I flushed from the public displays of affection Adrian was currently making before I noticed we were at the front of the line. Adrian handed the man the two tickets he bought and the man led us into the ride.
“Now, all you have to do is stay standing with your back on the wall,” the man said, giving both Adrian and me a smile. “Try your best to stay on the wall throughout the entire ride and you should be fine.”
“Okay, thank you.” I smiled back and gave him a small nod, before taking my place next to Adrian on the ride.
The man locked Adrian’s chain in place before moving over to do mine. “Is he your boyfriend?” he asked me, looking over at Adrian. My gaze briefly flickered over to Adrian’s now stiff-posture just as he began to glare at the man.
“Yes, he is,” I replied, giving him a tight smile.
“He’s a lucky guy,” the man responded, causing me to flush in response.
“You’ll be a lucky man if you get away from her in 5 seconds,” Adrian growled, glaring at the man fiercely. The worker locked my chain in place before he nervously scurried off to help another random family that was getting onto the ride.
“Adrian!” I scolded. “He was being nice.”
“He was flirting with you!” Adrian exclaimed, giving me a look of disbelief.
“No, he wasn’t!”
“Yes he was,” Adrian snapped. “Anyway, we’re going home after this ride,” he grumbled, before sending another cold glare in the worker’s direction.
I rolled my eyes in response and waited for the ride to begin, not bothering to argue.
***
“You’re angry,” Adrian observed once we re-entered our apartment.
“I’m not angry,” I replied evenly while placing my handbag onto the sofa.
“Yes, you are. You’re doing that thing with your fingers where you unconsciously tap them on the side of your thighs three times. You only do that when you’re angry or when you’re waiting for something to print,” Adrian explained, giving me a pointed look.
“How… How did you even notice that?” I asked, my anger temporarily being pushed aside and replaced with shock.
“I like to watch you when you’re in your own little bubble, Shortcake,” he answered. “Just like I know that you frown and bite your lip when you’re curious or trying to find something out, or that you blush every time I kiss you and pull away. This was another thing I figured out.”
“Well, I’m happy for you,” I mumbled, going back to tapping my fingers on the sides of my thighs.
“Come on, what did I do this time?” Adrian asked in a whiney tone.
“Are you seriously asking that right now? Adrian, you made us come home from a carnival because a man told me that you’re a lucky guy. How, in any way, was he flirting with me in order for you to react like that?” I asked angrily.
“Shortcake, I’m a man-”
“Yes Adrian, I’ve noticed that,” I interrupted dryly.
He glared before continuing. “I know men well enough to know that even though they may look like they’re not flirting with you, they’re still looking you up and down and probably thinking about you naked because, let’s face it, you’re hot. I mean, I sure as hell did that when I first met you.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “You’re not normal,” I grumbled, making my way to our bedroom while peeling off my cardigan.
“Okay, I won’t ever do it again, happy? Come on, Shortcake. Tonight was meant to be about you and me, and the only thing I’ve found out about you is that you’re good with people, you don’t like your steak well done, you used to have a kitten named Hitler because it looked like he had a small moustache, you wanted to be a farmer when you were younger and that your favourite shirt is my Rolling Stones shirt. I didn’t even get enough time to guess your favourite colour!”
“Maybe that’s because you were too busy telling off the waiter and random men for looking at me!” I frowned.
Adrian sighed before nodding. “I admit that I am a little protective when it comes to you-”
“A little?!” I laughed, giving him a look of disbelief.
“But,” he continued, glaring at me for interrupting once again, “I do it because I like you and don’t want to lose you to anyone else. You’ve seen my moody and controlling sides, and what if you don’t want to put up with them one day and leave me for the waiter or that random man on the street? God, I sound like a fucking moron right now. Ignore me, I don’t know why I’ve suddenly become a slice of cheese.” Adrian grumbled, avoiding my gaze.
I couldn’t fight the smile that began to force its way onto my lips as I noticed a slight pink tint take over Adrian’s usually tanned cheeks before I walked over to his tall frame. “I won’t walk away from you for anyone unless you give me a reason to, Adrian. You just have to trust me,” I mumbled, making him meet my gaze.
He stared straight into my eyes for a few moments before I felt him relax in my arms as he nodded in understanding. “I do. Now… how about I do you?” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes and pushed him away from me just as he began to chuckle, and I shook my head in response. “I knew that wouldn’t last long.”
Adrian was suddenly in front of me again, and I felt him press his lips against mine desperately as he lifted me up and wrapped his arms around my waist. Once he pulled away, I gave him a questioning look and he shrugged.
“You’re a great kisser, Shortcake, did you know that?”
“You’re just saying that in hopes of getting more,” I responded flatly.
“Of course I am,” he agreed, smirking. “Anyway, our date isn’t over. What do you want to do?” he asked, looking over at me for a response.
I bit my lip and frowned in thought before grinning. “I have an idea.”
“I could physically see the bulb light up in that pretty little brain of yours, Shortcake. Please, enlighten me.” Adrian smirked, causing me to smack his arm in response.
“We can play a game like Never Have I Ever, except instead of saying ‘Never have I ever…’, we’ll ask each other ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions and we’ll use lollies as a substitute for alcohol if the answer is a yes, sound good?” I asked with a hopeful expression.
Adrian stared back at me for a few moments, looking blank, before he shook his head. “I can’t say no to you when you make that face. Fine, let’s do it. I prefer the alcohol though; just letting you know.”