Chapter 3
1276 Words
“So you just going to sit here and stare at me or are we going to go to the carousel “ and that snaps me out of my trance that I was feeling.
“ you want to go on the carousel with me?” I say as I stifle a small giggle
“ well yes I would love to” then he stands and places a bill on the table and reaches for my hand, and for the first time in a long time I take a mans hand in mine and I feel like I should feel guilty but I don’t and I’m not sure how I should feel about it.
“ I really don’t need you to pay for my food though I have plenty of money”
“Oh mija, I’m a gentleman I can’t let a lady pay for her food when I in her company “
“ okay but you have to let me pay for the carousel “ I can sense his reluctance so I throw in “ it’s mostly your money anyway since you have tipped me so much all week” that got a chuckle out of him and he finally sighs and shakes his head in agreement.
We make our way over to the carousel in the small mall and head over to the line to wait with all the parents and their kids. Once we are up I hand the man a $10 and tell him “ keep the change “ and I run to try and get my favorite horse, the teal blue seahorse. Carlo is right next to me and he hops up on the horse right beside me. I have to stifle a giggle at how silly he looks in his charcoal gray suit, serious face, and tall frame sitting on that little horse. Once all the parents have their kids settled we start to move.
Carlo looks at me and smiles and I feel just like a kid again and it’s really great. We are laughing and smiling like kids on Christmas Day throughout the whole ride mind you that we are getting stared at by passerby’s but I couldn’t have a care in the world. Once the ride finished we get off and Carlo helps me from the horse and his hand catch me on my behind and it sends a shiver down my spine and heat to my belly and I have to clench my thighs it’s a feeling I haven’t felt since my husband died.
“ so where to next?” And that makes me jump a little but he ignores it like it never happened.
“ well I generally hit up the candy man then head to the beach and eat candy while walking on the sand” he gestures for me to lead the way. We follow the white footsteps that lead to the candy mans shop and he looks like he’s never been here before so I have to ask “ have you ever been here before “
“No I have never been to seaside before actually” and for some reason this gives me a slight sense that maybe he followed me here but I push it from my mind.
“ so I always load up on salt water taffy because they make the best taffy ever, I also get some rock candy and fudge. do you want anything?”
“ no I’m good” but the way he says it makes me think I’m missing some joke. We enter the shop there are the 172 different flavors of taffy in bins and the counter to the left has all their chocolate and other candy. I know how it works so I just grab a bag and start filling it with my favorite flavors of salt water taffy and then we make our way to the cashier I give her my goodies and look for my wallet in my purse and Carlo reaches over my shoulder and slides his card before I can stop him I feel his breath on my neck and I freeze it gives me goosebumps from the top of my head to my toes. He pulls back immediately like he got an electric shock. He takes a deep breath and says “ please let me get this” but his voice sounds strained.
I just nod because my words haven’t returned from the goosebumps. We take the candy and head down Broadway to the beach and when we reach the stairs I take my shoes off and roll up my jeans and when I look over I noticed that Carlo has done the same but he just looks so out of place his suit pants rolled up showing off his muscular calves. God I wonder what he looks like under that suit. And now I’m getting distracted again he is going to think I have a staring problem.
“ well ready mija”
“Absolutely “ I smile and we walk in silence just enjoying the sounds of the ocean waves splashing on the sand, watching people flying kites, and the kids playing . After about an hour of wandering I reluctantly say “ well I think it’s about time to head back home” he just takes my hand and we walk back to the entrance of the beach and wash the sand off our feet at the foot wash station they have for all the beach goers. Then we put our shoes on and I look to him “ well I’m this way I guess I will see you tomorrow then I picked up ash’s shift tomorrow night”
“ yes you will “ and we go our separate ways. I get to my car and notice that it is sitting weird and walk around it and wouldn’t you know it I have a freaking flat lovely. I curse under my breath and sigh, walk to the back of my car and get the spare out. I bend down to put the Jack under my car when I sense someone’s eyes on my back. I look around and then my eyes lock with those ocean blue eyes and they look cold, hard and angry.
He stalks up to me “ what are you doing? “
“ changing my tire, I think it’s kinda obvious no “
“ let me do it” now this pisses me off
“ Oh, because I’m a girl I don’t know how to change a tire. Well buddy my husband was a mechanic and my daddy was a mechanic so I’m pretty sure I know how to change a tire. “
He looks at me after my little rant and just shakes his head “ I don’t doubt you are more than capable. It’s just I was Taught to be a gentleman”
“And I was taught to be a strong independent woman “and with that I bend down and start to Jack the car up and loosen the lugs he bends down beside me and offers a hand and I let him since I cooled off from my little rant. Once I get the spare on and the other tire loaded up I turn to my mr mysterious “ thank you, so see you tomorrow “ and I laugh.
“ Oh you definitely will “ then we get in our cars and I begin the long boring drive back home. I turn the radio on and sing and dance all the way home. I love listening to the radio in the car it just brings me so much nostalgia
- Writer
