The other times he had touched me were nothing like this. Before, my pulse was racing because I was nervous I’d do something wrong, but here, in the middle of a random parking lot, with a blindfold on, it felt like I could just let all of my inhibitions go. I couldn’t do anything wrong, because Kingsley was in control. It was like my brain was shut off and it was the best feeling in the world. Nothing else mattered as it was just the two of us.
Then it stopped. “Whoa there. Sorry, seeing you in a blindfold distracted me for a second. This isn’t our date.”
“Well, what is?” I was a little disappointed, but I figured I could keep the blindfold for later.
“Come on, I’ll help you out of the car.”
“How about I take the blindfold off to get out of the car, and then you can put it back on?”
“Don’t you trust me, Annabelle?”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I trust you.”
“Good,” he whispered in my ear.
I heard his door slam and a minute or so later I heard my door open. He grabbed my hand and turned me slowly. Before I knew it, I was up in the air, Kingsley lifting me out of my seat. Frankly, I was way too clumsy to try to get out of the SUV blindfolded, so I was glad he was looking out for me. He was getting to know me pretty well.
Kingsley held my hand tight with one hand and had the other wrapped around my waist. I felt safe in his arms. After all, he was a firefighter.
“Okay, I’m gonna open the door,” he instructed after a few minutes of walking. “When you step inside, you can take the blindfold off.”
I nodded, almost too excited to speak. I felt a rush of warm air finally hit my face, and I assumed he opened the door. Then his hand returned to my waist as he led me inside.
“All right, take the blindfold off,” he chanted as he pulled me to the right.
I yanked it off and my mouth fell open at what I saw.
We were in a massive room. It looked like a gymnasium without the basketball hoops or the stands. In their place was a winter wonderland. There were giant Santa statues everywhere and each one had a different type of suit, elaborate carvings, and bright colors. The Christmas tree in the center was massive and the ornaments were the size of my hand. Snowflakes about three feet tall hung on the walls and glistened in the sparkling lights that were draped over anything that stood still. But the best part was the carnival rides. I loved amusement parks and Kingsley had remembered I’d said that on our first date.
“This is the most amazing place I’ve ever seen,” I whispered in awe as my head swiveled from side to side.
“There are no other amusement parks near here that are open in January. This place is actually open year round. They change the decorations for the season. We hit Carmine’s Winter Wonderland’s last week. They’re about to turn it into a Valentine’s Day festival.” Kingsley took my hand and kissed my knuckles.
I looked down at our linked hands and then back up into those beautiful eyes. “It’s perfect. Which ride should we go on first?” I asked as I zoned in on the Tilt-A-Whirl. It was my favorite.
“Why don’t you look around and I’ll go get the wristbands we need to go on the rides? I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks.” I wondered off and headed to one of the display boards.
Santa Claus has been around for thousands of years. But it isn’t his longevity that makes him so legendary. Nor is it the effect he has on children. We can all admit it is beautiful to see a child light up when they open up a gift marked “With Love, From Santa,” but it is the effect he has on adults that is captivating. Santa has the ability to take an adult and remind them of beautiful memories from their past, instill them with hope, and reignite the child within so many of us forget about. As you walk around the festival, try to keep the spirit of Santa in your heart.
I smiled as memories of my childhood did flash through my mind. I remembered sneaking down the stairs to try to catch a glimpse of Santa. Instead, I saw my parents cuddled up on the couch. There was a roaring fire and their laughter filled the air. It was a beautiful moment, and even as a small child I recognized the love in their eyes. My dad traveled a lot for work and it was rough on my mom. However, it was the little moments like this that reminded me how much they cared for each other. The funny thing was they got married two months after they first met. My dad proposed three weeks in because he knew she was the one for him.
