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I press my lips to her hair She smells like honey and vanilla

"Sweet Brooke I like you nervous You get very honest with ether "What? When have I ever been nervous with you?"

She thinks I miss it, the way she peels back a layer of that impetuous exterior of hers to take a breath and slon The wide eyed look she seeive herself, not et caught si, yes These aren’t obvious moments with Brooke and she recovers fro her hip "The alley I kissed you in Your shop practically every tih You seemed a bit flushed, yeah?" I smile at her "I was too I felt that kiss the entire day"

Her lips part, her eyes drop to my mouth "Yeah," she says on a rushed exhale

Not a question She isn’t askingthe truth, which I sure as fuck a that kiss, or if I will

She’s agreeing with me Another layer is exposed, and I want to keep her like this, open and unconcerned with revealing toothat I’ll not only like every honest ives me, I’ll protect them for her

But before I can ask her to elaborate on that single perfect word, Brooke presses her hand against ression

"This is it"

I look up at the building we’ve stopped in front of The large sign set off in neon colors and strobe lights The hordes of children scurrying in and out of the door with tickets and carnival prizes

This is it? This is what she has inclose to this

I s around her back "Are we playing skee-ball, gorgeous? I must warn you, I’ a lady win si honest in that"

She stands on her toes, getting as close tooverto let you in on a little secret, Mason," she ainstmy head down "Yeah? What’s that?"

"I’m not a lady Not even close And I’s e space is dark and noisy, awarding sounds froh the speakers Children rush past us, alive with laughter and exuberance Parents are lined up against the wall engaging each other in conversation while keeping an eye out

I look around the roo aside from the staff, Brooke and I are the only adults in this place who aren’t here to chaperone