Zoey stood outside the metal rails at the Rally carousel in Gorky Park. It was a very warm day in Moscow. Alex had surprised her again with an adventure. He had decided that a little excitement would be good to punctuate their trip back home. Gorky Park was her surprise. She stood watching the brightly colored cars wisk the children around and around in circles. She found herself smiling at their laughter despite her discomfort. Alex appeared at her side and handed her a soda.
“The bubbles will make you feel better,” he said, not doing a very good job hiding his grin.
She scowled at him and sipped the drink which tasted much like ginger ale.
“Why is everything at an amusement park designed to make you puke?” she grumbled, lifting her hand to wipe the dampness from her brow.
“You are stronger than the Eurostar. You did not puke,” he laughed at her.
“Well, I’m not sure I’ve completely conquered the feeling yet. Why would anyone want to ride something that makes you feel like you are in a blender?”
Alex laughed at her again and put his arm across her shoulders pulling her toward him. He kissed her gently on the forehead.
“I told you that it was not a good idea,” she scolded him.
“Kroshka,” he whispered in her ear. She could still hear the amusement in his voice. “You did not say you would get sick. Do you need to sit down?”
“No, I am fine,” she said quietly embarrassed. She looked up at him wondering how he managed to get her on a ride the plummeted 50 feet and twirled its riders 360 degrees. The smile on his face made her think that he could persuade her into just about anything. Was that his magnetism or her weakness?
The ride in front of them winded down and the children began to scatter. A small boy, about 5 years old, walked over to the rail near them. The exit was on the opposite side of the ride and he seemed to be lost. His face was slowly becoming more and more distressed.
Zoey was about to reach out her hand to him when Alex climbed over the rail and kneeled down in front of the boy. He spoke softly and gently and Zoey watched the boy nod back at him. Alex held out his huge palm in front of him. Zoey watched a tiny hand with plump little fingers come to rest on top of it and watched Alex’s lips grow into a smile. He stood slowly and walked with the little boy to the other side of the ride. It made an amazing picture for Zoey’s memory, a tiny little boy reaching high holding onto this huge man’s hand. It was not one she would catch on film, but one she would always hold in her heart. The boy saw his mother and ran to her, stopped short and ran back to Alex wrapping his arms around Alex’s leg in a quick hug and ran off again. She watched Alex lift his hand in a wave.
He returned to her with a big smile on his face and she threw her arms around his neck. She squeezed him hard and grabbed his face in her hands, planting a big kiss on his lips. He was slightly taken aback by her reaction, but accepted her kiss gratefully.
“Not to complain, but what was that for?” he asked, as she looked adoringly up into his big blue eyes.
“You were so sweet with him, Alex.”
“No, I am not sweet. Don’t spread rumors about me,” he laughed at her.
“You are sweet and amazing and wonderful.”
“You would not say such things if you knew me better,” he whispered in her ear and nibbled her neck.
“You can’t fool me, Alex. I see who you are.”
He rolled his eyes at her, “don’t tell anyone. Sweet is not what a hockey player is supposed to be.”
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