Kingsley and I had been seeing each other for a week. As he walked over to me, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was the guy for me. He rushed the rest of the way to me, a smile plastered on his face and a glisten in his eye. I sighed as tingles spread through my system. I didn’t know if we would be getting married anytime soon, but I did know he was beginning to matter to me. I just hoped he felt the same way. If I had to guess, I’d say that look in his eyes wasn’t one he flashed at everyone.
“So, what first?” he asked.
“Tilt-A-Whirl, it’s my favorite.”
“Eh, I’m not a big fan of that. Why don’t we head to the Ferris Wheel? We can look over everything and kind of take it in. Then we can plan out the rest of the day. Besides, I know how much you like to take pictures, you can probably get some good shots up there.” Kingsley gave my hand a little kiss and pulled me over to the Ferris Wheel line.
I was a little sad because there wasn’t a line for the Tilt-A-Whirl while the line for the Ferris Wheel was crazy, but this was Kingsley’s show, so I wanted to please him. There would be time for the Tilt-A-Whirl later.
We got in line and began to wait our turn. “Are you a big Christmas fan?” I asked.
“Yeah, my parents always make a big deal about it. They throw this massive party every year with, like, two hundred people in attendance. I’ve been going to that party since I was able to walk. It’s a lot of fun and I usually invite a bunch of friends. We steal some booze, maybe something a little harder, and find a spot away from the parents.”
My face fell a little. Did he say something harder? Maybe Kyle had a point. I forced a smile and leaned into him so that I could whisper in his ear. “So, you actually do use drugs?”
Kingsley gave me a little wink. “Well, sometimes we like to have a little fun, but nothing like what an addict would be in to.”
I looked at him a little differently. Was he a user? Did I just get in the car with a drug abuser? This was freaking perfect. I finally found a guy I could really see myself with and who knew what he was in to.
“What do you do? Heroin or cocaine or something?”
He chuckled a second and shook his head. “No, sometimes I take some pills. It’s not a big deal.”
“Are you on them now?” My heart was racing. What if he had the pills with him? He’d mentioned needing them for his migraine but maybe that wasn’t it. Could he have been lying to me? What if the cops found out? Would I go to jail too? I could definitely not go to jail. I wouldn’t last a couple hours behind bars.
“No, relax. I did some pot in high school but I don’t really do that anymore. Only when I’m crazy stressed, and I haven’t needed to do that since I met you.” He smiled, stroking my cheek lightly.
“Is that it?” I knew a lot of people did pot, and, yeah, it was wrong, but I could live with that, especially if he didn’t do it while we were together. Maybe I could change him.
“Well, sometimes I take a Ritalin when I need a little extra energy. When I’m heading to a fire, I’ll pop one to increase my focus. If I didn’t take it, I could miss someone. Do you have any idea how dark it is in a fire? It’s not like I can just turn my cell phone flashlight on. I’m just trying to be a better firefighter. Don’t you want that?”
“Well, when you put it that way…” I was trying to be supportive, but I didn’t think I sounded convincing.
“Exactly. I only want to be a better firefighter. Yeah, I made some mistakes when I was younger and I used stuff I shouldn’t have, but I know better now. You know me, I’m not an addict.” He sounded so self-assured an
d inspiring. I didn’t like that he was using pills, but it was just Ritalin. It wasn’t like he was using anything too rough. People used that on a regular basis when they needed to focus in school.
“Right, I didn’t think you were but—”
“Next,” the guy at the front of the line called to us.
I gave him a soft smile and Kingsley took my hand to help me into the car.
“Look, it kind of slipped out,” Kingsley said, shrugging his shoulders. “I didn’t want you to get upset. We’re here and it would be a shame to waste all of this.” He waved his arm in the air and sighed heavily. Then he leaned his forearms on his knees and looked up at me through his impossibly thick lashes. “Okay, the pills aren’t a big deal to me. I’m already a pretty kick ass firefighter, so I can stop them if you want me to. I won’t have the edge anymore, but I don’t think it will have that much of an impact on me. If it matters to you, I’ll stop, because that’s how much I am beginning to care about you.”
