They giggled like schoolboys and continued to banter as the line inched forward. Finally, it was their turn to ride. The roller coaster wasn’t as intense as it had been when Zack was a kid—it had seemed a lot higher and faster back then—but it had enough twists and turns to delight even a hardened coaster veteran. Plus, having John next to him made it all the more exciting.

As soon as they took off, John grabbed his hand, making Zack’s already-pounding heart jump into his throat. Adrenaline—just the way John had described it—tingled down his spine even as they flew above the earth. The sensations were made all the more real by John’s hand squeezing his tight, like it was the only thing keeping him from hurtling off into the stratosphere. Even so, Zack felt like he was flying.

The ride was over far too soon. They managed to wobble to the far side of the pier before Zack collapsed against the railing. He gathered himself and looked out over the water. The sun was much lower in the sky now, sending bright orange and pink light glancing off the waves. John fell against him a moment later and pressed their lips together. Zack was still too high from the roller coaster to care that they were in public. His heart seemed to think he was still rocketing through the air, the way it was pounding. It made touching John almost unbearably intense.

Zack gasped. “I’m so hot for you right now.”

John squeezed him tighter. “Me too. Now you know why I’m such a junkie.”

“Yeah, I could get behind this.” He shuddered. “It almost doesn’t seem real.”

“It’s technically not. The intense attraction you’re feeling right now is a psychological response to being in perceived danger, and—” John stopped. “You know what? That’s the least sexy thing I’ve ever said.”

Zack forced himself not to laugh. “You’re just a big ol’ nerd, aren’t you?”

John looked sheepish, but he nodded.

“That’s so cute, I can barely stand it.”

John’s face split into a grin. “I read about it in a psych class I had to take. Apparently, we find people more attractive after we’ve experienced something frightening.”

“So, all this desire I’m feeling for you isn’t real?” Zack pressed closer to John. “Because it feels pretty real.”

John kissed him again. “It’s real. I know it is, because I felt it long before I first saw you.”

Zack’s knees went weak. Before he could decide he no longer had a problem with PDA, John pulled away and reached for his hand. “Let’s walk down to the end of the pier. I have something I want to talk to you about. Now seems like a good time.”