CHAPTER 20
EMILIA
The ride starts, and I hit the gas, aiming straight for Liam. His eyes go wide-then BAM! I crash into him, sending his car spinning.
“Oh, you’re gonna regret that,” he yells, quickly recovering.
I laugh, swerving just as he tries to hit me back. He misses.
“That all you got, Mr. Beverage Ad Guy?”
His eyes narrow. “You are so dead.”
We race around the arena, bumping into each other, dodging, laughing. Kids are screaming, cars are crashing-it’s complete chaos all around us.
At some point, Liam gets stuck in a corner, and I don’t waste the chance. I slam into him three times.
“Are you serious?” he groans, gripping the wheel like it betrayed him.
I flip my hair dramatically. “Some of us are just naturally talented, Liam.”
The ride slows to a stop, and I hop out, grinning. Liam stays behind, rubbing his jaw like he’s thinking way too hard about something.
“What?” I ask, raising a brow. “Sore loser? Not surprising, honestly-”
“So, what would you actually want for your birthday?”
I don’t expect the question.
I blink. “Huh?”
Liam shrugs casually, but something tells me he isn’t as casual as he seems. “If someone-hypothetically-wanted to get you a gift that wasn’t an allergic reaction, what would it be?”
I tilt my head, caught off guard. He’s still thinking about what I said earlier? I just mentioned it in passing, but he ac- tually remembered. And has obviously been thinking hard about it, too. It’s… oddly sweet.
I don’t answer right away. As we leave the arena and wander through the park, I try to think of a real answer. No one’ s ever asked me that before. And I want to be honest.
“Hmm…” I hum, still thinking. “I guess something thoughtful. It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive—but I wouldn’t mind if it is.” After saying that, I wink at him and he gives me a flat look, so I decide to be serious for once.
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“Just something that shows they really know me.”
“Like what?”
I laugh lightly and glance at him, ready to tease him a bit and I almost don’t when I catch the way the lights hit his face just right.
It’s annoying, really, how effortlessly good he looks. The sharp cut of his jaw, the way his blond hair falls a little out of place, like he ran a hand through it one too many times. And those clear blue eyes, completely focused on me and whatever it is I’m about to say.
I shake the thought away, forcing a smirk. “If you wanted to take notes, you should’ve brought a pen and paper.”
Liam rolls his eyes and mutters a soft: “Ha fucking ha. Very funny.” But he’s still waiting.
I roll my eyes, but my heart beats a little faster anyway. Stupid. I pretend to think extra hard, just to mess with him, then grin. “Alright, fine. I’d love a photo album.”
His eyebrows lift. “A photo album?”
“Yup.” I nod. “I don’t have a lot of pictures. And I like the idea of having memories saved, so I can go back to them whenever I want. But I’m terrible at taking pictures. And crazily unphotogenic. So, I guess that dream’s out.”
Liam nods. “Makes sense. I can’t imagine anyone actually wanting to take a picture of you.”
“Hey!” I gasp, clutching my chest. “I’m offended! What happened to the nice guy from two weeks ago?”
I’d actually been wondering about this. Ever since I saw Liam again, he wasn’t trying to play the golden boy card with me like he was before. Now he just seems… more himself.
But instead of answering, he completely ignores me.
“Wow,” I say. “Rude.”
Since Liam is still pretending I don’t exist, I take the chance to check out one of the park maps. After a few seconds, I spot the perfect next destination.
I glance at Liam who’s still brooding. Still ignoring me.
Fine. If he wants to sulk, I’ll make things fun.
Barely five minutes later, we’re standing in front of a haunted house. A flickering neon sign above us reads The Dev- il’s Playground, complete with eerie sound effects and distant screams from inside.
Liam finally shows signs of life.
“This is a terrible idea,” he mutters.
I tsk. So now your mouth works, huh?
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I grab his shoulder, pulling him closer. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you’re scared?”
His jaw tightens. “I just don’t see the point in paying to get traumatized.”
I grin, grabbing his wrist and dragging him toward the entrance. “Too late. No refunds.”
“It’s not your money.’
“Your money is my money, baby.”
Before he can argue, we step inside-and the darkness swallows us whole.
Fog creeps along the floor, eerie whispers echo from hidden speakers, and somewhere in the distance, something scratches against the walls. Liam walks stiffly beside me, arms crossed, eyes darting like he’s waiting for something
to attack.
I barely take two steps forward when-
A bloodcurdling scream rips through the air.
A figure lunges from the shadows, pale and covered in fake blood.
Liam flinches so hard he nearly knocks me over.
I wheeze, gripping my stomach. “Oh my god. You ARE scared!”
His glare can melt steel. “That was unexpected.”
“Sure, sure.” I wipe away a fake tear, still giggling.
We keep moving, winding through dimly lit hallways. My amusement only grows every time Liam tenses at a sudden noise. Just as we turn a corner, something cold brushes against my ankle.
I freeze.
“What?” Liam asks, eyes narrowing.
I gulp. “Did… did you feel that?”
Before he can answer, a hand shoots out from the darkness, grabbing my leg.
I let out a scream so loud it probably deafens Liam.
“Who’s scared now?” he taunts, smirking as I clutch his arm like my life depends on it.
I scowl, still shaken. “Shut up.”
But I don’t let go of his arm for the rest of the way.
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