"So where are we going?" Lesley asked, adjusting the hem of her jeans as she studied herself in the mirror. "And why did you choose these outfits for us?"
Denisse was standing just behind her reflection, already dressed the same way—casual jeans, plain tee, sneakers, cap. Simple. Unfussy. Almost like they were trying not to be seen.
Almost
"You'll see," Denisse said, and she didn't even try to hide the excitement in her voice.
Lesley noticed it immediately.
That little lift in her tone. The way she couldn't stand still for more than a second.
Before Lesley could press further, Denisse stepped in behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist.
The warmth of her pressed through the thin fabric of her shirt, grounding her instantly.
"You still look pretty even like this," Denisse murmured.
Lesley caught her reflection just in time to see Denisse tilt her head, eyes soft.
Then Denisse leaned in and kissed her.
It wasn't rushed.
It wasn't teasing.
It lingered just long enough for Lesley to forget she had been talking at all.
Lesley kissed her back without thinking.
Longer than she meant to.
Long enough that the world outside the mirror stopped mattering entirely.
When Denisse finally pulled away, she exhaled a quiet laugh and gently wiped at the faint smudge of lipstick on Lesley's lips with her thumb.
"Hey, hey," she said, half breathless now, half amused. "Stop. This is going to lead to something else."
Lesley smirked.
"Can you blame me if my date is this irresistible?"
Denisse rolled her eyes immediately, but there was no real annoyance in it.
"Come on. We need to go."
"Okay, okay," Lesley said lightly. "Lead the way, gorgeous."
The drive felt shorter than it should have.
Or maybe Lesley just wasn't paying attention.
Denisse insisted on driving, hands steady on the wheel, one hand occasionally tapping against the steering like she was trying to contain her own anticipation.
Lesley watched the city shift outside the window—buildings giving way to open space, then water, then something wider
When they finally pulled in and Denisse parked, Lesley stepped out first.
The moment her shoes hit the pavement, she looked up.
And then she stopped.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"I knew it," she murmured.
Denisse walked around the car, locking it behind her.
"Surprise!"
Lesley tilted her head toward the entrance ahead.
Heartland Harbor.
An amusement park.
Bright and alive.
Denisse looked almost proud of herself.
"Today is going to be fun."
Lesley let out a quiet breath, something between a laugh and surrender.
"I really hope so."
Before Lesley could properly process what was happening, Denisse had already dragged her through the amusement park gates and into a winding line that snaked toward a towering roller coaster.
The structure loomed overhead like a steel monster, its tracks twisting against the bright afternoon sky. Every few seconds, a train screamed past, carrying a chorus of delighted shrieks and terrified yells.
Lesley watched one of the cars plunge down a near-vertical drop.
Her stomach immediately tightened.
"Aren't we a little too old for this kind of ride?" she asked, forcing her voice into something casual.
Denisse glanced back at her, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Of course not. Roller coasters are for everyone."
The answer came so quickly that Lesley knew there would be no changing her mind.
She searched desperately for alternatives.
"We could just play arcade games." She pointed toward a nearby building flashing with colorful lights and blinking machines. "That seems fun."
"Nope. That can be for later."
Lesley sighed.
"Or maybe we could ride bikes?" She gestured toward a track where children zigzagged past each other, laughing. "Look. They seem to be enjoying that."
Denisse followed her finger for half a second.
"That'll be next."
"But—"
"Wait."
Denisse's eyes narrowed.
A slow, dangerous grin spread across her face.
Lesley immediately recognized that grin.
It was the grin of someone who had found fresh material to bully her with.
Her heart sank.
"Are you afraid of amusement rides?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Of course not."
Denisse folded her arms.
"Then tell me you've ridden one before."
The line shuffled forward.
Lesley shuffled with it, suddenly finding the cracks in the pavement incredibly interesting.
"I may have."
"Oh, this is already suspicious."
"I have."
Denisse pointed at her.
"What ride?"
Lesley's brain opened a blank document and saved it.
"...A moving one."
For a moment, Denisse simply stared.
Then she barked out a laugh.
"A moving one?"
"Yes."
"At the amusement park?"
"That's usually where they keep them."
Denisse nearly choked.
"Lesley, everything here moves."
"Not the benches."
A snort escaped Denisse.
A nearby teenager overheard and started laughing too.
Lesley wished the queue would open up and swallow her whole.
"Fine," she muttered. "I rode a carousel once, okay?"
The laughter stopped.
For one glorious second, Lesley thought she had survived.
Then Denisse doubled over.
"A carousel?"
"It counts."
"It absolutely does not count."
"It moves."
"It moves at the speed of retirement."
"It still moved."
Denisse laughed so hard she had to brace herself against Lesley's shoulder.
"Oh my God."
Lesley crossed her arms.
"I was six."
"You've gone your entire life without riding a roller coaster?"
