Page 53 of Lessons in Love

His face softens, then he nods. “Yeah, I think I will.” He walks up to her, and a few words are exchanged before he shoots us a grin and a thumbs up. And then it’s game on.

I should be terrified. Well, I am terrified. The attendant who couldn’t be more than fifteen straps us into the cart. Eden wiggles a few times to get comfortable, and every time her thigh brushes mine my heart skips a beat.

The techno music blasting from the speakers is enough to deafen anybody, but it does nothing to dampen the smile on Eden’s face. She’s in control and I’m a mere passenger.

“You ready?” She shouts over the music. She doesn’t wait for my response as she sets off, intent on destruction. And by God, does she get that.

Eden makes a beeline for her brother, cutting off young kids and families. No-one is spared from her wrath. Knuckles white on the wheel, she lines up and—

The jolt from hitting Jake’s car sends me flying forwards, the seatbelt the only thing holding me back.

“Jesus, Edes!” Jake yells over his shoulder as he desperately turns the wheel to get out of her way.

“You snooze, you lose, sucker!” Eden screeches.

The dark-haired girl next to Jake laughs, and I pretend not to see the way he looks at her. I know that look all too well. Eden spins the cart out of Jake’s way, sliding us into the corner of the rink.

“What’s our next move?” I ask as she scans the room.

“Stay the hell out of his way,” she laughs. “I’ve got one good hit in, but he won’t let that be the end of it.”

“Do you know that girl?”

“Who?”

“The one with the dark hair, with Jake.”

Her face flushes ever so slightly. After spending so much time with her I’m acutely aware of every minute change.

“Yeah. I think I do.”

I don’t press as she shoots across the rink, Jake trailing close behind us. Maybe a bit too close. We don’t get a chance to move before—

Eden shouts something as we’re thrown forward, the impact leaving me breathless. She swears and forces the car to take a sharp right before we collide with the barrier. This pattern continues for the next five minutes. Hitting Jake, Jake hitting us. As physically painful as it is, by the time the attendant stops the music and gets us to hop out, I’m grinning ear to ear. I can see my expression reflected in Eden’s, as well as Jake’s and the mystery girl’s.

“Good game,” Jake says, offering his hand to me. I shake it, laughing as Eden crosses her arms over her chest and pouts. Jake definitely got more hits on us than we did on him.

“You cheated.”

“Just like you cheated with the egg hunt?”

“There was no cheating involved, thank you very much,” Eden sniffs. “We found that golden egg fair and square. But it’s not over yet.” She flashes the girl next to Jake a dangerous smile. “Is it, Kiara?”

16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Eden.

The rest of the show flies by in a blur. After giving Jake and Kiara shit for their not-so-secret relationship— and helping Mum out with the exhibition—my feet start to ache.

It’s so strange having Oliver with me, on my turf. This is the first time I’ve brought someone not from the town here. Not even Gemma has made the trek out to this sleepy little place.

My hand gently brushes Oliver’s as we make our way to the main oval, and I’m embarrassed at how fast my heart beats when his hand slides into my own. He squeezes gently and I turn to him as he speaks.

“Enjoying yourself?” The soft smile he gives me sends my heart into another excited flutter.

Is this how it’s always going to be? Warm, calm, content?