Page 30 of Not in the Plans (London Lightning #1)
Chapter Twenty-Five
OLIVIA
“ S eeing as you’ve never been to London, is there anything in particular you’d like to see?” I ask Natalie.
With Tag off at practise, I didn’t want Natalie to be alone today. Try as I might, I’m nervous. It feels important for her to like me.
“Everything?” She laughs as the Tube rattles on towards central London. “That probably doesn’t help much.”
I smile back at her. “I’ll make sure you see everything then.”
“Do you have a favorite place?”
“The Tower Bridge. It’s wonderful. I love the views of the city, especially at night.”
Thinking about that evening with Tag, just the two of us on the walkway, has a flush creeping up my cheeks. It is very much something I don’t want to be thinking about while out with Tag’s sister.
“Maybe Tag can take me when he gets back.”
“How long are you here for?” The tinny voice echoes over the speakers as we pull into the station. Peeking at the sign, I stand. “This is our stop.”
She follows me out in the crush of people. Even with the holidays upon us, it’s still crowded.
“Until the twenty-ninth. I want to be home for New Year’s with the family.”
“It’s too bad they couldn’t join you.”
“I’m hoping this will be the first of many trips.” Natalie waves me off. “Between you and me, how is Tag doing here? With the team and all?”
“He’s fine.”
Natalie links her arm with mine as I lead us toward the stately palace. Its presence looms large in the city.
“That’s what he said. I want the real answer.”
Peering one eye up at her, I take her in. It’s easy to see that the two of them are related. They have the same easygoing personality that I never had.
“The team is doing well, and from what I can tell, he likes London.”
Natalie stops at the crosswalk as cars zip by us. “He likes you .”
“I…”
I turn into a bumbling idiot. I shouldn’t. I know Tag likes me. It’s a feeling that is reciprocated.
Being with Tag is unlike anyone I’ve ever been with. He makes me feel big, scary feelings. Ones that I’m not quite used to having. It’s a battle to not let them overwhelm me, but to let myself feel them when I’m with him.
Because Tag makes me feel safe, like I can explore everything with him.
“I honestly didn’t know if he’d ever find someone to make him happy again after his divorce.”
“Really?” The light changes and the white sign to cross blinks. I lead her across the busy road, packed with people taking in the historical sites. “Tag told me he got divorced, but only that his wife left him because he stopped playing.”
“She was a piece of work. None of us liked her, but Tag loved her, so we tolerated her. She never treated him like he should have been. To be honest, I thought Tag was running away from his problems by coming here.”
“If it makes you feel better, I don’t think that’s true.”
“I would have to agree, now that I’ve seen the two of you together.”
A comfortable silence falls between the two of us as Natalie snaps photo after photo of the iconic structure in front of us. Tourists are trying to get the King’s guards to crack, to no avail.
“Here. Let’s take one and send it to Tag.”
Natalie opens her camera and flips it around onto us. Her smile is bright as I lean in, but she tugs me the rest of the way so our cheeks are touching.
She holds the phone up so we can see it, and it’s cute. My cheeks are red from the cold. With the walk from the Tube station, it’s more time than I like to spend outdoors this time of year. “That’s a good one.”
“I like it.” She taps away on her phone before the whoosh sound echoes.
“Why don’t we grab a spot of tea?” I ask her. “Are you hungry at all? I know the best spot around the corner.”
Her eyes light up. “That sounds delightful. Lead the way.”
The cold London day has started to seep into my bones. Following the sidewalk around the palace, the entrance to the café is just ahead of us. People bustle by as I open the door for Natalie. A wall of warmth greets us.
It’s not crowded, which is why it’s one of my favorite spots in London.
It might not be the closest to where I live, but it’s cosy.
Old floral wallpaper is peeling at the corners.
A few wood-top tables are spread out, with mismatched throw pillows that sit on the bench.
Teapots hang from a rack in the front of the shop.
The aroma of tea is thick in the air.
“Why don’t you grab a table and I’ll order?”
“Sounds great.”
“Any kind of tea you want?”
“Surprise me.”
Taking off my gloves, I stuff them in my pockets as I order our tea and sandwiches.
A white, ceramic teapot covered in painted roses, filled with hot water and tea leaves to steep, is set on the tray, complete with two strainers for the tea leaves and matching pink cups.
“We’ll bring the rest out to you shortly.”
“Thank you.”
I pay for everything and grab the tray and walk over to our table.
“English breakfast, or as we like to call it, black tea. You can’t come to England without having it,” I tell her, taking the seat across from her.
“It smells delicious.”
“It’s my favorite.” I arrange the teacups and strainers while the tea steeps. The earthy aroma warms me from the inside out. “I usually take mine with a spot of milk, but you can also do sugar.”
“Milk sounds good,” Natalie tells me.
I nod, taking the pot and pouring the steamy liquid into each cup. The liquid runs dark. Perfect.
I add a splash of milk to each and hand hers over.
“Cheers.” Natalie clinks her pink teacup against mine.
“Cheers.” I take a small sip, letting the flavors linger on my tongue. Holding the ceramic cup, I let the warmth sink into my cold fingers .
“How long have you been working for the team?” Natalie asks, setting her drink down on the saucer.
“Since I graduated in the spring.”
“Big hockey fan?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Honestly? Not before. It was the first offer that I got in uni, so I took it. I thought it would be a lot harder to find a job, but I’m finding I actually like hockey now.”
Her eyes are searching as she sips her tea. “A particular coach wouldn’t have anything to do with that, now would he?”
“Stop it.”
I drink my tea so I have something to do with my hands.
I don’t know why talking about Tag always gets me so flustered.
It’s not like I’ve never had a boyfriend before.
But maybe it’s because Tag is the first person that could mean something.
Sure, the team is doing well, and it’s likely the team will renew his contract, but it’s hard to think about the future when Tag’s is so uncertain.
A three-tier stand arrives at the table—savory, finger sandwiches on the bottom, scones with clotted cream in the middle, and sweets on top.
“This looks amazing.” Natalie is quick to take her sandwiches and set them on her plate. “I’m so glad you brought me here.”
“I like that you can pop in and get tea without having to wait or book a table.”
“For these sandwiches? I’m surprised it’s not busier.” Her face is full of delight.
Conversation with Natalie is easy. She tells me about her family back home—something I don’t really tell her about—while she asks more questions about work and Tag.
No surprise there .
“I don’t know if I could live here,” Natalie says, biting into her perfectly baked scone. “I would eat this every day if I could.”
“Isn’t it delicious?”
I grab my scone and slather clotted cream and jelly on it. I never let myself indulge like this. I have my afternoon cup with a digestive, but scones? Sweets? Sandwiches?
It’s a rarity I get all of this.
“I’m really glad we got to spend time together. I can see why my brother likes you,” Natalie tells me as we finish our drinks and shrug back into our coats.
“Really?”
“Don’t sound surprised. He’s not the only one in the family that likes you.”
I don’t miss the weight of her words. Saying she likes me is more than I could have hoped for, even more so since they never liked Tag’s ex-wife. Butterflies swarm in my belly.
“I like you too,” I tell Natalie as we head outside. “I’m glad I got to know you better.”
“Me too.”
As far as unplanned days off work go, this was a good day. Natalie is an easy person to be around, just like her brother.
The one person I want to be around all the time.
Falling for a man like Tag is messing up every idea I had for my life. Maybe it’s time I change my plan…