Page 74 of Lance

“One hundred and twenty feet,” she says, in a voice way too cheerful to be discussing such a terrifyingstat.

Lance catches my eye. “You don’t have to ride it,” he says. “I know you don’t likeheights.”

“We’ll see,” I say, trying to keep my voicesteady.

We reach the ride and Kendra leads Simon and Wyatt over to the measurement station. Wyatt is several inches over and Simon just makes it, barely. “Nice,” Lance says, giving him a high five. Simon’s eyes, wide and scared, flick over tome.

I lean down to whisper in his ear. “You don’t have to ride it,Simon.”

“I don’t want to be a baby,” he whispersback.

“There’s nothing babyish about it.” He looks uncertain, his eyes flicking over to Wyatt. “Simon, do you want to ridethis?”

He shakes his head a little and that’s all I need to know. I straighten. “Sorry, guys,” I say to the rest of the group. “I’m out on thisone.”

“Are you nuts?” Wyatt asks. “It’s probably the bestride!”

“Well, I’m assuming you don’t want me to puke all over you,” I tell him, and both he and Simon laugh. “And that’s exactly what would happen if I tried to go on that thing. So I think I’ll sit itout.”

“I can keep you company,” Simon says. “So you won’t be byyourself.”

“That’s really cool of you,” I tell him, giving him a high five. “We can do that Midway Mania ride again and I can try to beat you thistime.”

“You wish,” he says, laughing. Kendra hands us some fast passes so we can skip the line without her and we wave goodbye to the others. As we head away from the ride Simon asks to stop for a bathroom back. “Come right back out and don’t talk to anyone,” I tell him outside of the men’s restroom. “I’ll waithere.”

“Willa!” I turn to see Lance heading over. “I decided to skip it too,” he says. Then he leans in toward me and whispers in my ear, “I’m actually not too crazy about heightsmyself.”

I laugh, relishing the feeling of him being so close after avoiding physical contact all morning. “I thought you were a tough BMX rider. Didn’t you say you were good at all those ramps and jumps andthings?”

He kisses my neck lightly, just below my ear. “Okay, I’m fine with heights. I just thought having a little privacy with you sounded more exciting than the rollercoaster.”

“Yeah, we’ll have lots of privacy with Simon withus.”

He trails another kiss up my neck and I shiver despite the warmth of the day. “Simon’s not here rightnow.”

It’s hard to breathe—or to think, honestly—when he’s close like this. “That’s true,” I manage tomurmur.

“It’s killing me, not being able to touch you,” he says, his voice raspy. “How much longer until we get to gohome?”

“Hours and hours,” I reply and he groans against myskin.

“Unacceptable. I demand a kiss. It’s the only way to soothe my bruisedsoul.”

“Your bruised soul?” I’m giggling, breathless, and it’s ridiculous that he can do this to me with so littleeffort.

“Not being able to touch you bruises my soul, yes. I’m gonna need that kissnow.”

I laugh, pushing him away, but he only moves closer. “Simon will be out any minute,” I pointout.

“Better hurrythen.”

I rise up on my tiptoes and plant a quick kiss on his lips. “Happynow?”

He shakes his head, eyes twinkling down at me. “Maybe if we did that a few moretimes.”

“You’re impossible.” This time I do manage to push him off and he laughs, kissing my forehead once before turning to the restroom entrance to watch forSimon.

I straighten the straps of my tank top, still feeling giggly, and happen to glance in the opposite direction. My heart seems to stop beating in my chest—Haylee is standing a few yards away, looking right at us. And from the expression on her face I have the feeling she’s been watching for awhile.