The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

Seth, he talks to Kayden. I hear Luke being vague as to why we’re together and I wonder if Kayden’s still mad.
     
     “Seth’s in.” I raise my hips to shove my phone back into my pocket. “And he said he was going to call Kayden to see if he wants a ride… if he’s going.”
     
    Luke repeats what I say to Kayden, and then he snaps his phone shut, rubbing the back of his upper arm where he got the insulin shot. “Kayden says he’s in, too.” He opens the door and hops out, slanting back into the cab to snatch the keys from the ignition. “I told him we’d meet him over by the Zipper.”
     
    I climb out, push the door shut with my hip, and meet him around at the other side of the truck. I take in all the crazy, spinning rides. “The Zipper? That one sounds interesting.”
     
    He chuckles as we hike across the parking lot toward the gated entrance. “Yeah, we’ll see if you’re still saying that when you see it.”
     
    ***
     
    We’re waiting in line for a ride that has a long metal center with cages attached to it. Each cage flips around as the middle section whips in a circular motion, so there is double the spin. The lights twinkle and some heavy rock music plays so loudly I can barely hear the screams from inside the cages. I watch it spin around and around, psyching myself out while Luke texts on his phone.
     
    “Are you going to make it?” Kayden’s breath caresses my neck as his voice touches my eardrum.
     
    I turn my head and his lips nearly touch mine. The abrupt closeness throws him off as much as it does me and we both take a step back at the same time.
     
    He’s wearing a loose fitted pair of jeans, boots, and a long sleeve black shirt. His dark hair looks a little wet, like he just got out of the shower before he came here.
     
    He’s gorgeous , I admit to myself. It’s the first time I’ve been able to admit that about a guy in a very long time.
     
    “You look freaked out,” he shouts over the music as he leans closer. “Are you seriously considering riding that thing?”
     
    “Maybe…” I slant my neck back, tipping my head up at the ride. “But it goes so high up.”
     
    Pink and yellow lights dance across his face as he glances at the ride and then looks me in the eyes. “How about we share a cage?”
     
    “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I say. “In fact, I think it’s a very bad idea.”
     
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” The corners of his lips quirk as his gaze darkens. “Don’t you trust me?”
     
    “Yes, I trust you,” I say. “But I don’t want to end up throwing up on you.”
     
    “You’ll be okay,” he assures me, nudging his shoulder into mine and then he winks at me. There’s something different about him tonight; he’s freer and I think he might be flirting with me. “I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. In fact, you can hold my hand the entire time.”
     
    Where was he during my twelfth birthday? Probably playing hide-and-seek with the rest of the kids.
     
    “Alright, I’ll ride with you,” I say with hesitance. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
     
    “Warning taken and rejected.” He interlocks his fingers through mine as he jerks me forward with the moving line.
     
    “I’m sitting this one out,” Luke calls out as he drifts over to the bench with his attention on his phone. “I got some stuff I got to take care of.”
     
    “Where’s Seth?” I ask, glancing around at the booths, the games, and the trailers with food, trying not to make a big deal that Kayden’s holding my hand.
     
    But it’s all I notice.
     
    “He went to meet up with someone.” Kayden steps forward and I move my feet with him. “He said to tell you that he would catch up with us in a little bit and to relax and have fun.”
     
    I scrunch my nose at the ride. “And this qualifies as fun?”
     
    “Oh yeah.” He tugs me toward the guy running the ride, who’s dressed in a blue polo shirt, old jeans, and a trucker’s hat. “You’ll have a blast.”
     
    I show the guy the stamp on my hand and then Kayden puts his arm in front of me to show him the stamp on his. As he pulls back, his hand unintentionally grazes my boob and I blink at the tingling sensation it elicits.
     
    The ticket guy unlocks the gate for us and we walk up the ramp. Kayden lets go of my hand so I can hop into the cage. Once I’m in the seat with my feet planted firmly on the bottom, he joins me. Without any preparation,