Alyssa chose the pink car, naturally.

I chose the black one, because I’m bad ass. At least that’s what I announced in front of a few first graders, much to their parents’ horrified stares.

I mouthed sorry and looked over at Alyssa, who was trying to keep herself from laughing.

The alarm went off and I went straight for her.

She threw her head back and laughed, then moved her car forward toward the little kid in front of her.

“Watch it!” he yelled. He was missing several of his teeth and wore a shirt that said “Darth Vader Lives.”

She hit him again.

Good girl.

“Mom!” the kid yelled and rammed his car back into Alyssa.

She didn’t even flinch, just waved at the little guy and took off after another one.

I seriously needed to take her to laser tag.

“Gotcha.” I hit her car, softly, because she’s a girl. She whipped her little bumper car around so fast I didn’t have time to get away. I quickly realized my error, but it was too late. I was trapped.

She rammed me with her car so hard mine went backward.

Girl-shmirl. It. Was. On.

With a war cry straight out of the movie 300, at least that’s how I envisioned it, I drove after her.

Tunnel vision took over as I steered my car toward hers. I had five feet and then. Crash.

A little car rammed me from the right.

Darth Vader kid was nodding his head and blowing smoke from his pudgy little hands. I tried to get out of my car, you know to teach him a lesson, but it was so small that I was stuck.

The cars stopped. And all the little kids hopped out.

I was still stuck.

“Need help?” Alyssa asked, leaning over my shoulder. My right knee was caught underneath the car. I was seriously contemplating just lifting the car like a skirt and walking off, but then I’d be Flintstone-ing it all the way back to the house in the rain.

“I got it.” I didn’t mean to snap, but my manhood was at stake.

“Do you?” She walked around the car and stood in front of me, arms crossed. “Prove it.”

“Fine.” I bit out then tried to push out of the car. Seriously, I fit in it, how could I not get out of it?

“Need help yet?”

I looked down and shook my head. “No, I can do this.”

She gave me a patronizing smile as I tried to move my foot to the side and get my knee out from underneath the metal car. The little alarm went off again, signaling the next riders to get in their cars.

Great, my hell was right here surrounded by little kids in a tiny car forever going nowhere.

“Stop panicking.” Alyssa stepped toward me and reached into the car. Okay, so I wasn’t panicking, per se. I was actually doing fine until she reached her delicate hand into my personal space and slowly ran her hand down my knee and pulled it out from underneath the metal entrapment with ease.

Her eyes met mine as she slowly pulled back.

Holy hell. I was going to be showing a lot more than a smile, if I had to get out of this car now. And there were children present.

Great, I’m sure somewhere that meant a ticket, or at least prison.

I swallowed and took a few deep breaths before quickly jumping from the car and grabbing her hand. Together, we ran out of there into the cool night air, which helped me alleviate the situation.

Well, that and the cold rain then pelting my face.

“Did you drive down here?” I pulled her into a nearby store so we wouldn’t get soaked.

“Yeah, my car’s down C Street.”

“Mine’s down that way too. I’ll walk you to your car.”

Her face scrunched up into a frown. “Is our date over?”

I grinned like a fool. “Lyss, this wasn’t a date.”

Her face fell.

I pulled her into a hug even though she fought me. “My dates are way cooler than this. I can promise you that.”

“Oh yeah?” she challenged.

I chuckled and kissed her hair. “Yeah, this was just for cheering up.”

“Who says I’m sufficiently cheered?” She pulled away and put her hands on her little hips.

“Fine.” I licked my lips and leaned in. “What else will cheer you up?”

“My turn.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me outside.

We ran down the street until we reached the old carousel mall.

With a giant grin she tugged me inside. We jogged past people and then stopped right in front of the carousel.

“No.” I crossed my arms. “I’ve gotta put my foot down. No riding with little kids. They have germs.” And there was just something about riding a fake horse or bunny in circles that reminded me of too many drug trips gone bad.

Alyssa rolled her eyes. “You aren’t going to be riding the horse or the bunny, so stop complaining. I promise it will be really fun, okay?”

I exhaled. “Fine. So what are we doing?”

My eyes kept focusing on the animals as they went in circles.

The music only made it worse. How does this cheer a person up?

And then I saw it.

Alyssa jumped onto the carousel.

She was riding the seal.

Like a little kid.

She even put the seatbelt around her.

Her laugh was like a punch to the gut. So clear and pretty.

She threw her head back and laughed as the carousel continued going in circles. I pulled out my phone and took pictures. And then I just couldn’t handle it anymore.

I had to be by her.

It was like she was giving me a glimpse of the girl she could be. Happy, carefree. God, I’d never seen her smile so big in the whole time I’d known her. She was beautiful. Like supermodel, I want to screw your brains out, take you home to meet my parents, then marry you, beautiful.