The eager, almost childlike, look in his eyes makes me fold like a cheap lawn chair.

“Fine.”

Jesus. I can see why Oakley moaned before. The little ball is so warm and crisp yet super tender with the perfect amount of sweetness.

Calories be damned.

“Holy shit.”

His lips twitch. “Told you.”

I hastily finish it and much to Oakley’s delight devour another one.

I can feel him studying me as I lick the remaining sugar off my fingers. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just nice to see you have fun for a change.”

I’m about to remind him I have plenty of fun when we’re in his bed, but he tugs on my hand again. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“Ferris wheel.”

Record. Fucking. Skip.

I swiftly plant my feet into the ground. “I don’t do rides…ever.”

Turning to face me, he frowns. “I had a feeling you’d say that.” He takes a step closer. “How about we make a deal?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not trying to be a bitch and ruin our night, but…” I close my eyes. “I can’t do it.”

Rides scare me. Hell, almost everything scares me.

His brows crash together. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to die.”

He runs the edge of his thumb along my cheekbone. “We’re all gonna die someday, baby girl. But it’s still no reason to miss out on all the fun life has to offer.”

He has a point—a valid one—but it still doesn’t ease my anxiety.

“I’m scared,” I admit, loathing the way my voice shakes.

“I get that.” He tips my chin. “But know that whatever happens…I got you.”

I know he does.

And that’s the scariest part of all.

I trust Oakley with everything I have in me.

Somehow, he’s broken all my locks and climbed all my walls.

I vaguely recall what he said before. “You mentioned something about making a deal earlier?”

He fishes a small piece of paper out of his pocket. “I wrote something.” I go to snatch it, but he holds it out of my reach. “But you can’t read it until after the ride is over.”

That’s not fair.

He knows how much I’m dying to read whatever he wrote.

“Fine,” I begrudgingly concede. “Let’s go.”

He interlaces his fingers with mine and I let him lead me to the Ferris wheel of doom.

My knees buckle as we wait in line, and by the time it’s our turn I almost chicken out again, but Oakley squeezes my hand.

And he doesn’t let go.

The moment the ride starts moving I close my eyes, latching on to the safety bar for dear life with one hand and his with my other.

My stomach churns with every stop and I say a silent prayer the ride ends quickly.

His rough voice touches my ear. “Open your eyes.”

I give my head a stubborn shake.

His bottom lip trails along my cheekbone. “For me.”

Dammit. He’s not playing fair.

Hesitantly, I do.

I instantly regret it the moment I realize we’re stuck at the top.

My belly does a weird, panicked lurch.

Oakley juts his chin. “You see that?”

Nope. I refuse to look at anything other than him.

“See what? That we could plunge to our deaths at any moment?”

I expect him to laugh at my dramatic antics, but his expression grows serious.

“No.” His gaze locks on mine. “That’s the world, baby girl.” The look he gives me steals my breath. “And you’re in it for a reason.”

A sharp twist goes through my chest as I take in the bright lights and the gorgeous view of the town below us.

I’ve been so scared of dying…I haven’t been living.

Because I’ve been too busy missing them.

It’s like my life stopped the day my mother’s did.

And then when Liam died, it broke whatever was left of me.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I took a breath without the weight of my grief pulling me under. Or the last time I looked at something beautiful and didn’t immediately wish they were here to witness it with me.

But maybe—just maybe—it’s okay to smile and enjoy life once in a while.

I couldn’t save them—and it’s something I’ll always feel guilty about.

But I can still save me.

Reaching into the pocket of my jacket, I pull out the paper Oakley gave me.

A soul as black as the night sky.

Lips as red as the blood she’s out for.

The girl who leaves them running scared.

She's a beautiful nightmare.

“You were supposed to read that after the ride,” Oakley reminds me, but I ignore him because I’m too fixated on the words he wrote.

Words he wrote for me.

It’s so hauntingly gorgeous it cuts straight into my heart.

“Kiss me,” I whisper, because I want Oakley’s lips on mine more than my next breath.

I want us…whatever this is.

Gripping the back of my neck, he kisses me long and deep…

As if he needs this as much as I do.

Chapter 32

Oakley

Past…

Her gorgeous smile is so bright it rivals all the lights around us as we get off the Ferris wheel. “Thank you for making me do that.”

I’m about to tell her she doesn’t have to thank me for giving her a new experience, but my phone rings.

I press the ignore button when I see Loki’s name flash across the screen. I’ll hit him back later.

Right now, I have more important things on my mind.

Like the girl next to me.

The one burrowing under my skin.

Rain starts coming down—not enough to soak us—but enough to send some people ducking for cover.

But not Bianca.

She tugs on my hand, gesturing to the live band that’s playing a stripped-down version of some Nickelback song.

“I love this song,” she declares as she walks over to the small stage where they’re performing.

It takes everything in me not to laugh, because almost everyone I know hates the band…but not her.

As usual, the girl is full of surprises.

She ebbs when everyone else flows.

The muscles in my chest draw tight as she sways to the music and fireflies begin flickering around her.

As if they too are utterly captivated by her presence.

The rain picks up, but it still doesn’t stop her.

Hand clutching her heart, she tilts her face up to the night sky, the hem of her now damp dress rising up her thighs as she moves.

I want to remember this moment forever.

Because if life has taught me anything…it’s that beautiful things never last.

No matter how much you might want them to.

I suck in a breath when she smiles again.

She’s like the smell of smoke in the distance…warning you to stay away.

But I can’t.

There’s something about her. Something raw and authentic.