Page 99 of I Shouldn't Feel This Way

“It’s just a face.”

“Yeah, but it’syourface.” I gently brushed my fingers over his flawlessly arched eyebrows as if I were a blind person learning how to identify him.

“Oh, yeah? Tell me, what do you like most about it?” Noah twisted his neck. “My outstanding profile?” He made me laugh.

“As amazing as that profile is …” I paused, coaxing his head to turn in my direction. “… it’s not your best facial feature.”

“I’m curious to know what my daughter thinks of me, so go on.” He smiled and it made all these butterflies flutter around in my tummy.

“What’s my best feature?” asked Noah. His eyes were an extraordinary blue that cleared an overcast sky.

“I’m staring right at it.”

Silence …

“You know, you’re really stroking my ego here, Aria.”

“Is that dangerous?” There was a hint of flirtation in the way I phrased that question, and I gave a little smirk.

“Depends on the company.”

My hands slowly moved over his shoulders, winding around his neck before I whispered, “Am I in danger?”

Noah gave no response. He seemed completely zoned out, with this grave expression on his face.

“Hey, you okay?” I was slightly worried. He looked like he had seen a ghost or something.

“You’re not in danger,” he stated. “You’re never in danger around me. Do you understand that, Aria?” There was panic in his voice, and I couldn’t understand why. “Do you really think I’m dangerous?”

“Noah, relax! I wasn’t even thinking that about you.”

He frowned, lifted his weight off of me, and sat on the edge of the bed.

Well, that sucked.I’d been enjoying the intimacy. His body felt so amazing.

“I was just kidding, you know,” I clarified, sitting up on my knees and hugging his shoulders from behind.

“I know, sweetie.” He let out a long sigh and kissed my hands before standing.

Vanessa’s voice suddenly echoed from the hallway, and as much as I wanted to keep him in my room and chat some more, it was time to go.

****

It didn’t take us very long to arrive at the festival. A couple of streets had been closed for tents and attractions. The air was thick with the aroma of hot dogs, French fries, and cotton candy. A huge section of the park had been transformed into a wonderland of thrill rides and carnival games. I’d always been hypnotized by all the colorful, flashing lights whenever my mom took me to a travelling carnival. I would go on every ride possible—bumper cars, drop towers, carousels, roller coasters, motion simulators, you name it. There was nothing I was afraid of—okay, maybesomestuff. Honestly, there were much worse things to fear in life … like an abusive stepdad.

“Wow, it’s more crowded than I had expected,” said Vanessa, stepping out of the car. She looked at her sister and asked, “Do you remember the last time we were at an amusement park?”

“Oh my gosh, yes!” Vienna erupted in laughter. “I had eaten so much ice cream before we went on that stupid ride.” She briefly paused. “What was it called? The Scrambler?”

“The Twizzler,” my stepmom said.

“Yes! That ride kept pushing Nessa right into me,” Vienna continued. “We were sandwiched together and I felt so queasy.”

“Her face was literally going green,” Vanessa added.

“I barfed all over myself.”

“Don’t forget those designer jeans I was wearing! You barfed all over them, too!”

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