Raven, Samara, and Jaiden envelop me in hugs while Linc stands to the side with a curious look on his face. Then as soon as I make the introductions, my friends turn their hugs to him. He laughs, his eyes wide with surprise.
Jaiden steps back and shakes Linc’s hand. “It’s great to meet you, brother. We’ve heard so much about you, we almost feel like we already know you.”
My face warms. “I haven’t told you guys that much!”
He laughs. “A lot can be read between the lines.”
Raven pulls out the fairgrounds map like we haven’t been here five hundred times before. “Where to first?”
“Rides, of course.” Samara shakes her head. “What else?”
Raven glances at Linc. “Well, maybe our new friend wants to start somewhere else.”
Samara gives him a sideways glance. “Sorry, but you’re with us. We always do rides first. Hope you don’t have an aversion to roller coasters.”
“Nope. Love them.” He puts his arm around me.
“Even Montezuma’s Revenge?” Samara lifts a brow.
“Especially that one.”
I stand taller and meet her gaze. “See? I told you he’ll fit right in.”
She sizes him up. “We’ll see. Think you can keep up with me?”
“Nobody can,” I interject and turn to Linc. “She could ride every roller coaster in this place from morning until night and still want more.”
We joke with each other as we make our way to the biggest coasters, and Linc keeps up, teasing my friends with as much jest as they give him. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’d been hanging out with us since we all met so long ago.
If I was keeping track, that would be yet another thing in his favor. He’s getting more and more of those. It’s like he’s too good to be true. Or maybe I finally found a decent guy who cares about me.
Miracles do happen.
Before we get in line at Montezuma’s, Raven turns to Linc. “Want to get something to eat first? To drink maybe?”
I put my arm around him. “No, he doesn’t. Leave him alone.”
But Lincoln doesn’t seem to notice. “Is that a challenge?”
Raven puts a hand on her hip. “Maybe.”
“If I eat something, then so do you.”
“Ohhh.” Jaiden pokes Raven. “You’ve met your match.”
“Well?” Raven doesn’t take her attention from Linc. “What do you say?”
He gestures toward a burger booth not far away. “A double bacon cheeseburger with a large drink.”
My stomach knots just thinking about it. “Linc, you don’t have to.”
“I know what I’m doing. I’ve got a stomach of steel.”
He and Raven stare each other down before racing to the stand.
I turn to Jaiden. “You couldn’t have stepped in? Stopped them?”
“Are you crazy? Get between Raven and a wager? No thank you. He’s your boyfriend, not mine.”
I frown.
“Does he really have a strong stomach?” Samara asks.
“I’m not sure, but he did help with Holden’s puke, and I don’t think he even turned green.”
Jaiden shrugs. “He’ll be fine.”
“What about me? I’m going to be the one sitting with him.”
“And we’ll be sitting with Raven.”
I tilt my head. “But we all know she’ll be fine. She could drink spoiled milk and still ride everything here without so much as batting an eye.”
He ruffles my hair. “Let’s hope your boyfriend’s stomach is just as strong.”
“Hey!” I try to fix my hair. “I’m going to be getting selfies today.”
“And you don’t think the rides will mess up your hairdo?” He ruffles it worse this time.
I shove him. “Stop.”
Jaiden bursts out laughing.
Raven and Lincoln return with their enormous burgers and soft drinks.
Samara turns to me. “You sure about this?”
I fix my hair again. “If he’s sure, then we’ll be fine.”
At least that’s what I hope. I’ll have to get in some good selfies before the ride starts.
But first, I get a picture of my boyfriend and Raven racing to be the first one finished eating.
And I love the fact that I can call Linc my boyfriend.
Chapter Fifteen
Lincoln
Malia rests her hand on my arm. “You sure about this? We don’t have to do this.”
“I’m up for the challenge.”
“They don’t call it Montezuma’s Revenge for nothing. Case in point.” She nods toward a middle school kid walking by who has a spray of vomit on his hoodie.
“I’m not concerned.” I stretch out my arms and crack my knuckles.
“Let’s get a before shot.” She holds out her phone and we pose in front of the wildest roller coaster the fair has to offer. I grin and take in the sweet scent of her perfume.
Raven tilts her head. “You ready for this? We could always walk away if you’re scared.”
“Why? You starting to chicken out?”
“Nope. Just giving you an out.”
“I don’t need one.”
Malia shakes her head and chuckles. “You two are too much.”
“You can sit this one out if you’re worried.” I rest my chin on her shoulder.
She shakes her head. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”
“We’re bound to be in the car behind or in front of Raven, so there’s a chance we could get her blown chunks on us.”
Raven gives me an exasperated look. “As if, pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?” I arch a brow.
She smirks.
Jaiden grabs her arm and drags her toward the line. “Come on, before your stomach settles.”
We all head for the line, which has gotten even longer. I’m kind of grateful because I don’t know how well that girl’s stomach will actually handle the coaster.
