When I didn't see him, I figured that was that.
Good.
I was done anyway – done crying, done obsessing, done thinking about him at all.
Or at least, that's what I kept telling myself even as I returned to the festival and wandered through the midway, trying to pretend that everything was okay.
I still had a job to do, and I was determined to do it, so I spent the next several hours fielding any media inquiries and posing for pictures whenever anyone asked, which made me feel totally ridiculous, considering that I wasn't picture-worthy on my own.
No. The only reason anyone wanted my picture was because they were under the mistaken impression that I was still somehow connected to Chase.
I wasn't.
And yet, his words from earlier haunted me more than I cared to admit. He'd said that he loved me. Oh sure, he hadn't said it to me directly, but he had said it.
And what had I said in return? Nice try.
But in my own defense, it had seemed like just another ploy to patch things up temporarily so he could get his money's worth on the publicity front.
But now, a little voice in my head reminded me that I was the one who'd broken up with him, and that if he were telling the truth – that he hadn't planned to dump me at the end of the campaign – well, in that case, I'd thrown away something pretty spectacular over a simple misunderstanding.
Tonight was the demolition derby, and I had no plans to attend. Already, I'd heard through the grapevine that the trophies were going to be awarded by Brody Blastoviak, Chase's younger brother.
And Chase? Apparently, he wasn't planning to return tonight at all.
Fine.
No one wanted him here, anyway.
I held onto this belief for maybe three or four hours before I decided that I was full of it. I did want him here, and by now, I was kicking myself for not doing a better job of listening to whatever he'd been trying to tell me in the car.
It didn't help that everywhere I looked, I saw happy couples holding hands, going on rides together, or sharing cotton candy and funnel cakes like Chase and I used to do.
And we'd been happy.
Hadn't we?
By seven o'clock that night, I was officially done working. I spent some time with my parents and sister, along with my brother and his wife, and later, a few friends from high school.
And even though I tried to be upbeat, my heart was heavier than it had been in a long time, even more so because I was now wondering if maybe I'd been the one who messed up, and not Chase.
Or who knows. Maybe we'd both messed up. After all, I'd realized weeks ago that I'd fallen for him. But had I said anything? No. Cripes, I'd barely admitted it to myself.
Desperate to cheer myself up, I bought a bunch of tickets and went on ride after ride, looking to reclaim some of the happiness I usually felt here at the festival.
It was no use.
Still, I kept on trying.
And although I had plenty of people I could be spending time with, I was now going on the rides alone, because somewhere along the way, I'd decided that I'd rather sulk in solitude than ruin anyone else's good time.
It was almost nine o'clock, and I was about to embark on my third solitary Ferris Wheel ride when the carnival worker said the same exact thing he'd said the last two times I'd come through his line. "Just one?"
In my current mood, it was all I could do to keep from snapping at him, telling him that of course it was just one, because after all, I was standing here by myself, wasn't I?
But of course, it wasn't the guy's fault. It was my own.
So instead, I replied with a smile and a nod, only to pause when a familiar male voice from somewhere behind me said, "No, it's two."
My breath caught. Chase?
Chapter 76
Mina
I whirled to look, and there he was, standing almost close enough to touch. His gaze probed mine as he added, "If she'll have me."
When I gave a happy nod, Chase thrust a giant wad of tickets into the guy's hands and said, "And we're not coming down 'til we're done."
The guy frowned in confusion. "Done what?"
"Done talking." And with that, Chase took my hand in his and led me to the waiting passenger car. Ten seconds later, we were locked in and rocking upward along the Ferris Wheel's path.
The sky was dark, but the carnival lights were sparkling in the summer night as Chase turned to face me. "I need to tell you something."
By now, I felt nearly breathless. "You do?"
"Hell yeah." His gaze warmed. "I love you." He gave my hand a tender squeeze. "And I'm sorry."
I stared in amazement. I wasn't sure which statement surprised me more, but both of them warmed my heart. "Really?"
His eyes filled with an emotion that could only be love. "I should've said it sooner. Hell, I should have said both things sooner."
Already, I was blinking back tears. "I should've, too. I mean, you're not the only one who's sorry."
"Screw the apology." He grinned. "Now tell me what I want to hear."
It was vintage Chase, and I couldn’t help but laugh through my tears as I admitted what both of us already knew. "I love you, too."
"You'd better." And with that, he wrapped me in arms and pressed his lips to mine. My heart gave a crazy little flutter, and I leaned into his kiss, savoring the feel of him, the taste of him, and even the scent of him, as his mouth claimed mine, right there on the Ferris Wheel.
The kiss left me not only breathless, but dizzy, too – and happier than I'd been in days, possibly years or maybe
