Accidental Always

Chapter 10

Instantly she froze, realizing what she said a few seconds too late.

Ashley's voice was a few octaves higher, and her face was redder than a tomato, which is how he knew she was extremely embarrassed.

"Wasn't exactly how I had been planning on telling you...." she muttered, twisting the ring on her right pinky.

Despite his also red face he smiled, tongue beaten his teeth.
"Well....its a good thing I love you too then, isn't it? Otherwise this might've gotten really awkward."

And on a whim, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, sending her face into an even deeper shade of pinkish red.

The tension vanished from her in a burst of laughter, Ashley's head rolling onto a shoulder, kind of hiding her own smile.
"Yeah it would."

Staring at each other for a minute with stupid grins on both of their faces, they were only brought out of it by an announcement on the intercom, explaining that the carnival would be closing in a half hour.

Still a smile on her face, she pulled her phone out of her pocket, looking at the time.

"Wow. The time has really flown by."
Then she chuckled, rolling her eyes.

"What?" He leaned over her shoulder a bit.

"Oh, Julia. She just texted me, and I quote, 'dont you dare come back and help clean up. Abuela says go have fun and you can tell us about it tomorrow.' "

"She's a character," Tadashi agreed with a soft laugh. "If she met Hiro they'd be dangerous together."

"Oh I can only imagine."

Slipping her phone back in her pocket, Ashley looked back up at him,  moving a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So....we have a half hour left. What do you want to go do that we haven't yet? They're going to start closing up the rides and booths soon."

Closing one eye and sticking out his tongue, making her laugh again, he did a mental count.
"Well.....how about the ferris wheel? Haven't been on that yet."

"Sure," she replied, raising up on her tiptoes.
Lightly kissing his cheek, Ashley slipped her gloved hand into his as they made their way in the direction of the ferris wheel.

Luckily they made it onto the ride just in time, the girl in charge of it reminding those few who were in line that it would be the last go around before the carnival closed for the night.

As the ride rose into the air, Ashley's face took on an expression of quiet wonder and delight.

Looking out over the lights of the carnival and the city around them, they oohed and awed, pointing out various landmarks to each other as they sat close, one of his arms around her waist.

So busy was she admiring the lights, that Tadashi had time to slyly pull out with his free hand, the wrapped gift that had been inside his jacket.

By the time she'd turned around, he held the present in his hands, his heart pounding at what felt like a million miles a minute.

Eyebrows knitting together, she tilted her head as if asking a question.

Swallowing, Tadashi said, a bit tentatively, "I know I'm a day early....but Happy Birthday."

Ashley gave a laugh, her eyes shining with tears, and he suddenly wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"How did you find out? I haven't told anyone." Her voice was quiet, surprised.