“Graham,” she breathes, holding onto my hand for support.
I grin.
“Sorry babe.”
“You two… you remind me so much of your father and me. Young and crazy in love. Couldn’t keep our hands off each other if we tried. I love seeing you happy,” Ma says softly, observing us from her rocker with a smile on her face.
It hits me somewhere deep in my stomach, a nagging feeling and a reminder that this is fake at least… to Emery it is… and how much I wish it wasn’t.
“Thanks Ma. We’ll be back, but don’t wait up, okay?”
She laughs. “You say that like you aren’t a grown man. Bye you two. Have fun.”
I lace my fingers with Emery’s and lead her to the truck, helping her inside, then walk around to climb in the cab beside her. I pull the truck out onto the highway in the direction of town, and Emery’s face lights up.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” I smirk, turning the old radio up some. She watches out the window the entire ride, and I watch her.
Like a moth to a flame, I can’t stop my eyes from drifting to her as the old truck bumps along the highway. Part of me wants to pull over, just to sink inside her, and watch those plump lips as she cries my name. The other just wants to wrap my arms around her and hold her.
A feeling I don’t think I’ve ever felt when it came to a woman.
The ride passes quickly, and before I realize it, I’m pulling into the Baptist church parking lot on the outside of town, now lit up by the Seventy Second Annual Strawberry Festival.
I look over at Em. Her eyes are wide, the lights of the fair reflecting on her baby blues.
She looks over at me excitedly. “Oh my god. Is that aFerris wheel?”
“Sure is. This is the Seventy Second Annual Strawberry Festival. We do it every year. Rides, a pie-eating contest, a jam-making contest, lots of greasy food, games. Oh, and a dunking booth.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Emery so excited, and fuck, it makes me happy.
Laughing, I get out, walk around the truck and open her door.
She scrambles from the car breathlessly. “I’ve never been to a fair like this. Can you believe that? We went to Six Flags when I was like four, but that’s it, and I hardly remember it. Oh god, I cansmellthe greasy goodness.”
She all but moans the last part, and I can’t stop the laugh from tumbling from my lips.
Tossing my arm over her shoulder, I pull her against me and we walk to the entrance, where I pay for our tickets and then we’re ushered through by the attendant.
“Hope you like strawberries.” I laugh, nodding to the assortment of strawberry well… everything.
Her grin widens, and she looks up at me. “I happen to love strawberries. But, first, food. Greasy, lots of fat goodness. Mmmm.”
I know exactly what to get her.
We make our way to the concession stand and get in line. Her eyes go wide when she sees the things listed on the menu.
“Oh my god. Fried Oreos? What is this gloriousness?” I can practically see her drooling from here.
“Good as fuck. But I’m a fan of funnel cake. There’s nothing better.”
She scans the menu in front of her again and chews on her lip in deliberation, like it’s the hardest thing she’s ever had to decide.
“How about we order it all?” I laugh.
Her eyes dart to mine. “Don’t tempt me, Adams. I’m eating for three.”