Page 9 of The Lake House

“She’s been talking about you nonstop,” Liv says.

As Josie and I pull away, I turn to face Dave.

“Hey, Giuliana. Good to have you back.” He comes at me to give me a hug as well.

“Dave! Hi. It’s good to be back.” We pull apart.

“You guys ready to have some fun?” Liv asks, looking at Josie.

“Yeah!” Josie screams at the top of her lungs, causing all of us to burst out in laughter.

Dave brings a finger up to his lips. “Shhh, you’ll wake the neighborhood, sweetie.”

“It’s not even nine yet… I’m sure most of the town is at the fair tonight, anyway,” Liv replies.

Once we’re ready to leave, I grab my purse and lock the door behind me. We walk down the streets of Silver Mist until we reach the fair. Lights, music, and voices wrap around us as we enter the festival. Liv wasn’t kidding. If the majority of the town isn’t here tonight, then it’s pretty damn close. The place is swamped with familiar faces and families crowding around games, food stands, and rides.

After a while of walking around, Dave tells Liv that he’s going to take Josie on some rides, leaving the two of us alone to catch up some more. Walking around and talking with my bestie is kind of like a reminder of all those summers we spent raiding the town. This familiar feeling is nice. We used to do simple stuff like this all the time, and in a way, it’s nice to feel at home once more.

“Alright, you know what I want to do first, right?” Liv asks, causing me to stop and turn to face her. If I know her, it has something to do with food. It usually has something to do with food when it comes to her. It’s either that, or men, and since she’s married, I know she’s not looking for a man for herself. Unless she’s already trying to hook me up with someone.

“What’s that?” I ask.

She smirks. “Funnel cake.”

I chuckle and let out a sigh of relief. “Of course.”

“Don’t tell me all these amazing scents of deep-fried food, sugary cotton candy, and buttery popcorn aren’t making your taste buds water?”

“Of course,” I repeat. I lick my lips, thinking of all the times we’d pig out on the fair food when we were younger. Zio Giuseppe’s Pizza had always been my favorite spot for pizza. I wonder if they brought it back. Sure, back when I was younger, everything I ate wouldn’t pile on my ass like it does these days. Okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating just a bit, but that’s how it feels sometimes.

We walk up to one of the food stands and get in line. It’s pretty long, but it moves fairly quickly. Once it’s Liv’s turn, she steps forward and orders enough food for the both of us. I try to give her a Jackson, but she pushes me away, insisting to pay. I know better than to argue with her right now, so I stand back, letting her do her thing and take in my surroundings.

A plethora of rainbow-colored lights and loud, blaring music from the rides all around engulf us. They’re filled with kids, teens, and adults enjoying the thrill of the adventure.

And as I look around, I notice a man with his back turned to me. He’s tall, wearing blue denim jeans, fitting him perfectly. He has a blue and white striped flannel shirt covering his broad shoulders. I swallow hard. Damn, even though I can’t see his face, I’m loving the view from the back. He’s waving at a little girl on a horse on the merry-go-round, as she spins around on the carousel. Her head tilts back as her face explodes in laughter. She’s a cutie with long, blonde-colored ringlets coming out of two pigtails on the sides of her head.

“Mmmm, this is amazing… taste it,” Liv says, closing her eyes after she takes her first bite of the food she just ordered. She pushes a fried Oreo my way, but I shake my hand in front of me.

“I’m good, thanks.”

She shakes her head. “Woman, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

I shrug, but again, my eyes land on the gentleman still facing the opposite direction, waiting for his daughter’s ride to end.

“Oh, Declan…” she nudges me on the arm.

“Declan?”

“Bell. Declan Bell. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten all about your first crush?”

I swallow hard once more. How had I not realized that was him? Declan? I hadn’t seen him in years…

“No, of course I haven’t…”

Liv chuckles. “Hard to forget a hunk like that, huh? Poor guy though… I feel so bad for him.”

I turn to face her. “Why?”

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