Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“You’re looking at me like I committed some kind of crime.” He laughed. “I just wasn’t keen on the fair.”
“But why not?” She frowned. “I thought all kids liked the fair. What was it you didn’t like? It can’t be the rides, because I know you’re not scared of speed or heights.”
They’d reached the ticket booth for the rides. Lucas handed over twenty dollars and took the pink slips of paper the seller slid beneath the glass. When Ember tried to offer him some money, he shook his head. “I got this,” he told her. “And I can’t really remember why I disliked the fair so much, I think I felt too cool for it. Plus the beach was always empty on Angel Day, so it made surfing much better than usual. I liked to take advantage.”
“Do you still surf?” she asked him.
“Occasionally.” There was a smile playing around his lips. “Though my friend Griff would say it isn’t often enough. Until recently, I was too busy at work to hit the waves more than a couple of times a year.”
“So what changed?”
That easy smile disappeared from his mouth, and she immediately regretted asking the question. He blinked a couple of times, as though something had gotten into his eye. “I’m based at White City. I’ve just been helping out at the Angel Sands station for a bit.” He bit the corner of his lip. “I… ah… should be heading back to White City soon.”
She recognized that expression on his face – she’d seen it on her own often enough. Every time somebody asked her about Will leaving, and whether she saw it coming. “Well then maybe we should start with the Ferris wheel?” She raised her eyebrows. “There’s a great view of the ocean from there.”
He visibly relaxed. “I thought you were scared of heights.”
“You did? Why?”
He lifted his arm and ran his palm across his closely cut hair. “I guess it was the way you froze at the top of that playhouse. I’ve seen it a lot of times before.” He shrugged. “A fear of heights can be paralyzing.”
“I’m not scared of heights, I was afraid of falling,” Ember pointed out. “And in the case of the Ferris wheel, I’m pretty sure there’s no falling involved. So let’s go.” She tipped her head to the side, raising an eyebrow at him. “Unless you’re scared…”
“I’m not scared.” He grinned at her. “I checked the safety manual. It was all up to date.”
“Always the firefighter.” She co
uldn’t help but smile back at him. “Do you ever take a day off?” Ember glanced over his shoulder at the small line for the Ferris wheel. A man standing near the end caught her eye. She did a double take, then frowned. It couldn’t be… could it?
“Everything okay?” Lucas asked her.
“Um, yeah.” Ember narrowed her eyes, still staring at the man behind Lucas. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You look like you just saw a ghost.”
“I did. Kind of.” She looked up at Lucas. “I’m pretty sure that guy over there is Adam Michaelson.” She screwed her nose up. “Or at least it looks like the guy in his profile photo.”
Lucas’ eyes widened. “Adam Michaelson? Isn’t that the guy who stood you up?” He turned to look over his shoulder, taking in the man Ember was staring at. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure. I’ve always been good with faces.” She shuddered. “Ugh, I thought I’d seen the last of him when I deleted that app.”
The two of them were still staring at the guy. A second later, he turned and caught Ember’s eye. He frowned, as though trying to place her, then hastily turned away, his back firmly toward her.
“Did you see that?” Lucas said. “He definitely recognized you, he couldn’t turn quickly enough.” His eyes narrowed as he stared at Adam Michaelson’s back. “Okay, let’s join the line for the Ferris wheel.”
“But he’s in the line.”
“Exactly.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Why should you let somebody like him scare you away?”
She took a deep lungful of air in. “Maybe we should go to the bumper cars instead.”
Lucas reached out and brushed her hair behind her ear. The shock of his touch made her skin heat up. “Come on, you deserve some fun. Don’t let this guy spoil it for you.”
“Score one for the women?”
Lucas smiled. “Something like that.”