Page 19 of Beautiful Lies
Ava raised her arms in the air and did a victory dance before she jumped into my arms and cinched her legs around my waist, the arcade lights flashing behind her. “You’re my hero.”
She took my Yankees cap off my head and put it backward on her own head before she cupped my face in her hands and pressed her lips against mine. I ran my tongue along the seam of her lips, tasting the salt from the ocean. Her lips parted, and our tongues swirled together. She tasted like the cherry Italian ice she’d eaten earlier. Her arms circled my neck and my hands cupped her perfect ass in tiny denim cut-offs. Her tits pressed against my chest as her legs tightened around me. Jesus.
“Yo. You two. Enough with the PDA. Pick your prize and get outta here.”
I released Ava and we both laughed as I set her on her feet and tried to catch my breath. Her cheeks were pink from the sun we’d caught earlier, her white-blonde hair tangled from the seawater. We’d come unprepared, winging it without a brush or towels, instead letting the sun dry our skin. Her gaze dipped to my board shorts that did nothing to hide my hard-on. She turned her back to me and leaned against my chest, her ass pressed against my dick which didn’t help matters. I watched her fingers, the nails painted indigo blue, adjust the strap of her red bikini top that had slipped down her shoulder. Red was my new favorite color, I’d decided earlier when she’d tossed her skull-print tank top and shorts onto the sand then raced me to the water, my longer legs easily overtaking her. I’d scooped her up, thrown her over my shoulder and waded into the water with her laughing and pounding my back with her fists.
I wrapped my arms around her as she surveyed the prizes on offer before finally choosing a stuffed Hello Kitty.
Next to us, a little girl with blonde pigtails watched us with interest. “I love Hello Kitty,” she said, her mouth forming a pout. She crossed her arms and glared at the man next to her. “Daddy, can’t you just try again?” She held up her index finger. “One more. Pretty please.”
“It’s already cost me an arm and a leg. This place is rigged.”
Ava turned in my arms and gave me a little smile, her eyes asking a question I understood without her having to say the words. “Go for it.”
Ava knelt in front of the girl and held out the Hello Kitty. “You know what? I think Hello Kitty would rather go home with you.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “You do?”
“Yeah, I do,” Ava said. “Just promise me one thing.”
“Okay.”
“Give her lots of cuddles and make her feel special.”
The girl nodded, her pigtails bouncing up and down.
“We can’t accept that,” the man said, shooting me a look.
“Sure you can,” I said. “My girlfriend wants your daughter to have it. And I want whatever makes my girlfriend happy.” Damn, I was whipped, but I didn’t give a shit. I was crazy about this girl and I’d do just about anything to make her happy.
Ava smiled up at me and I wrapped an arm around her shoulder as we walked down the boardwalk, scented with hot dogs and French fries. The air was hot and muggy, heavy, like it was holding its breath and waiting for something. Or maybe that was just me. “You never called me your girlfriend before.”
“You okay with that title?” I asked.
She leaned into my side and wrapped her arm around my waist. I’d take that as a yes. “This is the best first date I’ve ever been on.”
I laughed. “Compared to what? All your other first dates?”
Ava laughed. “Good point. But even if I’d been on hundreds, this would still be the best.”
“We haven’t gotten to the main event yet,” I said, guiding her toward the Comet. Ava loved roller coasters which was why I’d brought her to Coney Island today. That and the chance to see her in a bikini.
“You’re the main event,” she said.
“You’re really laying it on thick tonight,” I teased. But I loved it. I loved that she thought I was someone special. Someone worthy. I loved the way we could talk for hours about everything and nothing and never get bored with each other. I loved the way we could be silent. Our silence was never empty or awkward and neither of us felt the need to rush in and fill it up. With Ava, I felt like I was enough.
“How many hours of stocking shelves did that Hello Kitty cost you?” she asked as we lined up for the ride.
Five hours. But I didn’t give a shit about the money. I was just happy to spend some time with her. We’d only crossed the line of friendship into something more a month ago, on her sixteenth birthday when we’d kissed for the first time. Since then, it had been difficult finding time alone together. Her mother didn’t approve of me.
“She quit her dance classes because of you,” she’d accused me.
“Ava quit because it didn’t make her happy anymore,” I’d countered. What I’d left out was that her mother’s constant pushing had taken the joy right out of it for Ava.
“Ever since she met you, she’s changed. Ava used to be reasonable. She used to…talk to me.” Her mom flapped her hands in the air. “Now she thinks she can do whatever she wants. And I know it’s your influence.”
I grabbed Ava’s hand and gave it a squeeze as the line moved forward. We got lucky and were the last two to make the cut. We climbed into our seats, the safety bar came down and soon we were off and picking up speed. Ava raised her arms in the air and screamed bloody murder throughout the entire ride. I watched her face and saw the joy she used to get from dancing. As soon as the roller coaster ground to a halt, the safety bar rising, she grabbed the back of my head and tugged me closer, planting a kiss on my lips.