"I've been busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"Surviving."
Denisse wheezed.
"So this is your first roller coaster?"
"...Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Legally, yes."
"Legally?"
Lesley sighed.
"The horse on the carousel went up and down very aggressively."
At that point, Denisse completely lost it.
"The very Lesley Nicole Ashford is afraid of roller coasters."
"I am not."
"Sure."
"I am not."
Denisse's grin only widened.
Their row was called.
Before Lesley could formulate another excuse, she found herself being guided into the front seat.
The front.
Of all places.
The over-the-shoulder restraint folded down over her shoulders and chest, holding her securely before locking with a reassuring click.
The sound felt alarmingly permanent.
Denisse settled beside her, perfectly relaxed.
Meanwhile, Lesley could hear her own pulse pounding in her ears.
The train lurched forward.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The chain lift pulled them higher.
The amusement park slowly unfolded beneath them.
Colorful tents.
Spinning rides.
Tiny crowds moving along the pathways.
The higher they climbed, the smaller everything became.
A cool breeze brushed against Lesley's face.
She swallowed hard.
Maybe this wasn't so bad.
Maybe people exaggerated roller coasters.
Maybe—
Denisse reached across the narrow space between them, laced their fingers together, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Just scream, okay?"
Lesley turned.
The sunlight caught Denisse's smile.
She looked happy.
Not just excited.
Happy.
The kind of happy that softened her eyes and made the whole world seem lighter around her.
For a moment, the fear loosened its grip.
If Denisse could smile like that because she wanted to share this with her...
Then maybe Lesley could survive one stupid roller coaster.
The train reached the top.
Silence.
A brief, impossible pause.
Then the tracks disappeared beneath them.
Lesley's soul immediately attempted to leave her body.
"WHAT THE FUUUUUCK!"
The coaster dropped.
Wind slammed into her face.
The world became a blur of sky, steel, and pure panic.
Beside her, Denisse threw her hands into the air.
"WOOOOOOOH!"
"Oh my God!"
The words ripped from Lesley's throat.
"GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
The train twisted.
Her stomach vanished.
The horizon flipped sideways.
A scream escaped her before she could stop it.
"This is fun, right?" Denisse yelled over the roar.
"NOOOOO!"
Another turn.
Another drop.
Lesley held onto the harness for dear life, squeezing so hard her fingers ached.
"JUST MAKE ME RUN UP THE STAIRS FROM THE LOBBY TO MY OFFICE ON HEELS EVERY DAY!"
The train plunged again.
"BUT NEVER MAKE ME RIDE A ROLLER COASTER AGAIN!"
Denisse's laughter was immediately swallowed by the wind.
It was bright and uncontrollable.
Infectious.
Somewhere in the middle of another terrifying drop, Lesley realized something strange.
She was laughing too.
Not because she wasn't scared.
She absolutely was.
Her heart felt seconds away from exploding.
But the fear had become tangled with exhilaration.
With the rush of speed.
With Denisse's laughter ringing beside her.
With the realization that she was doing something ridiculous and reckless and completely outside her comfort zone.
The coaster thundered through another turn.
Lesley screamed.
Then laughed.
Then screamed again.
And for the first time since the ride had begun, she wasn't entirely sure which one she meant.
Hours slipped by without either of them noticing.
What had started as Denisse dragging her onto a roller coaster somehow turned into them trying nearly every attraction in the park.
And, to Lesley's surprise, she was actually having fun.
A ridiculous amount of fun.
At one of the carnival booths, she stood with a handful of baseballs while Denisse watched from beside her.
"Come on, sharpshooter," Denisse teased. "Win me something expensive."
"The giant bear?"
"The giant bear."
"The one that's bigger than you?"
"Especially that one."
Lesley rolled her eyes and threw the first ball.
Clang.
A can toppled over.
Then another.
Then another.
By the last throw, every can was scattered across the counter.
The booth attendant looked mildly annoyed.
Denisse looked thrilled.
"What a shot!"
Before Lesley could react, Denisse grabbed her arm and bounced excitedly beside her.
The giant stuffed bear was promptly forced into Lesley's arms.
"I thought you wanted this."
"I do."
"Then why am I carrying it?"
"Because you're stronger."
Lesley stared at her.
Denisse smiled innocently.
The bear remained in Lesley's custody for the rest of the afternoon.
Naturally.
The shooting gallery wasn't much better.
Lesley managed to pop every balloon while Denisse cheered louder than anyone else there.
At one point, a little kid nearby looked genuinely offended.
The prizes accumulated.
A rabbit.
A bear.
Something that vaguely resembled a dinosaur.
By sunset, Lesley looked less like a woman on a date and more like someone attempting to smuggle an entire toy store out of the park.
Eventually they escaped to a quieter corner with fresh cotton candy in hand.
The sky glowed orange and pink overhead as they settled onto a bench.
"Here."
