Page 74 of Stick Around,
Her chin lifted in defiance. “According to Reid, it’s the supreme fair food.”
We loaded up on funnel cake dusted with powdered sugar, corn dogs, kettle corn, and whatever monstrosity Kellan had found that involved deep-fried cookie dough.
Quinn took a bite of funnel cake and closed her eyes. Her expression of bliss sent heat through my body. I shifted, focusing on my corn dog with a side of kettle corn.
After stuffing ourselves, we wandered through the midway. Colorful lights flashed against the darkening sky, game operators called out challenges, and children shrieked from the spinning rides.
Reid stopped at a ring toss game, eyeing the array of stuffed animals hanging from the top of the booth. When was the last time I had seen the man play a game of any kind?
He paid, took the rings, and made three out of five tosses.
“Winner! Choose your prize from the middle row.”
Reid pointed to a small stuffed donkey with exaggerated eyelashes. He handed it to Quinn with a straight face. “For you, so I don’t make Debra jealous.”
Quinn giggled. “She’s beautiful. I’ll call her Mebra for mini-Debra. At least this one can’t chase me out of the barn.”
Kellan pointed to the nearby Ferris wheel, its lights tracing patterns against the night sky. “Who’s first with Quinn?”
Quinn glanced between the three of us, and I realized that this simple question highlighted the unusual nature of our relationship.
“I’ll go last.” I touched the small bag in my pocket. “Save the best for last.”
Quinn’s cheeks flushed, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “So modest.”
Reid placed his hand at the small of her back. “Let’s go before the line gets long again.”
As they walked toward the Ferris wheel, Quinn glanced back at me over her shoulder. Her smile now was the real one that transformed her entire face and made my chest ache.
Kellan nudged me. “You got her something, didn’t you?”
I shrugged.
“You romantic sap. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
I watched Quinn and Reid climb into a brightly painted car. “I don’t think it’s much of a secret anymore.”
The car climbed higher on the Ferris wheel, Reid pointing at something in the distance while Quinn leaned closer to see. The fairground lights painted colorful patterns across her face, visible even from where we stood.
“You think she’d stay if we asked?” Kellan’s voice was casual, but the tension in his shoulders told a different story.
I kept my eyes on Quinn’s car as it crested the top of the wheel. “I don’t know.”
“I keep thinking about it.” Kellan kicked at the ground, scuffing his boot in the dirt. “She’s got a life back home, though. A teaching job. Friends.”
“And we’re just three guys she met three weeks ago.” It felt wrong the moment it left my lips.
Kellan shook his head. “It’s more than that. You know it is.”
I did know. Something had clicked between the four of us in a way I couldn’t explain and didn’t fully understand. But was it enough?
“What would she even do here? Run stick horse classes full-time?” I tried to make it sound like a joke, but it fell flat.
“She could.” Kellan’s face grew serious. “The videos are still getting views. People are calling about lessons. And she’s good with the kids, Enzo. Better than any of us. Better than your cousin, who is great and all, but we both know she does it out of obligation.”
He was right. What had started as Marisol earning extra money during her summer breaks from college was now something she squeezed into her busy schedule.
“That’s true, and she could apply for a teaching job nearby.” The more I thought about it, the more I liked it.
