Page 24 of All the Right Words

‘It’s your favourite ride,’ Olivia said, squeezing her eyes shut. ‘I wanted you to have a good time.’

Harper smiled at her and slid across the seat, getting closer. She took Olivia’s other hand. ‘I’ll get you through it.’ Olivia’s eyes popped open, and she looked at Harper, swallowing nervously. ‘Thanks.’

They climbed higher and higher. ‘You doing OK?’ Harper checked.

‘Mmm-hmmm,’ Olivia said, a quiver in her voice.

They reached the peak. Harper took in the view. The lights and whirling machinery were gaudy yet somehow so beautiful. But Olivia didn’t look so jazzed to check out the view. ‘From this point, it’s down,’ Harper vowed. The machinery suddenly clunked to a stop. ‘They’re probably just letting people on,’ Harper said.

‘OK,’ Olivia said with a quick nod.

Two minutes passed and they hadn’t moved.

‘We’re stuck, aren’t we?’ Olivia said.

‘Oh, no, no, no, no…’ Harper said, glancing over the side to see a big guy with a ponytail approaching the ride with a tool belt and a grimace. ‘Well, maybe.’

‘Oh god, we’re gonna die,’ Olivia moaned.

Harper chuckled. ‘We’re going to be fine. Let’s take your mind off it. Tell me about your last relationship.’

Olivia’s eyes bugged. ‘What?’

‘It’ll keep you occupied,’ Harper promised.

Olivia sighed. ‘I don’t think I want to…’ she began. And then went quiet. She must have had a change of heart because she said, ‘Her name was Cho. She was a human rights lawyer.’

‘She sounds impressive,’ Harper said honestly.

‘I suppose.’ She didn’t say any more, and Harper thought, Jesus, blood out of a stone. She decided to take it easy on her. After all, the woman believed she was going to die. But Olivia added. ‘We were engaged.’

‘But you didn’t get married?’

‘We just decided not to proceed,’ Olivia said stiffly. Harper thought that sounded like half a story, but she wasn’t prepared to ask for what Olivia didn’t want to give. Luckily, she didn’t have to. ‘Well, actually,wedidn’t decide anything. She broke it off,’ Olivia admitted.

‘Oh.’

‘Yes. I never really understood why. It was like she just stopped loving me one day.’

‘That sounds hard,’ Harper said.

‘It really was.’

Harper’s heart went out to Olivia. ‘When did that happen?’

‘Eight years ago.’

‘And you’ve been single ever since?’ Harper asked.

‘Yep. There was no one worth trying again for. Well, until recently,’ Olivia said shyly. Harper felt herself blush.

But then the machinery chunk-a-chunked back to life. ‘Oh, thank god!’ Olivia yelled, somewhat breaking the moment.

‘If you want to keep your eyes shut until we’re back on the ground, go ahead,’ Harper offered.

‘Thank you!’ Olivia said and slammed her lids shut. Harper squeezed her hand a bit tighter and felt Olivia squeeze back. It felt nice.

They arrived on the ground, and Olivia almost leapt from the car.