Chapter 26

• FRANKIE
• Rafael guides me towards the Ferris wheel, his grip on my hand firm but not painful. My brow furrows in confusion - I had expected some kind of reprimand, not an amusement park ride. He speaks briefly to the operator before ushering me into a car. As we sit down, I'm enveloped by his cologne and the warmth radiating from his body. The wheel begins to turn, and I find myself captivated by the park's beauty spreading out before us.
• Lights twinkle below like earthbound stars, and the sounds of laughter and music drift up to us. For a moment, I almost forget the tension between us.