“With an enormous dolphin?”
“Finn is very offended by that sizeist statement. And now he feels like a third wheel.”
“Who’s Finn?”
“The dolphin, of course.”
Brendan glances over at me, then his mouth quirks. “Hold still, you have a little bit of cinnamon sugar on the corner of your lips.”
I attempt to wipe it off, but I’m still holding two containers of food.
“I’ll get it for you,” he offers. He sets Finn down,balancing the dolphin against a nearby bench, before studying my mouth. He softly wipes the sugar away with his thumb, his finger lingering there, making my stomach feel funny.
“All better,” he says. “I’ll be your wingman any day, Rossi.”
I stand there for a second, still feeling the ghost of his thumb against my lips, my cheeks flaming.
“How about the Ferris wheel?” I suggest, turning away. Anything to take the focus off the way I’m burning up inside.
His gaze travels to the top of the ride. “You wanna go up there?”
“Of course I do. It has the best views of the city.”
We quickly finish the rest of our food, then climb onto the ride.
As our gondola starts to climb, that queasy sensation tumbles in my stomach.
Finn is sitting on the bench beside me like he’s another guest on the Ferris wheel, which means I’m snug against Brendan’s leg.
“Are you scared?” he asks, turning to study me.
“More like that feeling when you crest a hill and your stomach doesn’t come with you.” I shiver as the breeze picks up.
He puts an arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. “Does this help?”
I lean into him. “Yeah, it does.”
“Unfortunately, Finn is on his own if he goes overboard.” Brendan nods toward the stuffed dolphin.
I pat the dolphin’s head. “Rest in peace, Finn.”
When we reach the top, the world opens up beneath us. The lighthouse in the distance, the ocean that dissolves into the dark.
“It’s so beautiful out here.” Just as I catch a glimpse of the city, we’re pulled away as the wheel turns. “You know, I’ve never liked roller coasters, but I love this ride.”
“Why’s that?” he asks, looking at me.
“Roller coasters are all about the thrill. That dopamine hit of fear. I’ve never liked that feeling. This ride is slower. It allows you time to just savor.”
The wheel carries us back down and up again before either of us speaks.
It’s not until the wheel comes to a halt that I glance down, confused. “Is it over already?”
“I don’t know.” He leans over the edge of our gondola. “Looks like they’re checking something.”
“Oh, no. Do you think we’re stuck up here?”
“Hopefully,” he says with a teasing smile.