William has always kept his distance from his sister Layla's boyfriends-until Colton arrives.
With his charm and easygoing nature, Colton quickly becomes a welcome presence in William's life.
As the two bond over shared interests and late-night co...
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I wasn’t sure what possessed us to head to the county fair on a Wednesday night, but here we were, the colorful lights illuminating the evening sky, and the sounds of laughter and music filling the air. Layla had insisted on coming, claiming it would be the perfect way to unwind from our busy lives, and I was all for it—anything to spend more time with her.
William had been quieter than usual lately. I could see the changes in him, the way he’d sometimes stare off into space or how his laughter didn’t quite reach his eyes. I worried he was picking up on the tension between Layla and me, but I had no idea how to address it. So, when Layla suggested bringing Nicole, I thought it would be good to lighten the mood.
“Come on, Colton! Let’s go get some cotton candy!” Layla pulled me by the hand, her excitement infectious. She looked stunning, as always, but there was a hint of uncertainty behind her bright smile. I hoped a night out would help clear the air.
As we walked through the fairgrounds, the smells of fried food and popcorn wafted through the air. Nicole was right behind us, chatting animatedly about everything she was seeing. She and Layla had been friends since childhood, and I could tell Layla was happy to have her around. I always liked Nicole; she had an infectious energy and a way of making people feel at ease.
William trailed a little behind, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, glancing around like he was trying to soak in the atmosphere. I hoped he’d loosen up as the night went on. We made our way to the cotton candy stand, where Layla eagerly ordered two massive, sugary clouds of pink and blue.
“Here you go, gentlemen,” she said, handing us each a cone. “Let’s get our sugar fix before the rides!”
I chuckled, grateful for her enthusiasm. “Lead the way, then.”
After wandering through the fair, we found ourselves standing in front of the Ferris wheel. Its brightly lit gondolas spun slowly against the twilight sky, and the sight was enchanting. “This looks amazing!” Layla exclaimed. “We have to go on this!”
“I’m in,” I said, glancing at William. He hesitated for a moment before nodding, albeit reluctantly. I could tell he wasn’t as enthusiastic about the rides as Layla was.
As we waited in line, the air buzzed with excitement. The moment we stepped onto the ride, Layla sat between me and William, her laughter filling the space with warmth. But as the wheel began to turn, I noticed William’s gaze drifting away from us, lost in thought.
“Hey, Will, you okay?” I asked, breaking through the buzz of the fair.
“Yeah, just… enjoying the view,” he replied, forcing a smile.
Soon the ride came to end and people straying going on and off.
Just then, Nicole nudged Layla. “Hey, we should go to the bathroom before we hit the next ride. Want to come with me?”
