Page 26 of Not in the Plans (London Lightning #1)
Chapter Twenty-Two
OLIVIA
“ T his is what you had in mind for tonight?”
I tug at the hem of Tag’s sweatshirt I’m wearing. “I figured if we’re doing new and adventurous things, I might as well conquer some fears. And you can see more of London.”
“On a slide?” he asks.
“Yes.”
After another missed connection with my parents this afternoon, I was frustrated. Tag sensed it and suggested we go out.
I didn’t tell him the real reason I was upset. I don’t want to give my parents any more power over me than necessary.
This time, the telephone barely rang before I was being sent to voicemail. What parents send their daughter to voicemail?
Short of surprising them with a visit to get them to talk to me, I’m not sure what else I can do.
So instead of dinner at the pub, I figured we could go for something more adventurous .
“Not exactly what I thought we’d be doing tonight.”
“Are you scared?” I ask, staring up at the red metal that shoots up from the ground and twists all around the building.
“No. Are you? You don’t like heights.”
“Which is exactly why I want to do this with you.”
Tag eyes me with a wary look. “Is everything okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You don’t take risks, Liv.”
“So? Life doesn’t always have to be neat and orderly.”
“No, but it’s a random weeknight, so seems strange to be going down this souped-up slide.”
I throw a thumb behind my shoulder. “I can do it on my own then.”
“No.” He stops me before I get two steps away. “I never said that. Just checking in to make sure that everything is okay.”
“I’m good.”
He doesn’t believe me, but drops it as we head towards the ticket booth.
“Two riders, please.”
“Fill out the waiver. Thirty-six pounds.”
I tap my card to the reader and grab two clipboards.
“A waiver? This is definitely not what I thought we’d be doing tonight,” Tag mutters under his breath.
“I really can do this by myself.”
“And let you have all the fun? No way.” He smiles at me as he scrawls his name on the bottom line.
“Did you read any of this?”
“Don’t sue if you die. Got it.”
I roll my eyes at him as I read it over with more due diligence than he used. “I can’t believe I’m with someone that doesn’t read the terms and conditions.”
“Baby, does anyone actually read them? ”
“I do, yes. And if anything does happen to you, I’ll make sure I won’t tell you about them.”
He smirks at me. “Got it. Now, are we going to make this thing our bitch or what?”
“Let’s do it.”
Taking the elevator up the small space, the dark walls give way to glass, taking us higher and higher above the city. From here, the lights of London spread out for miles.
My grip on Tag’s hand tightens the closer we get to the top. Nerves threaten to take over, but I won’t let them.
I want to take this calculated risk. To feel something other than anger and frustration.
A young man sits at the top, looking bored as can be. He doesn’t look a day over fifteen.
“You ready?”
He nods to the car-like contraption that sits at the entrance to the enclosed slide that will take us back down to the earth.
“Is he old enough to operate this?” I whisper out of the corner of my mouth.
“Not too late to back out,” Tag tells me.
“Not backing out, just confirming the safety of the ride.”
“Want me to go first to test it out?” He winks.
“Tag.”
He sweeps me into his arms and lays one on me. “If anything happens, feel free to take the elevator back down.”
With that, he hops onto the car and he takes off. His happy shouts ring out as he slips away.
Peeking through the window, I can see him whipping through the glass tube as it travels through the metal contraption.
“You going to go or what?” the kid asks .
“Umm, yes.”
A new car awaits me as I debate if I really want to do this. I don’t want to chicken out. My parents would have frowned upon something like this when I was growing up. It wouldn’t be suitable for someone like me to do.
It’s that thought that pushes me to do it.
Being perfect hasn’t gotten me anywhere with them. So why not take this chance and face my fears?
Tucking my hair into the collar of my sweatshirt, I take my seat and hold on.
“Have fun,” he tells me before I’m racing off.
“Ahh!” My shouts echo in the tiny space as the city comes into view. Lights flash before I’m speeding down into darkness.
Shrieks turn to laughter as my fear dissipates. By the time I get down to the bottom, Tag is waiting for me with the happiest look on his face.
“That was amazing.” I leap into his arms, peppering his face with kisses. “I can’t believe I did it.”
“You’re a badass, Liv. Don’t you ever forget it.” He gives me one soul-stirring kiss before pulling back. “Now, let’s go grab a drink and something to eat.”
This part of the city isn’t busy or crowded at this time of night. We find the food stall in the park where the attraction is and I sit at the picnic table while Tag grabs dinner.
Peering up at the slide, it’s hard to believe I did that.
“Want to do it again?” Tag asks, sitting down next to me.
I take the canned cocktail from him and crack it open. “Once is good.”
“And you had fun?”
I nod. “I always have fun with you. Isn’t that the plan?”
I know, I know , I need to give him more, but I can’t. Something has me holding back. Holding back the parts of me that I don’t like to show the world.
The messy bits that hurt when the people that love me don’t show it.
“Fun. Right.” A sadness washes over him, but before I can ask him about it, the mask slips back in place. “Well, let’s make sure you’re fed before we go off doing any more wild and crazy things tonight.”
I guess I’m not the only one feeling too many things tonight. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea. To fly by the seat of my pants and do something that hurts Tag.
I blow out a breath, wishing I could convey all of this to him. Instead, I rest my head on his shoulder and relish his quiet company.
Until the turmoil of my emotions settles, it’s all I can give him right now.