Nelumbo Nucifera by Cristina Slough

Author:Cristina Slough [Slough, Cristina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Bella Tulip Publishing
Published: 2017-01-23T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Gaby

Back on the shore, there was little conversation between Gaby and Ben, but the silence was comfortable, the smiles warm and genuine. It was as if they were absorbing the moment that they had just shared, especially Gaby. Mostly, it surprised her how comfortable she felt. The last thing she had been looking for was romance; even when she fantasized about a new life when the walls of hate surrounded her with Kyle, a new life never involved another man. Gaby’s gaze wandered back to the ocean when Ben came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. “Thank you for an amazing afternoon. I want to do this again.”

Gaby felt her stomach stir. She had felt drunk on the enchantment of the ocean. Being back on dry land reminded her of all the demons that she was trying to suppress.

Ben turned Gaby around to face him and brushed his fingertip gently over her lips. He pulled her close to him; his skin smelt of salt and sun cream. She wanted to resist him, but as he rested his forehead against hers, she felt a magnetic pull towards him. He pulled her in for another kiss, this time more deeply than he had out on the boat. She felt his fingers pressing into the small of her back, and just like before; he seemed to have a knack to disperse the knots of anxiety that kneaded together in her entire being.

“Tonight, eight o’clock. Be ready,” Ben said pulling a strand of Gaby’s hair out of her eyes with the flick of his fingers.

“Ready for what?”

A smile spread across his face. “I’m going to take you out on a real date. But don’t dress up, okay?”

***

The market had been transformed by glittering flashing lights. The smell of hot dogs, candy floss, and fuel from the rides mixed together in the warm air; bumper cars whizzed around in circles, and vivid lights spun as the Ferris wheel made a full turn. Everywhere Gaby looked she could see happy faces and children dragging around stuffed toys that were bigger than them. Ben took Gaby by the hand as they weaved in and out of the crowds. They walked past an ice-cream vendor when Ben stopped dead in his tracks. “My weakness; want one?”

He bought Gaby a single scoop of strawberry in a tub and a chocolate cone for himself. He swirled his tongue around the scoop as chocolate started dripping down the cone and onto his hands. “Don’t laugh; ice cream tastes so much better this way. It’s the way that it should be eaten.” After they had finished their ice cream, Ben reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Every bed needs a bear, right?” he said pointing to a stall lined with giant stuffed animals; old tin cans were stacked on a platform.

“Five dollars gets you three balls; knock three tins down you get the bronze prize; four gets you silver; knock ‘em all down, and you get the gold,” the woman with long dark hair and tattooed sleeves said.

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