His Naughty Lessons

** Harper **

The Baydream, as the park was aptly named, was Davenshire's own Disneyland. Harper had been there exactly once in her life, part of a long road trip with her parents and Tyler and Eli back when she was in middle school. If she tried hard enough, she might still be able to hear echoes in the air from all the screams she'd made on those roller coasters years ago, and the shrieks of surprise when their water rides splashed into the ocean.

"You've got to be kidding me," she said for the second time as the waterfront came closer into view. "That's what you meant earlier by 'a thrill ride'? Aka. the craziest place on the entire east coast?"

Eli chuckled. "Aka. your favorite place that you couldn't stop talking about for years after going there once."

"Because I was terrified!"

"Because you loved to be terrified."

Well, he got her there.

Harper was one of those people with complicated feelings toward scary stuff. She loved horror movies, and although she wouldn't be able to sleep with lights off for days after watching one, she'd bravely get a front row at the theater whenever the next Halloween blockbuster comes out. Similarly, she loved roller coasters, and although she wouldn't be able to stop screaming for the whole duration of the ride, she'd jump right on to the next one in a heartbeat.

Complicated terror aside, a thrill ride couldn't sound more perfect for the end of a long and stressful week. The only problem though, was that the potential scene of screaming in front of Eli like a silly girl who never grew up … felt just a little embarrassing.

"You're sure this is a good idea?" Harper chewed her lips and tried to protest weakly, even though her insides were already itching for the thrill. "Remember how tight I clutched onto you last time we were here? You'd get more bruises that way than from me punching you. Maybe a boxing gym would've been a better plan after all."

That comment earned her a meaningful glance. "Fingernail marks are like hickeys. I'll proudly wear those everywhere I go."

"…"

Eli chuckled again. Maybe he had already figured out that her protest was only a pretense. "It'll be worth it. Mental and physical stress relief are both good for our health." He gave her a pat on the shoulder as he pulled into the valet.

Half eager and half anxious, Harper followed his lead and climbed out of the car.

Crisp ocean breeze greeted her the moment she set foot on the ground. The park entrance was on the waterfront, spread along the harbor waves that glittered and splashed under the westering sun, and her eyes were immediately blasted with the sight of a brightly colored assembly of geometrical shapes that seemed to stretch on against the water for miles — the tight loops of spinning coasters, the ridiculously tall and straight line of a drop tower, the perfect circle of a ferris wheel … and of course, the impossibly high, steep, and scary curve of The Scary Roller Coaster that defied physics.

Harper barely remembered what the ride looked like after almost ten years, but the view made her nostalgic heart leap nonetheless. She almost squeaked in excitement before she remembered that … Damn. She was twenty-two already. What kind of proper lady gets so excited at an amusement park like a little kid?

"Um … This is nice. Exactly how I remembered," she managed to say in a mostly neutral tone. But then, once Eli showed something at the gate to let them in, she looked around and quickly realized that the place was not quite how she remembered at all. It seemed unusually empty — no huge crowds, long lines, or schools of kids running around everywhere in view. Only an occasional few visitors moved between the rides, most of them couples quietly whispering to each other as they strolled hand in hand. It felt strangely cozy and … truly nice.

"Well, maybe except … quieter?" she corrected herself as they made their leisure way through the wide and open promenade, notedly without bumping shoulders with anyone else. "I like it better this way. Maybe we should've come on a weekday last time."

"The park doesn't open on weekdays." Eli flashed a grin when she responded to that with a confused look. "I made a reservation, remember? A private one. And I handed out a few dozen tickets to random employees at my company so that the place doesn't turn out completely empty and ghostly."

"You … What?"

"Don't worry, none of these people I 'invited' know us, so no one will judge if you need to scream your lungs out on the ride."

"…"

Did he seriously just reserve this whole place for the evening? And even paid for background actors?

"Don't overthink it. Corporates book out venues like this all the time for private events." Eli nudged her forward. "The evening is all yours. No need to pretend you aren't thrilled to be here just because we grew up. Turn off your brain and just enjoy yourself — and try not to be too scared."

There was something so assuring and freeing in his tone that hit somewhere inside her … until the last sentence ruined it. "I'm not scared!" Harper argued indignantly. "I just … I haven't been on a roller coaster for years! People unacclimate to this kind of things, so it's only natural if— Wait, what are you doing?"

She gasped when Eli led them straight to the booth for The Scary Roller Coaster. He beamed at her benevolently as he started checking in his suit jacket and her purse. "I thought you aren't scared?" He winked.

"I'm not! But I was trying to warn you! I might scream, probably even louder than last time because no one else is around, and—"

"Isn't that the point of roller coasters?"

"Maybe but …"

Since there wasn't a line, the staff took no time to wave at them to board. Harper felt a surge of excited terror as they crossed the platform to take their seats. "Oh my god, I can't believe we're really doing this." The beginning rush of adrenaline was already making her jittery. "I'm definitely going to scream … You have to promise not to make fun of me! You're not allowed to judge even if I shriek loud enough for the whole park to hear!"

Eli laughed. The safety bars came down, and he weaved his hand through them, reaching for hers. "Promise. And I won't say a word even if you clutch onto me as hard as you can and leave me a hundred fingernail hickeys."

If Harper wasn't so on the edge, she might've stared at their joined hands and secretly loved this moment, but she was hardly paying attention since the staff were completing the safety checks, and a loud "beep" signaled the start of the lap. "Ok … And also, you— ahhhhhh!"

The roller coaster shot forward, and she screamed.