold her hand as we walk, heading right to the Ferris wheel. The sweet smell of funnel cakes and deep-fried everything is intoxicating. Colorful lights flash, and children’s laughter fills the air. A few people glance our way, but nothing overwhelming. She doesn’t seem to notice.

‘Yourememberthis?’ she asks as we approach the wheel.

‘Of course I remember this. I got to second base with you on a Ferris wheel once. Maybe even this exact one.’

We get in line behind a few other people. Berkley looks beautiful. The dress reminds me of when we went to our high-school prom.

‘I asked you to be my girlfriend and told you I loved you for the first time on this Ferris wheel,’ I remind her, lifting her hand to my lips. ‘Do you remember that?’

‘That’s what I was talking about,’ she says, rolling her eyes playfully.

It was the summer after we met. I was nearly sixteen and she’d just turned fifteen. I was desperately trying to be romantic. Until then we’d just casually dated as young teenagers do. But that night, I worked up the courage to say the words I’d never said to anyone. Like,anyone. Not even my family.

‘You’re beautiful even in someone else’s dress, Berx,’ I say, stepping up in line as it moves forward. Just saying the words makes my insides all fuzzy in the best way. That’s how I know she’s the one. She’s always been the one.

‘Thank you,’ she says shyly. ‘I like how you look at me lately.’

‘I can’t take my eyes off you.’

She smiles sweetly, squeezing my hand in hers. ‘You’re easily the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.GQwith an IQ. Absolutely dashing. A real Hottie McNaughty.’ She’s enjoying messing with me way too much, but not nearly as much as I am. Every word out of her mouth, I fall for her a little bit more, and she has no clue. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could love her any more but tonight has proved me wrong.

‘Seriously.’ She glances at me as we take another step forward. ‘I find myself looking at you with heart-eyes, and I see no wrong. That scares me a little bit, considering our past.’

I get it, I do. Hopefully the move I’m about to make wipes all that worry away. We step up to the ride, sitting in the chair we’ve been directed to. The ride attendant makes sure we’re seated before pulling down the overhead bar to keep us from falling to the ground.

‘I’m not perfect, Berx. I’ve got plenty wrong, and I know I’ve wronged you more times than I can count. It’s alright to see that.’

‘Are you saying you’re OK with me still being a little mad at you while also falling for you?’

The ride moves, causing her to tighten her grip on my arm.

‘You’re falling for me?’

She nods, pressing her face into my shoulder. ‘I wanted to make this harder for you,’ she says, her voice muffled. She sits back again. ‘I feel like I should be madder than I am, considering I told you it was your last chance like thirty chances ago, and yet here I am giving you one last shot. Iwantto fall – I mean, not from here…’ She motions to the ground now far beneath us, doing the most adorable Hail Mary. ‘I can’t seem to be mad at you; my heart won’t let me. But none of this feels like it did before…’

‘In a bad way?’ I ask, suddenly nervous.

‘No,’ she says softly. ‘In a grown-up way so good that if it doesn’t work out this time—’

‘Berkley,’ I interrupt her. I don’t want her considering what it might be like if we didn’t work out. We will work; she’s my soulmate and I’ve never felt more sure of something than right now. ‘I didn’t wake up one morning and decide to try and get you back. You’re who I’ve always wanted. I got rid of all the distractions from before. I’ve dealt with my demons and each time I had a breakthrough moment, I wanted the same thing. You.Us.’

She’s holding my arm tight, not because she’s scared – the girl is fearless – but because we’re as high as we’re going to get and looking into the city.

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