I took his hand and closed my eyes for a second. “Do you really think it helps you? Don’t people use it to get high?”
“Is that what you think I’m doing? Do you think I would risk it if I didn’t think it made me better? It’s not about the way it makes me feel, it’s about what it can make me do.”
“Just please don’t do it around me. I don’t want to get caught with them and I really don’t want to be around people when they’re doing it.”
“Done! Now, let’s enjoy this.” Kingsley quickly hopped from his seat across from me and moved to my side. He wrapped his arm around my neck and reached for my chin with his other hand. Gently, he pulled my face close to his and gave me a kiss. It was sweet, tender, and almost loving.
When he let go, my eyes stayed closed for a moment or two longer as I tried to settle the intense effect those lips had on me.
“You are so beautiful.”
I looked down and blushed bright red. I still wasn’t used to being called that, and definitely not while sitting this close to someone who really meant it.
“I’ve been trying to think of the best time to ask this since that first night we hung out. Looking out at this festival, there is no one else I’d rather share it with than you. So, Annabelle, I think it’s time we become official.”
“Do you mean it?” I felt a warmth flow through me as I became unbelievably giddy. The frustration of the drug use quickly subsided at the thoughts of a future with him. I’d help him see he didn’t need the drugs anymore and he’d be the man I wanted him to be.
“Yes, I want to be with you and only you. Hell, I don’t even want you looking at another guy when I’m around. Golfing with Jason was killing me. I don’t share with anyone.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about Jason. He has a girlfriend, and I don’t want you to share. I would love to be exclusive.”
Kingsley grabbed the back of my neck with both hands and pulled me into a rough and passionate kiss. “Uh, I was so nervous.”
“You don’t have any reason to be nervous. Don’t you see how happy you make me?”
“Yeah, and I also see how Jason’s gaze lingers a little too long on you. He may have a girlfriend, but she isn’t the only one he’s thinking about.” Kingsley slid away from me a few inches and dropped his hands in his lap. His brow was creased and I saw a slight tick in his jaw. He looked upset.
I slid over to him and placed a hand on the side of his face, moving it slightly so that he had to look at me. “Listen to me, you’re not the first person to think he has feelings for me. But you’re wrong. He is in love with his girlfriend. Besides that, I don’t feel that way about him. You’re the one I want to be with.” I tried to sound as sure as possible. It was only a little lie. Obviously, I did have some feelings for Jason, but I almost never thought of him when I was with Kingsley. He really was the one I wanted to be with. I just hoped Kingsley believed me.
He leaned his face into my hand and nuzzled it lightly. “I believe you, but I’d still feel better if you two didn’t spend any alone time together.”
I laughed too loud and it was a little obnoxious. “You don’t have to worry about that. Jason, Violet, and I get a lot of crap because the three of us rarely go anywhere apart. And lately, Jason and I haven’t been seeing eye to eye on things so it won’t be an issue.”
“You have no idea how good that makes me feel. I’m glad you agree.” Kingsley kissed me again but quickly let go. We had made the full circle and it was time to get off the Ferris Wheel. He quickly jumped out and then extended his hand. Thrilled at what a constant gentleman he was, I placed my hand in his and walked a little taller back into the festival.
“What now?” I asked as we started to walk around. But Kingsley didn’t get a chance to answer. A band took the stage and we heard the sounds of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” “Aww, I love this song,” I told Kingsley as I walked over to the stage. There were four people on the stage, a singer, a drummer, a guitarist, and a piano man. But only the singer and pianist were in the spotlight. She sounded so amazing and my hand flew to my mouth as I took it in.
Kingsley quickly spun me around so that I was facing him. “Dance with me.”
I bit my lip as a giant smile spread across my face. This would be my first slow dance with a guy. Well, second if you counted homecoming with Kyle. I didn’t, since we didn’t have those feelings for each other. I nodded and Kingsley took me in his arms.
