Read Finding Serenity (Serenity Beach) for Free Online
Authors: Hunter J. Keane
and added, “And what is he doing with you?”
Kennedy had been holding back so far, but she couldn’t remain patient forever. “You look very nice tonight, Nolan.”
“Thanks.” This time, there was no doubt that Nolan was blushing. Adorable. “You look lovely as always, Kennedy.”
She fanned her face with her hand. “Marry him, Jordyn. I mean it.”
“We can’t get married. I’m not even pregnant.”
Nolan laughed at the joke and added, “Yet.”
“I think I like this guy,” Brian said. He looked around suspiciously. “Is it just me, or are people looking at us?”
“Not us,” Kennedy said. “They’re looking at Nolan.”
I hadn’t noticed, but a small group had gathered around us. The typical demographic was teenage boys, but a few older fans lingered as well. Nolan avoided looking at any of them.
“It’s better to just ignore them,” he said. “People are just curious.”
“If you ignore them, do they go away?” I couldn’t imagine living life under a microscope all the time.
“Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Other times they ask for pictures and autographs. That part is a little flattering. On rare occasions, it can turn into a bit of a mob. That part is a little less fun.”
“That doesn’t sound very fun at all.” I looked to make sure no one had mob-intentions in the works.
“Maybe I should’ve worn the hat,” Nolan joked.
“Nah. I like preppy Nolan.” I reached out and tousled his hair, a bold move for me by all accounts. When he stared at me in surprise, I worried that I had gone too far.
“That’s going to end up on the internet,” he said with a smile.
I checked the crowd again and nearly everyone had their phones out, snapping pictures of Nolan, and now me. “Is that a bad thing?”
“I’m okay with it.” He held out his hand. “Should we walk around?”
“Definitely.”
Some members of our audience followed us around the carnival, snapping pictures whenever Nolan smiled, or laughed, or breathed. He seemed oblivious, but I was incredibly self-conscious of every move we made. I tried not to stand too close to Nolan, tried not to look at him too much. Both of those things were nearly impossible as I found myself more and more drawn to him as the night progressed.
We made it to the other side of the carnival, which was only a block or so away. The whole thing was just as lame as I had feared. “Should we play a game or something?” I suggested.
“I believe it’s pretty much required that I win you some sort of prize. Perhaps a giant stuffed animal?”
“Ah, yes. And you should win it by demonstrating your masculine strength.” I pointed to a nearby booth. “Hitting that punching bag as hard as possible?”
Nolan held out his hand. “I can’t damage these babies. They’re my livelihood.”
I nodded slowly. “Wait. I’ve got it.”
I hurried him over to the booth that was perfect for him. “Show me your stuff.”
“Really?” He gave the pyramid of milk bottles a hesitant look. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“Oh come on! I really want a prize.” I bat my eyes flirtatiously. “Please?”
He groaned. “It’s not really fair. I’m a professional thrower of baseballs.”
“Then it should be easy for you,” I said with a playful smile.
“My shoulder is still healing.” He rolled it slowly. “I may not be back at the top of my game.”
“If you really think you can’t do it…” I pretended to be disappointed. “We can always find a different game. Maybe that one where you squirt water guns? The six-year-olds seem to love that one.”
Nolan threw up his hands. “Fine. I’ll knock down those bottles for you.”
The young teen manning the booth looked at Nolan in surprise as he slapped down a twenty. “Aren’t you Nolan Meyers?” he asked.
“That’s what they tell me,” he replied, twirling one of the baseballs in his hand. His face was hard with concentration.
“Aren’t you still recovering?” The
Kennedy had been holding back so far, but she couldn’t remain patient forever. “You look very nice tonight, Nolan.”
“Thanks.” This time, there was no doubt that Nolan was blushing. Adorable. “You look lovely as always, Kennedy.”
She fanned her face with her hand. “Marry him, Jordyn. I mean it.”
“We can’t get married. I’m not even pregnant.”
Nolan laughed at the joke and added, “Yet.”
“I think I like this guy,” Brian said. He looked around suspiciously. “Is it just me, or are people looking at us?”
“Not us,” Kennedy said. “They’re looking at Nolan.”
I hadn’t noticed, but a small group had gathered around us. The typical demographic was teenage boys, but a few older fans lingered as well. Nolan avoided looking at any of them.
“It’s better to just ignore them,” he said. “People are just curious.”
“If you ignore them, do they go away?” I couldn’t imagine living life under a microscope all the time.
“Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Other times they ask for pictures and autographs. That part is a little flattering. On rare occasions, it can turn into a bit of a mob. That part is a little less fun.”
“That doesn’t sound very fun at all.” I looked to make sure no one had mob-intentions in the works.
“Maybe I should’ve worn the hat,” Nolan joked.
“Nah. I like preppy Nolan.” I reached out and tousled his hair, a bold move for me by all accounts. When he stared at me in surprise, I worried that I had gone too far.
“That’s going to end up on the internet,” he said with a smile.
I checked the crowd again and nearly everyone had their phones out, snapping pictures of Nolan, and now me. “Is that a bad thing?”
“I’m okay with it.” He held out his hand. “Should we walk around?”
“Definitely.”
Some members of our audience followed us around the carnival, snapping pictures whenever Nolan smiled, or laughed, or breathed. He seemed oblivious, but I was incredibly self-conscious of every move we made. I tried not to stand too close to Nolan, tried not to look at him too much. Both of those things were nearly impossible as I found myself more and more drawn to him as the night progressed.
We made it to the other side of the carnival, which was only a block or so away. The whole thing was just as lame as I had feared. “Should we play a game or something?” I suggested.
“I believe it’s pretty much required that I win you some sort of prize. Perhaps a giant stuffed animal?”
“Ah, yes. And you should win it by demonstrating your masculine strength.” I pointed to a nearby booth. “Hitting that punching bag as hard as possible?”
Nolan held out his hand. “I can’t damage these babies. They’re my livelihood.”
I nodded slowly. “Wait. I’ve got it.”
I hurried him over to the booth that was perfect for him. “Show me your stuff.”
“Really?” He gave the pyramid of milk bottles a hesitant look. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“Oh come on! I really want a prize.” I bat my eyes flirtatiously. “Please?”
He groaned. “It’s not really fair. I’m a professional thrower of baseballs.”
“Then it should be easy for you,” I said with a playful smile.
“My shoulder is still healing.” He rolled it slowly. “I may not be back at the top of my game.”
“If you really think you can’t do it…” I pretended to be disappointed. “We can always find a different game. Maybe that one where you squirt water guns? The six-year-olds seem to love that one.”
Nolan threw up his hands. “Fine. I’ll knock down those bottles for you.”
The young teen manning the booth looked at Nolan in surprise as he slapped down a twenty. “Aren’t you Nolan Meyers?” he asked.
“That’s what they tell me,” he replied, twirling one of the baseballs in his hand. His face was hard with concentration.
“Aren’t you still recovering?” The