Chapter 56: The Rides of the Heart
The amusement park was alive with color and laughter, a world away from the darkness they'd both endured. Janet looked around with wide eyes—cotton candy vendors, glowing rides, and music swirling in the air.
Luca insisted they try everything.
The carousel was first. They sat on side-by-side horses that bobbed gently up and down, and Luca made jokes until Janet giggled so hard she had to hold onto the pole.
Then came bumper cars. Janet, surprisingly competitive, chased Luca around the floor, laughing each time she bumped into him, while he played along with mock horror.
Next, the Ferris wheel.
As their carriage rose above the world, the city lights blinking far below, Janet suddenly went quiet.
Luca noticed. "What is it?"
"It's beautiful," she said softly. "And peaceful. Like nothing bad could ever happen up here."
He took her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Then let's just stay here for a while. Just you and me."
The breeze brushed past them, lifting strands of her hair. Luca leaned in, gently brushing them behind her ear.
"You make me want to believe again," she whispered.
He turned her face to his, his eyes dark and deep. "I never stopped believing in you."
They kissed—not like the intense kiss on the sofa, but soft, lingering, full of things neither had said aloud.
When the ride ended, they didn't let go of each other. They walked through the park hand-in-hand, sharing ice cream, playing silly games, and taking photos in a vintage photo booth.
That night, when Luca dropped her home, he didn't ask for anything more. He walked her to the door and paused.
"Did I make you smile today?"
She looked up at him. "More than that. You made me feel alive again."
He smiled, brushed a kiss on her forehead, and walked away—leaving her heart fluttering behind the door.