Page 79 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

By the time we’re loaded onto the Ferris wheel, the sky’s beginning to darken and the first stars have appeared. Cristina sits rigidly beside me. This won’t do, so I whisper so that Mina, who’s in the car in front of us, hopefully can’t hear.

“We’re only doing this for the camera,” I lie.

God, it’s such a lie. Every part of me wants to kiss her, wants to inhale her sweet scent, taste her.

“Just once, then no one asks again.”

“What if we win another date?”

“Now, how can we do that if we throw tomorrow’s challenge?” I tease.

The corners of her eyes relax, and tension releases from my shoulders. I didn’t realize seeing her stressed made me stressed. But here we are.

“Okay.” She exhales a deep breath. “When do we do it?”

“When they start unloading and we’re stuck at the top for a few seconds.”

“What if we’re not stuck at the top?”

The Ferris wheel comes to a slow halt, and sure enough, we find ourselves sitting at the apex of the wheel. Of course we are. Like the town itself wants this moment. Like the magic’s been pushing us together since the quilt spit out our names.

I look out and Mystic Meadows stretches in front of us—the sparkling creek that runs through downtown, the whitewashed storefronts, the unicorn statue that stands tall like a magical beacon.

My God, but this town is enchanting. Almost as enchanting as Cristina.

“Kiss,” I hear Mina whisper, hopefully not loud enough for the entire audience to hear.

Cristina immediately goes rigid.

Got to calm her down for this, otherwise she’ll look like a robot. “Cristina, I’ve had just about the most perfect day with you.”

All truth—from exploring and sharing a giant turkey leg to winning the teddy bear, to this moment right here. It’s been magical.

“The only thing that’s been missing”—I wink—“is a Bitty Being showing up.”

She laughs, and her shoulders soften. “I can make a Bitty Being show up.”

“Please do. The whole world needs to see your talent.” And I mean it.

She must sense as much, because her mouth ticks up in a shy smile.

This is it, the exact right moment. Her gaze flicks to my mouth as I slide my hand up her cheek, cradling her face.

“There’s no one else I would’ve rather spent this day with,” I murmur.

“Me neither.”

Her confession lights me up from the inside out, and before Cristina has a chance to overthink it, I drop my mouth to hers, and the world tilts.

Her lips are even softer than they look, and she tastes like cotton candy and something sweeter—something that’s just Cristina.

The kiss starts soft, tentative. For the cameras, I tell myself. Just for show.

But then her hand comes up, fingers curling into my shirt, and something in me breaks loose. I pull her closer, my other hand sliding to the back of her neck, and the kiss deepens. She makes this small sound—surprise or pleasure, I can’t tell—and I’m lost.

The Ferris wheel, the town below, the live stream, the audience watching—all of it disappears.

There’s only Cristina. Only this.