while?”
“I never said that,” he said innocently.
“Well, then how do you expect me to believe that you’re that good if you don’t play a lot?”
“I do play a lot. I have these games at home.”
“You have them at home? Like on a computer?” I needed clarification.
“No, I have the actual games.” I looked at him skeptically. “It's true,” he said. “I have them in my basement.”
“I don't believe you,” I said, half-joking. We were walking then, and he had taken one of the bears to lighten my load.
“Well, I'll show you sometime.”
That was a good sign. I took that as an extended invitation for another date. That thought made me feel really good and curious at the same time. It was starting to get late, and he asked me if I was tired and ready to go. “Just a little,” I admitted. “But I'm not ready to go.” He chuckled and said some part that I tuned out about returning me safely to my mom, and another part about it being a long drive home.
“Can we just do the Ferris wheel before we go? We still have the tickets.” I was trying to make the evening last longer.
He looked confused. “Are you sure you want to do the Ferris wheel?” he asked. I was afraid of heights, but I was not about to let him in on that little secret. I just wanted to spend a little more time with him. And if that meant being a little dizzy for a few minutes, then it was well worth it. I wasn't ready to go home.
“Yes, I'm sure,” I answered confidently.
“Okay, but we can do something else, if you want.”
I had already said it, and I didn't want to sound like I was desperately trying to hang on to the moment so I reassured him, “Yes, I like Ferris wheels.” He looked a little bit perplexed but motioned with his hand for me to go ahead of him. I was starting to feel stupid for suggesting the whole thing. I hoped he couldn’t see my desperate attempt to keep the date going.
There was a very short line, so I didn’t have much time to think about it. When we climbed into the car, he offered to take my teddy bear and set it across from us. I clutched the bear instantly and told him I preferred to hold it. I thought having something on my lap to squeeze would help with the dizziness and nausea I might feel.
The first few times around weren't so bad. He asked me a lot of questions about where I'd lived before, how we moved to California, how long we lived in California, where I went to school, and things like that. It had taken my mind off the ride, but by the fourth or fifth time around, I looked out over the edge and felt instantly queasy.
“It helps if you don’t look down,” he said, putting his arm around me. How embarrassing, and was it that obvious?
“I’m fine,” I lied. Regardless, I took his advice and stared at my bear for the rest of the ride. As we got off, he put his arms on my elbows to steady me. It was completely embarrassing.
“I’m proud of you.”
“Proud of what?”
“Proud you overcame your fear of heights.”
I guess it had been that obvious. On our way out, he still had his arm around me as if I was going to fall over, and I have to admit I wasn't complaining about that part. Once we got in the car, I wanted to take the focus off me and my nausea, so I started asking him questions.
“Why do you have carnival games in your basement anyway?”
“I get bored easily. I like to do fun things to pass the time.” He looked at me, and I noticed for the first time in the dark car that his eyes had a glassy look to them. I could almost see my reflection. It was like a subtle shine to a lake in the evening. It was mesmerizing. He looked away quickly. “Since I live alone, I need a lot of things to keep me busy.”
“How many games do you have?” I asked, still slightly distracted by the beauty of his eyes.
“I have a lot of games down there, but those are the only two carnival games I have.” He kept his eyes on the road.
That was interesting. “So, you just
“I never said that,” he said innocently.
“Well, then how do you expect me to believe that you’re that good if you don’t play a lot?”
“I do play a lot. I have these games at home.”
“You have them at home? Like on a computer?” I needed clarification.
“No, I have the actual games.” I looked at him skeptically. “It's true,” he said. “I have them in my basement.”
“I don't believe you,” I said, half-joking. We were walking then, and he had taken one of the bears to lighten my load.
“Well, I'll show you sometime.”
That was a good sign. I took that as an extended invitation for another date. That thought made me feel really good and curious at the same time. It was starting to get late, and he asked me if I was tired and ready to go. “Just a little,” I admitted. “But I'm not ready to go.” He chuckled and said some part that I tuned out about returning me safely to my mom, and another part about it being a long drive home.
“Can we just do the Ferris wheel before we go? We still have the tickets.” I was trying to make the evening last longer.
He looked confused. “Are you sure you want to do the Ferris wheel?” he asked. I was afraid of heights, but I was not about to let him in on that little secret. I just wanted to spend a little more time with him. And if that meant being a little dizzy for a few minutes, then it was well worth it. I wasn't ready to go home.
“Yes, I'm sure,” I answered confidently.
“Okay, but we can do something else, if you want.”
I had already said it, and I didn't want to sound like I was desperately trying to hang on to the moment so I reassured him, “Yes, I like Ferris wheels.” He looked a little bit perplexed but motioned with his hand for me to go ahead of him. I was starting to feel stupid for suggesting the whole thing. I hoped he couldn’t see my desperate attempt to keep the date going.
There was a very short line, so I didn’t have much time to think about it. When we climbed into the car, he offered to take my teddy bear and set it across from us. I clutched the bear instantly and told him I preferred to hold it. I thought having something on my lap to squeeze would help with the dizziness and nausea I might feel.
The first few times around weren't so bad. He asked me a lot of questions about where I'd lived before, how we moved to California, how long we lived in California, where I went to school, and things like that. It had taken my mind off the ride, but by the fourth or fifth time around, I looked out over the edge and felt instantly queasy.
“It helps if you don’t look down,” he said, putting his arm around me. How embarrassing, and was it that obvious?
“I’m fine,” I lied. Regardless, I took his advice and stared at my bear for the rest of the ride. As we got off, he put his arms on my elbows to steady me. It was completely embarrassing.
“I’m proud of you.”
“Proud of what?”
“Proud you overcame your fear of heights.”
I guess it had been that obvious. On our way out, he still had his arm around me as if I was going to fall over, and I have to admit I wasn't complaining about that part. Once we got in the car, I wanted to take the focus off me and my nausea, so I started asking him questions.
“Why do you have carnival games in your basement anyway?”
“I get bored easily. I like to do fun things to pass the time.” He looked at me, and I noticed for the first time in the dark car that his eyes had a glassy look to them. I could almost see my reflection. It was like a subtle shine to a lake in the evening. It was mesmerizing. He looked away quickly. “Since I live alone, I need a lot of things to keep me busy.”
“How many games do you have?” I asked, still slightly distracted by the beauty of his eyes.
“I have a lot of games down there, but those are the only two carnival games I have.” He kept his eyes on the road.
That was interesting. “So, you just
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