Page 77 of The Triple Play

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FOXXY

“Listen, I’m not saying I planned a better date than Griff, but I’m also not not saying that.” I sling my arm over Olivia’s shoulders as we walk up to the entrance for the spring fair I found was being hosted in a town an hour’s drive from Cedar Creek. It’s set up in a field, and the combination of flashing lights, the sound of laughter and carnival rides, and the smell of fried food has me bouncing with excitement.

“I love small-town fairs,” Olivia says, and I grin down at her. “This was definitely a good idea, but better than Griffin? I’ll have to make that call after his date.”

I chuckle as I pull her in closer and kiss the side of her head. “That’s fine, I know I’ll win.”

She elbows me lightly. “Cocky much?”

“Confident, Pixie. There’s a difference.”

We stroll along the perimeter of the fair, checking out the vendors and food trucks. My stomach is already rumbling, but I have a plan for tonight. And food happens after rides.

“What do you want to hit first? Do we start off slow with the Ferris wheel, or go big with the coaster?”

Olivia taps her lip with her finger and I bend down to kiss her, unable to help myself.

She has a soft smile when I lift my lips from hers, and I fucking love putting that look on her face.

“I’m game for the coaster if you are.”

“Let’s do it, Pixie girl.” We get in line for the roller coaster, and soon we’re lowering the safety bar. I hold out my hand, and Olivia threads her fingers in mine with a grin.

“Whoever screams the loudest has to buy our first corn dog.”

“Deal,” she says with a laugh.

I don’t know why I expected anything less from her, but somehow, Olivia makes it through the entire ride without screaming once. She just laughs and laughs as we get whipped around. When the ride comes to a stop, her hair is a mess, her cheeks are rosy, and her smile is beaming.

“Wow, Denver, I didn’t know you could hit that register with your voice,” she jokes, and I narrow my eyes at her teasing.

“I’m just trying to be a gentleman and not make you pay for dinner,” I say as we walk away from the ride, earning a loud laugh.

We go on several more, and Olivia’s in her element. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so carefree, so full of unbridled joy. I want to see her like this every damn day.

Eventually, we decide to take a break from the rides, and with corn dogs in hand, we head to the carnival game alley.

“Are you going to win me a giant stuffed animal?” Olivia asks when we come to a stop at one game that involves throwing darts at balloons.

I lift my throwing arm and kiss my bicep. “You know it.”

Okay, maybe I have an unfair advantage, but it doesn’t take long to win Olivia a prize. When I try to convince her to let me keep going to get her a bigger one, she laughs and tugs me away, her stuffed unicorn tucked under one arm.

“I’m already impressed, Denver, you don’t need to try any harder,” she says, tilting her chin up as she slides her free hand around my neck. Her fingers graze the hairs at the base of my neck as she pulls me in for a kiss.

This is why I planned a date away from our town and the neighbouring ones. The chances of running into someone we know aren’t zero, but they are low. If Olivia feels comfortable kissing me like this here, then I know it was a good decision.

I reluctantly drag myself away, tucking a wayward strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “C’mon, let’s get a sweet treat.”

“Mmm, yes, please.” Olivia tucks herself under my arm, against my side. I love that she’s not way shorter than me, but that she still fits perfectly right here with me. She fits even better with Griff on her other side.

We slowly browse the food stalls arm in arm, the sounds and aromas of the fair surrounding us.

“How’s work going?” I ask, instantly regretting the question when I feel her stiffen underneath me.

She lets out a sigh before answering. “Good, but stressful. I submitted my grant request. Now all that’s left is to wait for a response.”