To the Window

Marcie

My ribs start to crush my lungs. I open my mouth in shock. He presses forward, and I can’t help it. I flinch back.

Ben releases me immediately. “Sorry, I didn’t mean…. Well, I guess—”

“It’s fine.” I unfasten the belt holding me in the kart and climb out. “Really.”

“O…kay.” He follows me slowly. “I can take you home now. We don’t have to do the rest of the date.”

My heart thunders. Heather’s warning about being safe rings in my ears. I shake my head.

“What ‘rest’ is there?”

Awkwardly, Ben leads me into the Laser Game Emporium proper. It’s even louder in here, the laser tag warring with the arcade. The smell of fried food winds through the air, and he gestures to a smorgasbord of options that make my mouth fall open again. I’ve never seen so many food choices in one place.

“I figured we’d ……