Malia and I joke around with her friends as we inch forward slowly. I can’t help but smile, not just because I’m glad to be with her but also because this reminds me of the days I used to tag along with my brother and his friends. Kade and Anchor used to take me with them on rides like this one—ones that would make my mom pass out if she knew I was riding—and I had loved every minute of it. They could’ve so easily made me feel like I didn’t belong, but Kade always treated me like any other friend.
It’s so strange to be reliving those times, and to find myself so easily joking around Malia and her friends. Makes me feel normal again, when it’s been so long. I don’t even have this much fun with my own friends. In fact, I hardly hang out with them unless they drag me. It’s like I’ve been afraid of having fun without Kade since his death.
It’s amazing how one moment can change so many lives. Nobody who was close to him has been the same since he died. Some have moved on more than others.
Laughter pulls me from my thoughts. I put my arm back around Malia and try to focus on the conversation. Luckily, we’re almost to the front of the line. I don’t have much longer until we’ll be sitting in the car, click-clicking our way up to the top.
Malia turns to me, her brows raised. “You still sure about this?”
“Yeah.” Raven smirks at me again. “Last chance to bail.”
“I know you’d love that, but I’m ready. Are you?”
“Never been readier for anything.” She stands taller.
“Easy there,” Jaiden says.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Oh, I do. We—”
The ride’s conductor asks to see our wristbands. Malia’s friends get in the first car, then she and I sit in the next one.
Malia leans up close to me and snaps some selfies.
As I buckle us in, I glance at her. “You sure about Raven’s stomach? If she gets sick, it’s going to end up all over us.”
“We’ll be fine. Besides,” —she lowers her voice and whispers in m
y ear— “we were in line so long, I’m sure both of your stomachs had plenty of time to settle. Don’t tell her I said that.”
I chuckle and then pretend to zip my lips.
Raven turns around and looks at me. “You ready?”
Before I can answer, their car takes off. Then ours inches up and a few moments later bolts forward.
Malia leans her head against mine. “I’m so glad you get along with my friends.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
The clicking of our car gets too loud to talk over as we make our way toward the clouds. Screams sound ahead of us as Malia’s friends’ car flies down the track.
I crane my neck to see if any vomit spews out from their car.
So far, so good.
My stomach feels great, so no worries about my burger reappearing. Not that I was worried to begin with.
Our car reaches the top and pauses. Malia nestles even closer to me. I put my arm around her just as we make our descent. She screams and I join her. It’s one crazy fall, though not as bad as I remember as a middle schooler, not unlike the kid we saw with puke on his shirt.
We finally make it to the bottom of the fall, and no sooner start heading up again. This time higher, and from what I can tell, the upcoming descent involves twists and turns. Screams, shouts, and cries sound from up ahead.
Malia pulls out her phone. “Say cheese!”
“Now?”
“I said, say cheese.” She snaps a picture before putting the phone back in her pocket. “And we’re fine taking pictures until we start going down.”
“I just don’t want to see you lose it.”
“You worry too much.”
Before I can protest, we reach the peak. This fall is even steeper, and definitely twists and turns. Even goes upside down.
My stomach gurgles.
Malia looks at me with wide eyes.
We go down. Fast. Hurl toward the bottom and the twisty curves.
Everything stays in my stomach.
Until we go upside down. Then my insides decide to lurch, to twist worse than the roller coaster. Everything makes its way up—down?—my intestines then flies out. Luckily goes straight to the ground since our feet are above us.
Malia shrieks.
I feel horrible, and I don’t know which is worse—my pride or the fact that I just horrified the most wonderful woman alive.
When we flip around and go straight, she turns to me. “You okay?”
“I am so sorry! You didn’t get anything on you, did you?”
She looks down and shakes her head. “I think it all landed on the cement.”
“I can’t believe you saw that.”
“It’s fitting, considering how we met.”
I think back to her brother yakking in the bathroom after Malia made him puke in the kitchen. “Still …”
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell my friends.”
We pull back up to the landing area. Her friends are already out, and Raven is jumping up and down and has her mouth covered with one hand while pointing at me with the other.
They saw the whole thing.
Heat creeps into my cheeks. My mind races with a good excuse, but there is none. I said I had a strong stomach, yet I blew chunks in front of everyone.
Malia kisses my cheek. “I don’t think any less of you.”
Not that her feelings will stop her friends from making fun of me all day, maybe for all time.
I’m never going to live this down.
But I’m not going to let them know I care. When we step out, I stand as tall as possible and meet each one of their gazes.
“You puked!” Raven is still pointing at me.
Samara shoves her. “So did you.”
“You did?” I point to her.
“No.” She crosses her arms.
Samara turns to me. “She’s such a liar. She blew five times the chunks you did.”
“Who’s side are you on, anyway?” Raven glares at her friend.
“Just speaking the truth.”
Jaiden snickers. “That she is.”
“So, it looks like we’re both in the same boat.”
Raven shrugs. “I guess. But at least I wasn’t the only one.”
Jaiden glances back and forth between us. “You two should really brush your teeth.”
