Burning Ice - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

I stood in the doorway of my bedroom, phone in hand, staring at the carnival flyer like it might bite me. A date. A real date. The thought had been bouncing around my head all damn day, and now it felt like it was taunting me. I hadn't taken Billie out yet—not because I didn't want to. God, I wanted to. But the past few weeks had been... messy. Between the chaos of my schedule and the inevitable spotlight that followed me everywhere, it just never felt like the right time.
That was a bullshit excuse, though, wasn't it? I'd let all the noise and my own hesitation get in the way. But not tonight. Tonight, I wanted to forget about cameras, whispers, and the people who would definitely have something to say about me walking into a carnival with Billie Carter on my arm. I wanted to see her let loose, hear her laugh without a single care, and maybe—if I was lucky—earn the right to see that soft look she gave me when she let her guard down.
I thumbed at the edge of the flyer, the bright lights and cheesy slogans almost making me laugh. A carnival wasn't exactly groundbreaking, but it was us. Simple, fun, no expectations. And maybe it'd remind her that, even with everything going on, I just wanted to be the guy who made her happy.
Grinning to myself, I grabbed my keys and headed toward her place. If she said yes, tonight was going to be about us. No distractions. No pressure. Just Billie and me.
I pulled up to Billie's place, killing the engine as I stared at her front door. My hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tight, like I was gearing up for a playoff game instead of asking my girl to go to a damn carnival. But that's what she did to me, made me second-guess every move, made me want to get it all right.
The light in her living room window was on, and I could just make out her shadow moving inside. I took a breath and stepped out of the car, smoothing a hand over my jacket. Walking up the steps, I hesitated for half a second before knocking.
The door swung open almost immediately, like she'd been waiting for me. Billie stood there in her usual effortlessly in leggings, an oversized sweatshirt falling off one shoulder, her hair in a messy knot on top of her head. No makeup, no pretense. She was just her, and it was enough to make me forget why I was nervous in the first place.
"Hey" she said softly, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. There was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips, but her eyes held that guarded look I'd seen too much of lately. Like she wasn't sure what version of me she was getting tonight. That killed me.
"Hey" I said back, my voice a little rougher than I intended. I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying not to fidget like a damn teenager. "You busy?"
Her brow arched, a mix of curiosity and caution. "Not really. Why?"
I rocked back on my heels, glancing past her into the warm light of her apartment before meeting her eyes again. "Thought maybe I'd steal you for a few hours. Take you out."
She tilted her head, studying me like she was trying to figure out if I was joking. "Take me out? Like... a date?"
"Yeah, a date," I said, my lips twitching into a small grin. "You know, the thing couples do when they actually leave the house?"
She laughed at that, the sound soft but real. "Bold of you to assume we're a couple, Nate."
Her teasing made me relax a little, and I leaned against the doorframe, mirroring her stance. "Fair point. Guess I'll just have to convince you."
She shook her head, but I could see the smile breaking through now. "Where exactly are you planning on taking me?"
"The carnival," I said, watching her expression shift from surprise to something softer. "It's in town tonight. Figured it'd be fun. Just you, me, some bad food, and maybe a few rigged games I'll pretend to win for you."
Billie rolled her eyes, but her smile widened. "That's... unexpectedly sweet. And a little corny."
"Sweet and corny is what I'm going for," I shot back. "So, what do you say? You wanna go have some fun with me tonight?"
She didn't answer right away, her gaze searching mine like she was looking for a catch. When she finally nodded, the tension I hadn't realized I'd been holding melted away.
"Yeah," she said softly. "I'd like that."
"Good," I said, stepping back so she could grab her shoes. "Because I wasn't gonna take no for an answer."
Billie slid into the passenger seat, pulling the door shut as I started the engine. She glanced over at me, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a small smile still playing on her lips.
"So," she said, breaking the silence, "when's the last time you went to a carnival?"
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, smirking. "Does my sister's eighth-grade school fair count?"
She laughed, the sound warm and genuine, filling the cab of the truck. "Absolutely not. Those don't even have real rides."
"Then it's been a while," I admitted, turning onto the main road. "What about you?"
She shrugged, leaning back against the seat. "Probably high school. My friends and I would go every year, waste all our money on funnel cakes and those stupid ring toss games."
"Let me guess," I said, glancing at her again, "you were the competitive one, refusing to leave until you won something."
Her smile turned mischievous. "Maybe. What's your excuse going to be when you lose tonight?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Oh, I don't lose. You'll see."
