Within seconds of the signal, the music was back on, and the ride lurched upward, their feet flying off the ground. Higher and higher they went before jerking to a stop, the town at their feet. Leaning forward, Evie grinned. The crowds of people were little pinpricks in the lights from the ride beneath them.
‘Careful!’ Jack gripped her hand tighter, pulling her back with his other one before quickly holding onto the safety bar again.
Looking across at him, her heart lurched. The colour had drained from his face. ‘It’s okay. It will be over soon.’ As soon as she’d spoken, the ride awoke, and they plummeted to the ground.
When it looked as though the ride wouldn’t stop in time, that they would break the surface, they were tugged upwards again, faster this time. Up towards the sky and the stars, which had been lost in the glow from the fairground.
Time and time again they were thrown skywards, only to be dragged back down to earth. Evie couldn’t help but laugh, the adrenaline pumping through her body increasing with every turn. She looked across at Jack, who caught her eye and began laughing, too. Soon they were both roaring with laughter, still gripping onto each other and to the safety bar holding them in.
As the ride slowed to a stop, Evie took a deep breath. Their safety bar was unlocked, and she stood up, holding her hand out for Jack.
‘Is it really over?’
‘Yes, it’s over, but if you stay sitting there, you’ll end up going on it again.’ Shaking her head, she laughed as he jumped to standing. As they walked back towards the main pathway between the rides, Jack paused, bending over. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes, I will be. I just can’t believe I actually went on that.’ Straightening his back, he laughed.
‘We’ll stick to the calmer rides now.’ She slipped her arm through his elbow.
‘No chance, I’ve got a taste for the thrill of the fair now!’ Grinning, he pointed ahead. ‘How about that one? Is it Evolution?’
‘Yes, it is. Are you sure, though?’
‘Absolutely. Bring it on.’ Leaning across to her, he kissed her.
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‘THAT WAS SUCH A GOODnight. If I hadn’t been trying not to look a wimp to you, I’d have never gone on that first ride and never gone on the other ones.’ Tearing a piece of candy floss from the bag on the table between them, Jack popped it into his mouth.
‘It was great fun. Thanks for suggesting it.’ Evie grinned and sipped her coffee. She looked around the empty bakery, silent apart from the two of them talking.
‘Seriously though, I really would never have gone on a ride like that, not in a million years.’
‘Maybe that’s what we’re about, encouraging each other to try new things.’
‘Oh yes, the rescuing of Axl and the sheep.’ Jack took another cloud of candy floss.
‘Yes, but I was thinking about the relationship.’ Feeling a fierce heat spreading across her face, she looked down into her mug. ‘I haven’t dated in years. Not properly, not since uni.’
‘That’s not such a bad thing.’ He shrugged.
‘Isn’t it?’ She frowned.
‘No, it means that you’re not jaded by the dating world, and I can prove to you how awesome being in a relationship can be.’
She laughed. ‘I was jaded by the dating world before I’d even entered it.’
Wrapping his hands around hers, they both held her mug. ‘No, you were jaded by your parents’ relationship experience. And later on, by your clients’. Not by yours.’
Frowning, she looked up at him. ‘You might just be right. I hadn’t thought of it like that.’
‘Glad I can be of use.’ He grinned.
‘How about you? What’s your dating life been like up until now?’
Looking down at the table, he blew a strand of hair from his eyes before looking back at her. ‘Do you really want to know?’
‘Of course I do.’