The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden (21 page)

Luke glances at Kayden, who shrugs. “I thought it was kind of funny. And be thankful. For a while, Callie was trying to get me to take it home.”

Luke scrunches his forehead, takes the cigarette out of his mouth, and sticks it into the bear’s mouth. “There, that’s much better.”

Kayden rolls his eyes at him and stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “So what’s next on the list? And I’m speaking figuratively, not about your actual list.”

I look over my shoulder at the rides twirling, twisting, and sparkling against the night. “We could ride some more rides, I guess.”

“I actually have a better idea.” Luke strolls off without finishing his thought and the three of us trade glances before hurrying after him. He marches toward a jungle gym made up of ropes, ramps, netting, and bars. There are three levels and a short gate borders the bottom. I think the point of the ride is to get to the top and then down to the bottom again. 

“I don’t think it’s open,” I say as Luke reaches for the latch on the gate.

With his hand in his pocket, he checks over his shoulder and then nudges the gate open with his foot. “Oh look at that. It is now.” He walks inside and signals us to follow. “Come on. It’s nothing but a giant playground. Besides, we’re celebrating.”

“Celebrating what?” Seth and I ask at the same time.

He grins and then glances at Kayden. “The end of the Wicked Witch.” He starts humming a tune from the
Wizard of Oz
as he backs toward the curtain entrance of the ride.

I step in first, since I’ve been on such a roll lately.  “Who’s the Wicked Witch?”

“I think I’ll let him explain it to you.” Luke looks at Kayden before ducking through the curtain into the entrance of the ride.

I glance over my shoulder at Kayden. “What’s he talking about?”

Kayden shrugs as he closes the gate. “Luke’s excited that Daisy and I broke up.”

“Oh.” I try not to smile and finally have to bite down on my bottom lip, hard. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” He reaches his arm over my shoulder and draws back the curtain for me. “It really isn’t that big of a deal.”

It seems like it should be. They’ve been dating forever, but he appears really content.

I lower my head and step into the ride, holding my breath as the curtains brush against the top of my hair. It’s nearly pitch black and the sounds of screams and soft music envelop around me.

“Where are you?” I hiss with my hands out in front of me, my elbows locked. “Hello?”

A lighter flickers and then Luke’s face appears above the flame. “There we go.”

Seth strolls up next to me, just a shadow in the dark, and thrums his fingers together in front of him. “Oh, are we going to do a séance?”

Luke looks at Seth like he’s nuts as Kayden moves up on the other side of me. I’m very aware of his nearness and the smell of his cologne. It makes me nervous, yet excited at the endless possibilities.

“So, what’s the ingenious plan?” Kayden asks, his breath flowing across the back of my head. “Are we going to trash the place?”

“We’re going to—” The lighter falls from Luke’s hand and darkness takes over. “Ah, fuck! That’s hot.”

Seconds tick by and then Seth turns on the screen of his cell phone, which casts a blue glow over our faces. Luke nods as he picks up his lighter and drops it into the pocket of the hoodie, taking out his own cell phone to use for a light. He dips his hand into his other pocket and draws out a bottle filled with a golden liquid.

“Tequila? Where the hell did you get that?” Kayden’s fingers brush the lower section of my back, and I stifle a gasp clawing at my throat.

“I bought it off one of the Carnies.” He unscrews the cap and sniffs the inside of the bottle, pulling a thoughtful face. “Alright, who’s ready to get this party started?’

Seth’s gaze skims over the three of us. “What kind of party are we talking about? Because honestly, I was trying to work something back at the ticket booth, but got a little distracted by the bear.”

“Really,” I ask excitedly and he nods with pressing eyes.

I want to hug him, but I’ll save it for later when he can give me the details.  Seth hasn’t dated anyone since Braiden and I hope he’s ready to finally move on.

Luke takes a swig from the bottle and his shoulders twitch as he swallows it. “I want to do a challenge.”

“No challenges tonight,” Kayden grimaces, but there’s a hint of amusement in his voice. “We have practice early in the morning and challenges always end in pain.”

My head snaps toward him. “Pain?”

“Good God,” Seth says with a dramatic sigh. “Please explain what this challenge thing is.”

“It’s a long story.” Kayden waves us off with his hand and faces Luke. “Just know that you don’t want to do it.”

“You’re just pissed off because you lost last time,” Luke says in a taunting tone. “Besides, I bet Callie would totally be into it. She seems tough for a tiny girl.”

“Hey,” I start to protest as Luke takes another mouthful. “I’m not that tiny.”

Kayden pinches my side and I flinch. “Actually, you are really tiny, but it’s cute.”

I cross my arms over my chest and inhale quietly, uncertain how to respond.

“Relax, Callie,” Kayden says, looking a little remorseful. “Now, if you want to do the challenge we can, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I’ve never been much of a curious person. I just did what I had to and stuck to myself, at least since my twelfth birthday, but curiosity sparkles inside me.

“I am kind of curious to see what your challenges are,” I say and Kayden seems extremely pleased, the corners of his lips quirking as he struggles not to smile, even though he’d just been protesting it.

Luke takes another mouthful of tequila and wipes his lips with his arm as he passes the bottle to Kayden. “Usually we set up an obstacle course, like running and jumping and shit.” He gestures his hand at the net above us. “But we got a prebuilt one right here.”

