Page 25 of Wrecked By You

I nodded, but the little boys called out, “Me!”

I had to laugh at their exuberance and excitement.

Damon wrangled them and held their hands as we walked in. He gave me a look. “You think it’s funny?”

I giggled and nodded. “They’re so excited.”

He rolled his eyes but looked so happy. It hurt my heart a little bit to think about what would’ve happened if things had been different. If I could have been different. I had been so lost in thinking that I could never have a relationship, that I couldnever be a mother, and that what my father had done to me had scarred me too much. Then, Kyle had done a number on me.

I shook my head. I didn’t want to think about that tonight.

We got to the hot dog stand, and everyone ordered. Damon turned to me and asked if I wanted my usual. Which was funny to me, but I nodded. He ordered me a hot dog with sauerkraut, relish, mustard, and ketchup. I couldn’t help but think about all the times we’d come to these types of things together while we were growing up.

I didn’t have much time to think about it, because soon I was helping carry drinks and hot dogs over to a little table. We sat with the boys and ate; their legs were kicking the whole time. They kept asking about different rides to go on.

Jason asked me what my favorite ride was. I said it was the Ferris wheel.

“What is your favorite ride, Jason?” I asked.

With a big grin, he said, “The tumbler. Because it makes you so sick you want to barf.”

Damon said, “Maybe we shouldn’t do that first.”

I laughed again.

Trent pointed to the Ferris wheel. “Let’s go, Dad. It’s her favorite. Let’s go; there’s no line.”

I had only eaten half my hot dog, but the boys were already done and hopping off the chairs.

Damon scarfed the rest of his food and stood. “You ready?”

I was swept away in being part of this little family. “Let’s go.”

We went to the Ferris wheel. Trent couldn’t get on with Jason, since both of them had to be with adults because of their height.

Damon turned to me. “Are you good to go with one of them?”

I grinned. “Of course. Who wants to go with me?”

To my delight and surprise, both of them ran over to me. “I will!” they shouted at the same time.

Damon laughed. “Hey, you can’t ditch your dad.”

Trent moved over to his dad and took his hand. “I’ll go with you, Dad.”

We got to the line, and Damon handed them tickets. When we got on, Jason sat by me, asking a bunch of questions about how the ride worked and how it all stayed together.

I was at a loss. “I’m not sure. I’m sorry.”

Then he shouted to Damon, who was in the seat below us. “Dad, how does this work? How is it staying together?”

Damon started to shout out answers, but he finally gave up and said, “Jason, just enjoy the ride and then we’ll talk about it after, okay?”

Jason sighed. “Okay.”

I turned to Jason and smiled. The boy looked a lot like his mother. I knew Missy, and I wouldn’t say that I liked her much. She had been one of those girls in theater classes during high school that always acted a little bit snobbish. It hadn’t really surprised me when she’d gone for Damon, because I knew she’d always had a crush on him. But it had surprised me and everyone else when they had decided to get married.

But it was my fault. He was right. I had said I couldn’t do marriage and kids.