Lesley handed one of the fluffy pink clouds to Denisse.
"Thank you."
Denisse smiled and immediately leaned forward to take a bite.
At the exact same moment, Lesley did too.
Their faces ended up far closer than either had intended.
For a second, neither moved.
Their eyes met.
Then both burst out laughing.
"You're stealing my cotton candy."
"I literally bought it."
"That doesn't make it yours."
"It absolutely does."
Denisse took another exaggerated bite.
Lesley shook her head, unable to stop smiling.
The laughter faded into something softer.
Comfortable.
Easy.
She watched Denisse happily nibble at the cotton candy, strands of pink sugar sticking to her fingers.
A warm feeling settled somewhere inside Lesley's chest.
The realization came quietly.
She liked this.
Not the rides.
Not the games.
Not even the amusement park itself.
She liked this.
Being with Denisse.
Everything somehow became more enjoyable when she was around.
Before Lesley could dwell on that thought too long, Denisse spotted the bicycle rentals.
Five minutes later they were standing beside a row of parked bikes.
Denisse immediately pointed at one.
Then froze.
"Wait."
"What?"
"I don't know how to ride a bike."
Lesley blinked.
"You don't?"
"No."
"At all?"
"No."
The admission seemed to physically pain her.
A grin tugged at Lesley's lips.
"I'll teach you."
Denisse looked horrified.
That only made Lesley smile more.
She pulled a bicycle from the rack and wheeled it over.
"Come here."
Without thinking, she held out her hand.
Denisse looked at it for a moment before placing hers in it.
Warm.
Soft.
Lesley quickly looked away and focused on the bike.
"Okay. Hold the handlebars."
Denisse obeyed.
"Put one foot on the pedal."
Done.
"The other stays on the ground."
"Okay."
"Now balance."
"Oh God."
Lesley laughed.
"You'll be fine."
"Don't let go."
"I won't promise that."
"LESLEY."
The panic in her voice nearly made Lesley lose composure.
Slowly, Denisse pushed off.
The bicycle wobbled immediately.
"Oh God."
"You're fine."
"Oh God."
"You are literally fine."
"Oh God."
"That's not helpful feedback."
Denisse glared at her.
The bicycle veered slightly.
Lesley steadied it.
Another pedal.
Another wobble.
Then another.
Gradually, the movements became smoother.
More confident.
"Oh my God."
A grin spread across Denisse's face.
"I'm riding it."
"Yes, you are."
"I'm actually riding it."
"You are."
The happiness lighting up her face was impossible to miss.
And somehow, seeing that smile felt better than winning every game in the park combined.
Carefully, Lesley loosened her grip.
Then let go entirely.
She jogged alongside the bicycle just in case.
"See?" she said. "You can do it."
Denisse turned toward her.
A triumphant smile already forming.
Then she noticed.
Lesley wasn't holding the bike anymore.
The smile vanished instantly.
"Oh my God, why did you—"
The bicycle swerved.
Panic took over.
The handlebars twisted.
Gravity prepared to collect its payment.
Before the bike could fully tip, Lesley lunged forward.
She caught both the bicycle and Denisse at the same time.
The impact pushed them together.
For a moment, Denisse was pressed against her chest.
Safe.
Breathing hard.
"Easy there."
Denisse groaned dramatically.
"Why did you let go?"
"Because you were doing it."
"You said you wouldn't."
"I specifically said I wouldn't promise."
"That's lawyer behavior."
Lesley laughed.
"It's called teaching."
Denisse folded her arms.
"It's called betrayal."
"You were riding perfectly."
"That's not the point."
"Then what's the point?"
Denisse looked at her.
The joking expression softened.
"Even if I can do things on my own..."
Her voice grew quieter.
"...I still want you there."
The words hit Lesley harder than any roller coaster ever had.
Something tightened painfully inside her chest.
Warm.
Hopeful.
Dangerous.
For a brief moment, the noise of the amusement park faded into the background.
Could she mean—
"Lesley!"
The spell shattered instantly.
Denisse was suddenly several steps away, pointing excitedly toward another rental bike.
"This one!"
Lesley blinked.
"What?"
"This one has a seat in the back."
Denisse pointed to a bicycle nearby.
"Problem solved."
A few minutes later, they were rolling down one of the park's pathways.
Lesley pedaled while Denisse rode behind her.
The evening breeze drifted through the trees as lights began flickering on around the park.
Then she felt it.
Arms slipping around her waist.
Warm and secure.
Denisse rested comfortably against her back.
Lesley's grip tightened slightly on the handlebars.
Her heartbeat immediately forgot how to behave.
Behind her, Denisse hummed happily, completely unaware of the effect she was having.
Or maybe she was aware.
Which was somehow even worse.
The bicycle rolled forward beneath the glow of the park lights while Lesley tried very hard to focus on the road ahead.
And very hard not to smile like an idiot.