Page 79 of Hot Knot Summer
This time, the force slams me against him with enough power to knock the breath from my lungs.
“If I throw up on you, it’s your own fault!” I gasp, clinging to his arm as the ride whips us around again.
“Worth it!” he declares, his eyes bright with mischief. “Besides, you’re having fun! Admit it!”
“I admit nothing!” I admit, even as another burst of laughter escapes me. “Except that you’re trying to kill me!”
River’s arm comes around my shoulders, his body warm and solid against mine. He laughs right along with me as we spin, his joy as infectious as his smile.
“Is this how you impress all the girls?” I demand as we careen around another turn. “Spin them until they can’t tell if they’re dizzy from the ride or your charm?”
“Only the special ones,” he says with a wink, somehow managing to look roguishly handsomedespite being flung around like a rag doll. “Is it working?”
“Ask me when the world stops spinning,” I retort, but I can’t keep the smile from my face. There’s something freeing about River’s enthusiasm, his ability to find joy in the moment without overthinking it.
As we spin faster, I surrender to the chaos, letting out a whoop that matches River’s. For these few minutes, I forget everything, the fire, the police interview, my complicated feelings about three Alphas who shouldn’t affect me this way. There’s just the wind in my hair, the thrill of speed, and River’s presence beside me.
“Look at those two!” he yells, nodding toward Atlas and Levi. Their car spins past ours, and I catch a glimpse of Levi’s normally composed face transformed by laughter as Atlas, looking slightly green, grips the safety bar with white knuckles.
“Atlas hates spinning rides,” River confides in my ear during a brief moment when our car slows. “But he refuses to admit it.”
This new knowledge endears Atlas to me even more.
As the ride reaches its maximum speed, River pulls me closer, one hand protectively bracing me against the force of the spin. Despite his playful demeanor, there’s strength in the arm around me, his body a solid presence in the spinning chaos.
When the ride finally slows, we’re both breathless with laughter. River helps me out of the car with atheatrical bow, then turns to Atlas and Levi as they approach.
“Atlas, my friend, you’re looking a little pale there,” River teases. “Should we do the Tilt-A-Whirl next?”
Atlas glowers at him. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
“He once threw up on the Scrambler,” Levi informs me quietly. “We’ve never let him forget it.”
“Traitor,” Atlas mutters.
By the time I stumble off more rides, dizzy and laughing, the sun is beginning to set. The festival transforms as darkness falls, strings of lights illuminating the pathways between booths and rides. The atmosphere shifts subtly, becoming more intimate, more magical. It’s gorgeous, in truth, and I can’t believe we’ve been here so long already.
Atlas seems equally hesitant to let me go, his hand lingering at my waist as we exit the ride on slightly wobbly legs.
“One more ride,” River suggests, his eyes gleaming with mischief in the colorful lights. “Then we hit the food stands again.”
He points to a structure set slightly apart from the main rides—a tunnel of love. It’s charmingly retro, with oversized swan-shaped boats that disappear into a darkened building decorated with heart-shaped lights and cheesy cupid statues.
“Seriously?” I laugh. “That’s so corny.”
“Exactly,” River agrees. “Which makes it perfect. Plus, it’s air-conditioned in there.”
The idea of cool air is actually appealing. I’ve beenfeeling increasingly overheated all day, and not just from the summer temperature or the proximity of three attractive Alphas.
“Fine,” I concede. “Who’s riding with me?”
“Me,” Levi bellows first and loudly. “You aremine.”
I shake my head, giggling at their enthusiasm, though secretly, I can’t get enough of their closeness, their touches.
“Shall we?” Levi asks.
I take his arm, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach at his touch. “Why do I feel like I’m being set up?”
