Chapter 58: The rest of the day at lala land

"What happened?"

Ethan’s voice cut through the tension hanging over the haunted attraction.

He reached Raina first, weaving through the crowd with obvious concern etched across his face. Around them, Lala Land remained as lively as ever. Children darted between attractions clutching oversized stuffed animals, costumed actors prowled the walkways looking for unsuspecting victims, and somewhere overhead a roller coaster thundered past in a blur of lights and screaming passengers.

Yet despite the noise and movement surrounding them, the small space occupied by Raina and Susan felt strangely isolated.

Like the world had narrowed to just the two of them.

"Raina, are you okay?"

For a moment, she couldn’t answer.

Her cheek still tingled from the slap, but that wasn’t what bothered her. The sting would fade. The words Susan had thrown at her would not.

You don’t deserve him.

The accusation lingered in her mind like poison.

Ethan stepped closer and gently turned her face toward the nearest light.

The second he saw the reddening mark spreading across her cheek, his expression hardened.

"What’s that?"

Damn it.

She’d hoped it wouldn’t show so quickly.

"It’s nothing."

Ethan’s eyebrows rose.

"Nothing?"

His hand hovered near her face, careful not to touch the irritated skin.

"Raina, that doesn’t look like nothing."

Across from them, Susan visibly stiffened.

Raina noticed immediately.

Good.

Let her sweat.

Let her wonder whether Ethan was seconds away from hearing exactly what had happened.

Forcing a casual laugh, Raina shrugged.

"One of those hanging chain decorations clipped me while we were walking."

She rubbed her cheek dramatically.

"Apparently fake haunted houses are more dangerous than actual ghosts."

Ethan looked unconvinced.

His gaze shifted toward Susan.

For the briefest moment panic flashed across Susan’s face before she quickly smoothed her expression.

"A prop," Susan agreed. "One of the decorations near the entrance."

Even to Raina’s ears, the lie sounded awkward.

For several seconds Ethan simply stared at them.

He wasn’t stupid.

He could tell something was off.

Before he could press further, another voice interrupted.

"Babe?"

Garrett emerged from the crowd carrying two drinks and an empty popcorn bucket. The moment he spotted Susan, his easygoing expression faltered.

Crossing the distance between them, he stopped at her side and studied her carefully.

"Hey."

Susan blinked.

"What?"

"You okay?"

Garrett tilted his head.

"You look flushed."

His eyes shifted toward Raina.

Then back to Susan.

"Actually, both of you look like you’ve just come out of a hostage negotiation."

Despite everything, Raina almost laughed.

Almost.

Susan recovered first.

"I’m fine."

The answer came too quickly.

Garrett’s eyebrows climbed.

"You sure?"

"Positive."

Before he could ask another question, Susan slipped her arm through his and gently redirected the conversation.

"Actually, I think we should get going."

Garrett glanced around the group again.

Whatever had happened here, he clearly understood he’d arrived in the middle of something unpleasant. Fortunately, he also seemed wise enough not to ask questions in public.

"Alright."

Then he offered Ethan and Raina a polite smile.

"We’ll see you around."

"Hopefully not too soon," Raina replied.

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Garrett laughed awkwardly. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Susan didn’t.

For a brief moment their eyes met.

No words were exchanged.

None were needed.

This isn’t over.

The promise sat plainly between them.

Then Susan turned away.

Garrett gave a small wave before following her into the crowd, and within seconds both of them disappeared among the thousands of visitors moving through the park.

Only after they were gone did Ethan release a slow breath.

Then he looked back at Raina.

"Okay."

His tone had changed completely.

"Now I’m definitely worried."

Raina groaned.

"Oh, come on."

"No, seriously."

Stepping closer, he gently tilted her chin toward the light again.

"Let me see."

"Ethan—"

"Raina."

That tone.

The one he always used when he was genuinely concerned.

The one she could never quite ignore.

With an exaggerated sigh, she surrendered.

"Fine."

Ethan studied her cheek carefully before shaking his head.

"It looks worse than you’re making it sound."

"That’s because I’m very delicate."

A laugh escaped him.

"You?"

"Yes."

"You once threatened a delivery driver because he forgot your extra sauce."

"He deserved it."

"He looked terrified."

"He learned an important lesson."

Ethan shook his head, trying—and failing—not to smile.

"You’re impossible."

"And yet you’re completely obsessed with me."

That finally earned a genuine laugh.

The tension in her chest eased slightly.

Not completely.

Susan still lingered in the back of her mind like a storm cloud gathering on the horizon.

But Ethan had always been strangely good at grounding her. Sometimes all it took was hearing him laugh to remind her that the world wasn’t ending.

At least not today.

"You know," Ethan said as they started walking, "I leave you alone for five minutes and somehow you manage to get injured."

"I blame the haunted house."

"I blame your inability to stay out of trouble."

Raina slipped her hand into his.

"Can we leave before another one of your exes appears?"

Ethan groaned immediately.

"Oh God."

"What?"

"Don’t even joke about that."

"You started it."

"No. Susan started it."

"Fair point."

His fingers tightened around hers.

"Come on."

Together they wandered back toward the heart of the park.

The atmosphere felt lighter now, or at least Ethan seemed determined to make it that way.

Bright lights illuminated the pathways as evening settled over Lala Land. Music drifted through hidden speakers. The scent of caramel, popcorn, grilled food, and cotton candy filled the air. Families crowded around performers while children raced between attractions with endless energy.

Slowly, despite herself, Raina found her mood improving.

Then Ethan stopped suddenly.

"No."

She already knew that tone.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Ethan."

"Raina."

She sighed.

"What are you doing?"

Ethan pointed toward a nearby shooting gallery.

Five minutes later he was loading pellets into an air rifle while Raina stood beside him with her arms folded.

"You’ve been practicing."

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"You absolutely have."

The game began.

Targets appeared.

The rifle cracked repeatedly.

One after another, the targets dropped.

Raina watched in disbelief.

When the final score appeared, the attendant looked almost offended.

"Sir, are you secretly a professional?"

"Maybe."

"You’re insufferable," Raina informed him.

The attendant returned moments later carrying an enormous stuffed fox nearly half her size.

Ethan accepted it and immediately handed it to her.

"For you."

The annoyance vanished from her face.

She stared down at the plush fox.

Then back at him.

Then down at the fox again.

God.

Why did he always make it so difficult to stay angry?

"Thank you."

The words came quieter than she’d intended.

Ethan smiled.

"No problem."

For a moment she simply stood there holding the fox against her chest.

Watching him.

Listening to him.

Memorizing him.

Because even after everything Susan had said...

Even after all these years...

The truth hadn’t changed.

Raina still couldn’t imagine a future where she willingly let him go.

And that terrified her more than anything.

To be continued.....