“Because we brought toothpaste with us.” Raven gives him an exaggerated eye roll.
“You should know I’m always prepared.” He pulls a small tube of toothpaste from his pocket. “Clean your mouths out. We have to spend the rest of the day with you pukers.”
Raven waves to me. “You first.”
Jaiden answers for me. “That works. I need the little boys’ room, anyway.”
Malia kisses my cheek before turning to Samara and Raven, then Jaiden and I head toward the nearest bathroom. He teases me about how epic my upside-down vomit display was, then he heads over to the urinals while I try to brush my teeth without a brush. At least my mouth ends up minty fresh after all is said and done.
Then we return to the girls, and I hand off the toothpaste. All three of them go to the bathroom, giggling together.
Jaiden leans against a tree. “So, you really like Malia?”
“Yeah, she’s amazing.”
“You really like her?”
“Of course. Why do I feel like I’m about to get the ‘if you hurt her, I’ll kill you’ talk?”
One corner of his mouth curves up. “Smart guy. I know her dad and brother don’t care enough to, but I do. And yes, if you hurt her, I will kill you.”
“Understood. And for the record, I’m glad she has you all in her life. She deserves someone who cares enough to tell me that.”
Jaiden nods approvingly. “And I’m glad to hear you say that.”
I take a deep breath and think about her. “Malia’s the best thing to happen to me in a long time. She’s really special.”
“That she is. She doesn’t deserve any of the crap her family throws at her. They’re the ones who need to wake up and realize what they’ve got. But they never will.” He frowns.
“What’s wrong with them? They sound horrible.”
“They really are. I don’t know what their deal is, aside from extreme selfishness. The way they expect her—their daughter—to hold everything and everyone together, it’s just wrong. She never got to be a kid. They forced her into adulthood at a young age. When the rest of us were still watching cartoons, she was playing mom to her brothers.” His expression tenses. “And it hasn’t gotten any better.”
“I wish she had an out.”
He tilts his head. “She does. The girl could just walk away. I’ve offered my place more times than I can count—as have Raven and Samara.”
“They hold her with money.”
Jaiden nods. “Exactly. She wants her degree so she can finally walk away and never look back—but she cares too much about her brothers to ever do that. I can’t see that happening.”
I clear my throat. “Like she says, it’s almost over. Next June.”
“Until they find something else to hold over her head.” His expression brightens and he waves.
The girls return, and Malia wraps her arms around me. “Having fun with Jaiden?”
I nod. “Having some guy talk.”
“Oh good.” She smiles and gives me a quick kiss.
My heart warms and I’m filled with the resolve to do the best I can for her. I don’t know what I can do to help her with her family, but I want to figure something out.
Chapter Sixteen
Malia
As we pass an especially cute calf, I pull out my phone.
“Another selfie?” Linc laughs.
“Look at those eyes.” I gesture toward the adorable baby brown cow with its tongue half hanging out.
“I’d rather look at yours.” He pulls me close and pecks me on the cheek.
I snap a picture. “Perfect!”
His eyes widen. “You seriously managed to ge
t a photo of me kissing you?”
I show him and sigh. That’s going to be my new profile pic, he just doesn’t know it yet. “Of course. Haven’t you figured out yet that I’m a master of the camera?”
He laughs and gives me another kiss. “I’m not complaining.”
Samara pokes her head around the corner. “Come on, you two! Or are you going to make out in front of the cows?”
I pick up some hay and toss it at my friend, who laughs when it misses by a mile.
Linc puts his arm around my waist. “We’d better catch up before we lose them.”
“Are you hungry?” I tease.
“Are you kidding? I haven’t eaten since riding Montezuma’s Revenge.”
“An aptly named ride.” I poke him.
“Don’t forget—Raven puked too.”
“Doesn’t take away from the fact that you blew chunks!” I wink then run off.
He chases me out of the barn, and we keep running until we find my friends. They’re in line at an organic pizza booth. Relief washes over Linc’s expression—he’s probably thrilled that it isn’t a burger stand. I can’t imagine he’s going to want a cheeseburger any time soon.
We join them, and everyone has a good laugh at his and Raven’s expense. But it’s all in good fun, and Linc and Raven chuckle along with us.
Before long, we’re all eating our slices and I’m burning off half the skin from the roof of my mouth but don’t really care because I’m that hungry. It’s crazy how just walking around and standing in lines can build up such an appetite.
Not surprisingly, Lincoln finishes his before I do. He offers to get an entire pizza for us all to share, and given the inflated fair prices, I object.
He squeezes my knee and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I’m happy to.”
Samara leans her head against me. “He’s a keeper.”
“He sure is.” Jaiden stuffs the last of his crust in his mouth.
I arch a brow. “Linc gets your approval?”
“So far. He seems legit. I’m going to keep my eye on him, just so you know.” But he’s grinning.
I can’t help beaming. Jaiden has never liked any of my previous boyfriends.
When You Start to Miss Me: A Romantic Suspense (Wildflower Romance Book 3) Page 10