“So what? You just race?” I ask as Kayden hands Seth the bottle, moving his arm around my back. “And what does the winner get?”

Seth tips his head back and takes a long, loud gulp. “Damn that’s good.”

“The satisfaction of winning.” Kayden exchanges a look with Luke.

Luke stares up at the top. “I say first one to the top and back is the winner.”

“I say that this time the winner owes the other one a favor.” Kayden steps around me and steers me to the side by the shoulders. “Like letting the other one borrow their truck whenever they want.”

“That’s fine,” Luke retorts. “Just as long as when I win, I get to ride that motorcycle, that hasn’t left your garage, when we go home for Thanksgiving.”

“That’s my brother’s,” Kayden states with a noticeable rise in the pitch of his voice.

“You drove it once before,” Luke protests.

“And I got in deep shit for doing so.” His breathing is ragged and tension swirls in the air.

He lets out a breath as Luke takes another drink with a challenge in his eyes. I’ve heard the term “too much testosterone,” but never witnessed it until now.

“Fine, you got a deal.” Kayden jerks the bottle from Luke’s hand and throws his head back, pouring in a mouth full of tequila. “But I’m not letting you win.”

“Yeah, we’ll see.” Luke steals the bottle back and wraps his lips around the top, knocking back a shot.

“You know what?” Seth shuffles toward the exit, staring at his phone. “I think I’m going to go find the person I was talking to.”

“No way.” Kayden steps toward him. “You got to stay down here and call the winner.”

Seth waves his hand at him, brushing him off. “Nah, Callie can do it.”

Kayden shakes his head. “Callie’s in the challenge, remember?”

I cringe, wondering what I’ve gotten myself into.  “Maybe I should just stay here.”

Kayden lowers his face toward mine and strands of his brown hair tickle my forehead. “I thought you were going to prove to us you weren’t little?”

I glance up at the nets and ropes with doubt. “How am I supposed to do that? I see no possible way of me winning anything against you two.”

He positions his fist in front of his chest with a wicked glint in his emerald eyes. “With your awesome kick boxing skills.”

Luke snorts a laugh as he spills some tequila onto the ground. “What?”

Kayden lowers his fist, biting on his lip, with a look in his eyes that’s very overpowering. “What do you say? Can you handle it?”

I nod, even though I don’t think I can. “Alright, so I just try to beat you guys to the top?”

Kayden rubs his jawline. “Absolutely.”

I follow them to the bottom step as they line up with their hands out to the side of them and their feet positioned to run. I feel short and small standing between them.

Seth stands near the curtains, checking the clock on his screen.  “Do you want me to just say go?”

Kayden nods, without taking his eyes off the tunnel in front of us. “Yep, whenever. We’re ready to go.”

Seth glances at his clock again and then sighs. “On your mark, get set, go!”

I skitter to the side as Luke shoves Kayden and then runs down the tunnel. Kayden recovers and dodges back onto the steps, sprinting down and disappearing into the darkness. I glance at Seth and he gestures for me to get my butt moving.

I walk quickly, ducking my head, and listening to the sounds of their footsteps that are already above me. Huddling over, I exit out of the tunnel and onto a wooden stairway. I step up, getting a little uneasy at how dark it is, but when I approach the next level the glow from the rides flow inside.

I hear the sound of Kayden’s voice as he shouts something and I pick up my pace toward a bridge. It has netted sides and a rope for a railing. There are boards that pave the way to the other side and the floor sways underneath my feet as I step onto it. It’s gone quiet and my adrenaline soars.

“Okay, why did I agree to this?” I mutter to myself. Then answer my own question. “Because Kayden looked at you with those sexy eyes.” I step forward with my palms flat against the net to secure my balance.

“Callie,” Kayden suddenly whispers. “What are you doing?”

I glance over my shoulder and then grab onto the rope as the bridge rocks underneath my feet. “Where are you?”

“I’m over here.” His voice sounds close.

I squint through the darkness and then jump back. He’s right on the other side of the net, watching me, which means he probably heard me talking to myself and calling him sexy.

“How long have you been standing there?” My voice sounds high.

He lets out a low laugh and it sends a shiver through my body that coils into my stomach, bursting heat downward. The sensation knocks me off balance and my cheeks heat.

“You think I have sexy eyes.” His fingers thread the net as he stares at me through the dark from the other side.

“You heard that?” My head falls forward to conceal my mortification.

“Callie.” His voice is deep and husky. I’ve never had a guy use that kind of a voice on me.

I raise my chin up and encounter his intense gaze. “I’m sorry. I thought I was alone.” I shift my weight and the unsteadiness of the ground hurls me forward. I reach for the wall, lacing my fingers through the net and my knuckles brush his. Our faces are inches away. I can feel his breath and the heat from his body. If I leaned forward slightly, our lips would touch.

“Stay there,” he says in a low whisper and removes his fingers from the net.

I watch the outline of him move through the dark as he walks down the side and turns the corner so he’s standing at the end. The floor ripples under his steps and he holds onto the railing, heading straight for me.

I have no idea what he’s going to do when he reaches me, but the intensity in the air and the way his long limbs move with determination, make me think it’s going to be something I’ve never experienced before.