The conversation flowed easily as I drove, the city lights fading into the dark countryside. By the time we reached the outskirts of town, the glow of the carnival lights came into view—bright reds, yellows, and blues spinning in the distance. The sound of laughter and music carried on the wind as I pulled into the makeshift parking lot.
I parked the truck, turning to look at her. "Ready?"
Billie nodded, her eyes lit with something that looked like excitement. I couldn't help but notice how different she looked in this moment... lighter, freer.
I hopped out and jogged around to her side, opening the door before she had the chance to do it herself. She rolled her eyes, but her smile softened as she slipped out.
The smell of fried food hit us immediately. funnel cakes, corn dogs, kettle corn—and Billie's stomach growled audibly. She froze, her cheeks flushing.
I grinned. "Guess we know where we're heading first."
Her laughter bubbled up again as we started walking toward the entrance. The hum of the crowd and the flashing lights surrounded us, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like we'd left the rest of the world behind.
The crowd thickened as we neared the entrance, the chatter and laughter around us blending with the carnival music. Billie stepped closer to my side, her head tilting slightly as she scanned the scene ahead; lights flashing, rides spinning, kids darting past holding balloons and cotton candy. She seemed calm, but I caught the way her fingers brushed against the edge of her sleeve, that little tell she had when she was trying to stay composed in unfamiliar territory.
Without thinking, I slid an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side. Her body tensed for a split second before she relaxed into the motion, her head lightly brushing against my chest as we walked.
"You good?" I asked, my voice low enough that only she could hear.
She glanced up at me, her lips curving into a small smile. "Yeah. Just... a lot of people, that's all."
I nodded, my hand resting firmly against her shoulder, a silent promise that I wasn't going to let anything or anyone bother her tonight.
"I've got you" I murmured into the top of her head.
Her smile softened, something unspoken passing between us in that moment. "I know."
We stopped at the ticket booth, and I handed over cash before she could even reach into her bag. She gave me a look, half-annoyed, half-amused.
"Nate—"
"Don't even start," I cut her off, smirking as I tucked the tickets into my back pocket. "I'm not letting you pay for your own date."
Her laugh was quiet, but it warmed me from the inside out. "Guess chivalry isn't dead, huh?"
"Not when it comes to you" I said without hesitation, steering her through the gate.
Inside, the carnival was alive, flashing lights, the distant rumble of rollercoasters, the smell of sugar and grease hanging thick in the air. Billie looked around, her eyes wide with wonder, and for a moment, I forgot about the chaos of the last few weeks. I forgot about everything except the way she looked right now, her face lit by the neon glow, her smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Okay," I said, tightening my arm around her shoulders as a group of rowdy teenagers pushed past us. "What's first? Food, games, or rides?"
She tilted her head, pretending to think, but I saw the way her eyes darted toward the food stalls.
"Food it is," I said before she could answer, steering her toward the nearest funnel cake stand. "But don't think for a second I'm letting you skip the games. I've got something to prove."
"Oh, do you now?" she teased, glancing up at me with a challenge in her eyes.
"Damn right" I said, grinning down at her. "By the end of the night, you're going home with the biggest, most ridiculous stuffed animal I can win."
She laughed again, her body leaning just a little more into mine. And as we walked through the chaos of the carnival, her tucked securely under my arm, I realized that this...her laughter, her trust, the way she fit so perfectly against me was all I needed.
We walked up to the funnel cake stand, the smell of powdered sugar and fried dough practically pulling Billie in like a magnet. She stepped up to the counter, her hands brushing against the edge of the stall as she looked at the menu.
"One funnel cake, extra powdered sugar," she said, glancing back at me with a sly smile. "You're sharing, right?"
I leaned against the counter, watching her with a grin. "I don't think I have much of a choice, do I?"
"Not even a little," she quipped, her eyes sparkling in the glow of the overhead lights.
The vendor handed her the plate, and she turned, holding it between us. I grabbed a piece, the dough still hot and practically melting in my mouth. She watched me take a bite, her eyes narrowing like she was waiting for my reaction.
"Good?" she asked, already reaching for a piece of her own.
"Better than good" I said, wiping powdered sugar off my fingers and watching her take a bite. Her eyes lit up, and a small hum of approval slipped past her lips.
She looked so damn happy, standing there in her oversized sweatshirt, powdered sugar already smudged on her thumb, like she didn't have a single worry in the world. I didn't realize I was staring until she glanced up at me, her head tilting.