We twirled in a small circle with his hands on my lower back and my arms wrapped around his strong neck. Then, when I thought the moment couldn’t get any more perfect, Kingsley pulled me closer and began to sing along softly in my ear. He had a rich baritone voice and was actually pretty good. I closed my eyes and leaned against his chest. This would rank as one of the best moments of my life.
As the song ended and we separated, I was actually really disappointed. Kingsley seemed to recognize it. He gave me another soft kiss and then whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, babe. This won’t be our last dance.”
“Good.”
We spent the rest of the day going on the rides. However, the Tilt-A-Whirl had broken down, so we didn’t get to go on it. Kingsley insisted this was a good thing and that I should definitely pick a new favorite ride. I was actually thinking the Ferris Wheel might be a good replacement.
Kingsley and I were heading to get a late lunch when his cell phone rang. He made a few grunting and agreement noises and then hung up. “Sorry, babe, I have to check out early. They need me to be on call for the night and I don’t want to have to ditch you if I have to go in.”
“No, that’s totally okay. I have to get back and check on Violet anyway.”
“Are you sure you want to be hanging out with her? I really am worried all of her drama is going to put you at risk.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I have a feeling the drama is going to be ending soon. She has a private investigator working to resolve all of this.” I tried to be hopeful but I was just as nervous as he seemed to be. But then again, I tended to worry a lot.
Kingsley dropped me off at the dorms and I rushed to Violet’s room. I knew there was a chance she was with Berneli, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to look.
As it turned out, she wasn’t there. I grabbed my phone and gave her a call.
Violet answered but I could barely understand her through the tears.
“Just tell me where you are. I’m coming there.”
She managed to say that she was with Berneli and begged me to bring Jason. I wanted to tell her that Kingsley would be pissed if I was in the car alone with him, but Violet needed us. Kingsley was becoming important to me, but Violet already was.
I took a deep breath and texted Jason. I told him Violet needed us and I’d be picking him up in five minutes. I quickly changed into leggings and a comfy sweater. Then it was off to break my promise to my boyfriend and to make my best friend feel better. After all, hoes before bros.
Jason had insisted on driving, somet
hing about doubting my abilities while the roads still had snow on them, so I grumbled as I climbed into the front seat of his car. I was not a fan of this cocky attitude.
“Do you have any idea what’s going on? I thought she was seeing Finn.” Jason asked me as he pointed the car toward Berneli’s apartment. He had the address in his GPS. I realized he probably had never been there before, since the other day was my first time.
“No, she decided not to because of all the snow. Plus, she mentioned the investigator figured something out. When she called, she was too upset to speak. I was hoping Berneli would cut in, but nothing.” I looked down at my fingernails and tried to busy myself with the chipped polish.
He pulled into a spot in front of the apartment complex. Someone must have just plowed because the spots were mostly free. Considering I didn’t have a shovel, or even gloves, I was definitely glad for that. Then the thought of Kingsley plowing the street outside Christie’s house crossed my mind. A rush of guilt washed over me and I quickly reached for the door handle to get out of the car. But Jason reached out and held my arm gently.
“Just wait a second, I want to talk to you about something.” He loosened his grip on my arm and ran the back of his knuckles over his face.
I looked straight ahead at the windows to the lobby and tried not to meet his intense stare. Kingsley had been so good to me, and here I was going against his wishes. He deserved better than me. I really should get out of the car; it wasn’t like Jason and I were on the best terms anyway. Yet something had me pinned to my seat. I needed to know what he was going to say.
“Listen, I owe you an apology. I judged Kingsley too harshly and said some nasty things to you. It’s not my place to say anything about your relationship.”
We were silent for a few seconds and I turned to look at him. Jason gave me a weak smile and his dimples started to appear. My breath caught in my throat and I tried to contain the tears that were fighting to come out. Truth be told, I’d missed him and how easy it was for the three of us to be together.
Second Snowfall (Elton Hall Chronicles Book 2) Page 11