“We’re going to an amusement park?” Ky asks, his eyes wide in a mixture of awe and excitement.
“You guessed it!” I pull the car into a parking spot and switch it off. I’ve driven us to a town about two hours away, so we can go to the amusement park on the pier.
“Lacey is going to be so jealous!”
“We’ll bring her here soon. Today is all about you and me.”
Since we started dating, Ky and I have only had one official date, which was at the ice rink after one of his games. One-and-a-half if you count the ice-cream date with Lacey. A date at a tourist’s attraction might not be the most original idea, but the wonder shining in Ky’s eyes indicates this is something he missed out on growing up. We walk hand-in-hand to the ticket booth, and I purchase two adult passes which entitles us to unlimited rides, together with a bumper book of tickets for the concession stands. I let Ky guide us through the day and his first pick is the roller coaster, where he whoops and yells at the top of his lungs. We go on the bumper cars, the tilt-a-whirl, the free fall, and the orbiter and are now about to take our turn at one of the games. The attendant quickly explains the rules—we have to aim our water pistol at the cartoon face in front of us and shoot the water in its opening and closing mouth. The first person to raise the ball in the tube on the character’s hand to the top, wins. A countdown starts and when the siren sounds, I’m quick off the mark. My aim is steady, thanks to years of playing against Jude when visiting fairs as a kid, and even though Ky tries to put me off by shoving me a couple of times, my steely aim earns me the win. The attendant asks me what I want for my prize, and I point to a large, cuddly unicorn. He hands it over and I immediately give it to my boyfriend.
“No way,” Ky laughs infectiously.
“Yes way,” I reply, “I told you, I plan to show you all the grand gestures you deserve and winning a cuddly toy is one of them. It’s also a rite of passage. You have not lived until you’ve tried to carry one of these things around all day.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one fighting tooth and nail to win you a toy instead?”
“Nah, it’s the 21stCentury. It’s all about equality these days.”
“I’m not going to argue with that.” Ky brings my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles, then picks up the giant, overstuffed unicorn and proudly holds it in front of him. I quickly stop to take a photo and send it in the group chat message to the others.
Nolan: You won him a toy? I’m sooooo jealous.
Jude: Niiiiiccceee Thea. Looks like I trained you well.
Devon: First dibs on cuddling that fucker when you get back.
Millie doesn’t reply but I know she had some things going on today, so I take no notice.
After we have something to eat—hot dogs and funnel cake—and spend the afternoon on a few more rides, we make our way to the Ferris Wheel for our last ride of the day as the sun begins to set. We leave Eunice the Unicorn, as she is affectionately now known, with the attendant and take our place in the cart as it slowly begins to turn. It might be the clichéd romantic gesture of them all, but I wouldn’t change anything. Kyler’s missed out on this and I’m happy to show him all the clichés in existence if it means having him smile without a care in the world.
Since Mrs. Nelson became a frequent figure in Lacey’s life, it’s as if the responsibility and worries that sat heavily on Ky’s shoulders have been removed. As well as finding Ky’s mom a stable job, she’s helped her quit drinking all together. Ally has moved on from the diner and is now working as a receptionist at an attorneys’ office—the same attorneys who are handling Mrs. Nelson’s divorce from her husband. Apparently, she laid down the law on Mr. Nelson and was furious he kept Lacey a secret from her. Carl and Adam have been thrown out and are now living in an apartment on one of his newly-finished developments. Mrs. Nelson plans to sell the house eventually and move closer to Northport—but with enough distance so it doesn’t feel like she’s imposing on the Roses’ lives. And Lacey? Well, she’s thriving. She started her hockey lessons a month ago and by all accounts, is a demon on the ice, just like her uncle. And she loves her new grandmaw, as she calls her, and video chats with her twice a week. Lacey has her first youth ice hockey game coming up on the weekend and we’re all going to be there: Ky’s mom and sister; Mrs. Nelson, Jude, Nolan, Devon, and Millie; and Ky and me. Better believe we’ll be the best and loudest cheerleaders she could ever wish for.
I’m also relieved to say Kyler’s also given up the fighting and there are no more cuts and bruises to care for. He’s received some interest from a few AHL teams but hasn’t decided whether he wants to play now or try for another championship. Ky feels another stellar season will up his chances in the draft. He also wants to graduate and receive the diploma he’s worked hard for. And, after much persuasion, he eventually cashed Adam’s check and used the money to buy a new car. Gone is the Camry and in its place is a Toyota RAV4. As much as he wanted to get a truck or some kind of sports car, he also has Lacey to think of and needed to be somewhat sensible. The RAV4 is his compromise.
Speaking of Adam, he’s been wiped from not only my life, but my family’s life too. Jude has also blocked him and, after updating my mom and dad, they’ve done the same—cutting all ties with the Nelsons, except Andrea. In fact, my parents let Andrea stay with them while her lowlife husband and son moved out.
As our cart nears the top of the Ferris Wheel, Ky pulls me closer to him and presses a gentle kiss against my lips. I deepen it and before long we break apart, both gasping for breath.
“Thea, this is . . . incredible. I’ve had the best time. Thank you so much,” he says, resting his forehead against mine. “I am so deeply in love with you, Thea. Since I met you, my world has become brighter, and I feel like my life has begun. I can’t even begin to fathom how I got through twenty-one years of my life not knowing a feeling like this. I’ve only known love that comes with conditions but with you? You’ve shown me what it is to really be loved. Whether it’s a simple plate of food or nursing my bruises, it’s an affection I’ve never experienced before. It’s overwhelming and addicting and all-consuming and I never want to be without it. I never want to be without you. You’ve awoken me, Thea. A lifetime of loving you will never be enough to convey how truly grateful and yet unworthy I am to have you in my life. You’re everything to me. You’re my purpose. And I will do everything in my power to give you the world, whenever and wherever you need it. Jesus,” he breaks off with a laugh and a shake of his head, “who’s being the clichéd one now?”
I turn his head back to me and look intently in his eyes.
“Being clichéd is who we are right now, Ky. You, with your tortured-hero look. Me, falling for the broody, silent type. All the sexual tension between us. My nasty ex. The breaking up and making up. Those clichés have made us everything we are. They’re everything we need to be at this moment, so we can develop our own clichés in time. And besides, in striving for originality all of the time, we tend to forget there’s nothing wrong with a red rose, or a love note, or finding ‘our song’.”
I kiss him again, before continuing. “I love you too, Ky. I always will.” We continue our kisses as our cart lowers and the attendant has to clear his throat to bring us back to earth. As we step off the ride and collect Eunice, Kyler points toward the popcorn stand.
“Is that Millie?” he asks.
I look in the direction of where he’s pointing and sure enough it is—and she’s not alone. “Yes, it is. And she’s being very friendly with someone who is very much not Nolan.”
“Huh,” Kyler comments, “guess that means they’re definitely not a thing.”
I take one more look at Millie and Not-Nolan. Yes, they look cozy, but it also looks like it’s one-sided. The expression on Millie’s face shows me the affection is not completely reciprocated. I guess I’ll need to get the low-down on whatever is going on later.
Kyler and I make our way to the car, holding Eunice between us. As far as grand gestures of love go, today’s have been successful. But even if it wasn’t and it turned out Kyler hated the fair, I’m safe in the knowledge we have a lifetime of grand gestures ahead of us and, clichéd or not, I’m excited to explore them all.