"What?" she asked, laughing softly.
I shook my head, the corner of my mouth lifting in a half-smile. "Nothing. Just... you look like you're having fun."
Her expression softened, and for a moment, the chaos around us faded into the background. "I am," she said quietly, her voice carrying something deeper than just the words.
Before I could respond, she smirked and held up a piece of funnel cake. "You've got powdered sugar on your face, by the way. Real smooth, Nate."
"Where?" I asked, wiping at my mouth.
She laughed, reaching up to swipe her thumb across the corner of my lips. The gesture was quick, but it sent a jolt straight through me. When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, though I wasn't sure if it was the chill in the air or something else.
"Better," she said, biting her lip to hide a smile.
I leaned in slightly, closing the small space between us. "You missed some" I murmured, watching the way her breath hitched.
"Where?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I grinned. "I'll let you figure it out later."
Her laugh came out in a surprised burst, and I couldn't help but join her. God, I could listen to that sound all night.
"Alright," I said, nodding toward the game stalls just a few feet away. "Let's see if I can live up to my promise and win you that ridiculous stuffed animal."
"You better," she said, following me, the plate of funnel cake balanced in her hands. "But just so you know, if you don't, I'm not letting you live it down."
I glanced back at her, my grin widening. "Challenge accepted."
As we walked toward the games, the crowd pressing in around us, I slipped my arm back around her shoulders. She leaned into me again without hesitation, and I couldn't shake the feeling that, for the first time in a long while, everything felt right.
We stopped at the first game stall, a classic ring toss. Rows of glass bottles gleamed under the carnival lights, the bright plastic rings taunting me from a bin on the counter. Billie eyed the setup skeptically, the remnants of her funnel cake still in hand.
"This is a scam" she said, narrowing her eyes at the bottles.
"All carnival games are," I replied, fishing out some cash and handing it to the attendant. "But that doesn't mean I can't win."
Billie leaned her hip against the counter, smirking. "Big talk. Let's see if you can back it up, hotshot."
I picked up a ring, weighing it in my hand like I was strategizing. Honestly, I was just stalling, because the pressure of winning for her was suddenly way too real. She watched me with amusement, her expression smug but undeniably cute.
"Alright," I said, lining up my first throw. "Watch and learn."
The ring sailed through the air and bounced off the bottle's neck with a loud clink, ricocheting harmlessly into the abyss. Billie burst out laughing, covering her mouth as I glared at the offending bottle.
"Strong start" she teased, her voice full of mock sympathy.
"Beginner's luck" I muttered, grabbing another ring. The second throw was just as bad, and by the third, even the attendant was holding back a grin. Billie, on the other hand, was leaning on the counter, fully enjoying my failure.
"You want me to give it a try?" she offered, her tone saccharine sweet.
"No way," I shot back, determined now. "This is my battle. You just sit there and look pretty."
She rolled her eyes but stayed quiet, though I could still feel her barely contained laughter beside me. I grabbed another ring, taking a deep breath before throwing. This time, it landed perfectly, circling the neck of the bottle with a satisfying clink.
"Yes!" I said, throwing my arms in the air like I'd just won the Stanley Cup. The attendant handed me a cheap stuffed bear with a giant red bow, and I turned to Billie with the proudest grin I could muster.
"Your prize, m'lady" I said, holding the bear out to her.
She took it, biting her lip to keep from laughing too hard. "You realize this thing looks like it's been through a washing machine twice, right?"
"Hey," I said, feigning offense. "That's a top-tier carnival bear. And I worked hard for it."
She hugged the bear against her chest, her smile softening. "Well, in that case, I'll treasure it forever."
"Damn right you will," I said, slipping my arm back around her shoulders as we walked away from the stall.
The night stretched on as we wandered from game to game, Billie's laughter cutting through the noise every time I lost spectacularly or won something absurd. By the time we hit the Ferris wheel, she was carrying a small army of stuffed animals, and her cheeks were flushed from the cold—or maybe from smiling so much.
As we stepped into the Ferris wheel car and the ride began to lift us into the air, she leaned against me, the bear squished between us. The world below blurred into a sea of lights and sound, but up here, it felt like we were in our own little bubble.
"You know," she said softly, looking out at the view, "I think this might be the best night I've had in a long time."
I tightened my arm around her, my voice just as soft. "Me too."
And for once, I wasn't thinking about the cameras or the chaos waiting for us outside this moment. It was just Billie and me, and that was enough.