Page 16 of Practically Magic

“That will be thirty-four dollars,” the girl behind the glass window says. I accept my wristband with a surge of excitement and turn to look at Ryan. For some reason, his face falls.

“Oh, crap.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot my wallet at home.” His big, beautiful eyes crinkle with worry. “I’m sorry, Sunshine. I think I’m going to have to take a pass on rides tonight.”

My heart feels like it fell out of my chest. No! This is not how tonight is supposed to go. We go on the Gravitron together, then tackle the mirror maze, ride the coaster, and then have our first kiss on the Ferris wheel. I have it all mapped out. We have to go on rides!

I open my wallet and look inside. The babysitting money I’ve collected from the Murphys over the past month stares back at me. There is just enough for a second POP and some food later. “What if I bought it for you?”

“Wait. Seriously?” When he puts a hand on my arm, my stomach back flips. “You don’t mind? I’ll pay you back. Better yet, I’ll pay for yours next year when we come together.”

It’s official. I’ve stopped breathing.

“It’s a plan,” I say, and hand over the money. Soon, Ryan is rocking a matching wristband, and we’re off toward the far corner of the parking lot turned Halloween fair. He walks close, his shoulder bumping mine the entire way to the ride, and I have to remind myself to speak when I am supposed to answer a question. But inside, I’m all butterflies, walking around with him, nearly touching. It’s finally happening.

I’m not even nervous when we get into line for the spinning ride. Not if we’re together.

Then his phone pings. “Shoot!” Ryan looks at me apologetically. “It’s my mom. My younger sister hasn’t checked in. Can you hold my spot? I’ll be right back, I promise. I’ll meet you on the ride. Just stay here, okay?”

“Of course,” I say, because how cute is it that he is checking on his younger sister? I could swoon. “It’s a long line. I’m sure you’ll meet me before I even get to the front.” The Gravitron ride line is always the worst. Why we all wait so long to be spun at warp speed is beyond me.

“You really are the best, Sunshine,” he says, hugging me again. As his arms brush my back, I feel like I might die. “See you in a bit.” And with another smile and wave, Ryan disappears into the crowd.

My phone pings too.

Laney:

How’s it going?

Me:

Amazing!

I fill Laney in on everything as the line inches forward. By the time we stop texting, I’m nearing the front of the line and there is still no Ryan.

Didn’t he say he’d meet me on the ride? I crane my neck, looking for his mop of brown hair.

“You can go ahead,” I say to the couple behind me.

“No,” says the high schooler running the ride. “I remember you. Either ride or get out of line.”

“C’mon,” says the guy behind me, and next thing I know I’m being shoved onto the ride.

The door shuts with a resounding clang, and I feel like I might have a heart attack.

Then we start spinning. The world pulls around me. Everyone is laughing and screaming, and I clench myself tight, counting the seconds until it’s over.

When I wobble my way down the stairs back to the pavement, I’m half expecting Ryan to be there. To be proud of how brave I am.

But he’s nowhere to be found. He must be trying to find his sister, but the carnival isn’t that big. He’ll be back soon, and he won’t want to wait long to ride with me.

I get back in line.

The second time is worse. I feel like an egg being scrambled.

But the third really takes the cake.