Page 81 of Don't Think

“Holy shit,” Casey breathes out as we pull closer.

“That’s it!” James shouts, bouncing in the backseat. “That thing’s fucking huge.”

“That’s what she said,” Gareth mutters, returning his feet to the dash.

I lean forward, arms draped over the steering wheel, and squint through the windshield to get a better look.

That’sfour hundred feet? It looks like a plane could clip the top of it, given how high it is. Nearly dipping straight into the clouds.

I can imagine what kind of rush that gives someone though. The adrenaline rush on the way down, shaking through every muscle. Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so bad.

We drive the last few minutes with the roller coaster looming in the distance, getting bigger every second.

By the time I swing into a spot, the guys are already unbuckling—beforeI’ve even put it in park.

James’s nose is in his phone until he looks up and points toward the entrance. “They beat us here!” he says with a chuckle. “They’re by the gate.”

“We would’ve beat them if Jax here didn’t drive like a bloody granny,” Gareth mutters.

I shrug. “Well, if we didn’t have—”

“Make another princess joke,” he challenges, folding his arms across his chest. “I dare you.”

I throw my hands up in surrender.

“That’s what I thought,” he says, cocking an eyebrow before turning and walking off.

“After you… princess,” I mutter, trying to fight off a laugh.

He turns around quickly, the corner of his mouth twitching before he breaks into a sprint toward me.

I bolt past him, feet slapping against the asphalt as the entrance gets closer.

Then, I see her, and my steps slow until I come to a complete stop.

She’s standing beneath the awning, her back resting against the brick archway. Her red hair whips against the wind, strands hitting across her face while she simply brushes them aside.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, time just… stops.

No noise. No movement.

It’s just us.

Her mouth curves into a wide smile as she kicks off the wall, waving eagerly as she starts walking toward us.

Then—whack—a sharp slap lands on the back of my neck, snapping me out of it.

“How’s that,princess?” Gareth says through a chuckle, blowing past me.

He passes Allie with a quick wave and heads straight for Nora, scooping her up and spinning her around while her laughter echoes through the lot.

Jealousy floods my chest at how badly I want to be the one making Allie laugh like that. At how much it’s killing me to pretend seeing her isn’t the best part of being here.

I didn’t come for the roller coasters or the overpriced fried food.

I came forher.

And not being able to pick her up like that, to spin her around and press my lips against hers? It sucks.Horribly.