The Summer of Lost Wishes by Nikki Chartier

Author:Nikki Chartier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nicole Chartier

The sparkling lights on the rides and game booths flicker like magical fireflies that were exported from a magical world. It’s as if they were given the night off from sparkle duty and invited to Coral Sands to light up the summertime sky. The colors swirl around like pieces of the sunset captured in bulbs.

I haven’t even walked through the gate yet, and I already feel the colors buzzing inside of me like adrenaline mixed with magical bumblebees. I bet this is the same place Seth met his mystery girl, the one who fascinated him and captivated him to a point that he was willing to put his entire future on the line just to be with her.

Seth was right about the carnival atmosphere. Maybe it is something about the lights or the smell of hot dogs and nachos. Maybe it’s the whirlwind of magic that is the carousel spinning or the sweetness of the cotton candy. But something about this place could make the biggest skeptic fall in love at a glance.

“Hector said they’re trying to find parking,” Rooks says, looking up from his phone. He slips it into his pocket and steps closer to me. “So what’s going on in that pretty head of yours? I can tell you’re thinking.”

“Flattery won’t give you my secrets, Mr. Carter,” I tell him, folding my arms over my chest. “You’re going to have to work harder than that to pick my brain.”

He narrows his eyes at me but smirks, which kills the serious vibe he was going for. I’m lucky that my poker face is better than his. There’s no way I would have told him that I think carnival lights put people under a love spell.

“I can’t believe you dragged us out here,” Hector mumbles as he and a brunette girl approach us. He’s clearly immune to the magic of this place.

“Hush,” she snaps back. “This is better than sitting at my house helping Mom plan for the big fifty-year anniversary memorial. This is something to do, so I’ll take it.”

Hector sighs in defeat and then throws his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder. “Natalie, meet Piper. You probably remember Rooks,” Hector says, motioning to Rooks and me with his free hand.

Natalie shrugs out from under her boyfriend’s arm. She’s not exactly what I expected. She wears cut-off jean shorts and a black baby tee with The Little Mermaid logo on it. I figured she’d be well-dressed, even for a summertime fair. She’d be presentable and not like a normal teen.

Natalie smiles. “Natalie Rhodes,” she says. “Daughter of Mayor Abigail Rhodes. Great-niece of Shark Island tragedy victim, Eileen Baker. You usually hear one of those phrases after you hear my name, but really, I just prefer Natalie.”

“Piper Davenport,” I say. “Girl who just moved into the Calloway Cottage. Hopefully I’ll be able to drop that phrase once the newness wears off.”

She laughs. “I really hate to be the one to tell you, but that will never wear off. This town refuses to let anyone move on.

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