“It’s beautiful up here,” I said softly.

“Yeah.” I felt Kent’s eyes on me so I looked up. He was looking down at me. That old look in his eyes, the look that always made me think he was about to kiss me. We stared at each other for a long moment but it was broken by the jerking of the ride coming to a stop. Our ride was over, the magic broken. I laughed nervously and tried to sit up and pull away but Kent held onto my shoulder. “Elly…” I waited for him to finish but he never did. He let me go and put his hands on his knees. “Damn. I should’ve snapped a picture up there.”

“There’s always next time,” I murmured as I straightened up and looked down. Only two more carts before we unloaded. Suddenly I couldn’t wait. The reminiscing had only led to yet another let down. Kent wasn’t in love with me. He didn’t feel for me that way, no matter what his stupid deceiving eyes said. I was a fool for thinking that just because my outsides had improved that he was going to fall all over me. He wasn’t interested.

On the way back to campus I turned the station to rock and let it mellow us out. Kent stopped in front of my dorm and put the car into park. I’d been dreading this moment. I hadn’t wanted today to end.

I smiled as I unbuckled. “Thanks for today. It was fun.”

“Sure. I’ll see you in class on Monday.”

I nodded and got out of the car. “Bye, Kent.”

After I’d made it inside the dorm, I saw his car pull away. I spent the rest of the night dreaming about what should’ve happened on the Ferris wheel.

Chapter Eight

I looked around the crowded coffee shop nervously. I was about to break my public singing cherry and I wished like hell that I had someone here to support me. I had invited a few people who I knew wouldn’t make fun of me but none of them had shown up. I was hoping that Kent would show up, with or without Jen but so far I hadn’t seen him either. And I had a feeling in my gut that he wasn’t going to show.

Before I knew it, my name was announced. I figured it was a waste of time but I looked around one more time before stepping up onto the stage. I was looking for a tall, dark-haired man. The same tall, dark-haired man who I’d grown up with. I was even looking for his tall blonde companion but I didn’t see either of them in the sea of faces.