Page 6 of Not in the Plans (London Lightning #1)

Chapter Six

OLIVIA

S even on the dot and I’m the only one here. I love my friends, but they are perpetually late. I’ve been waiting for ten minutes. I should know better, but I was always told growing up if you’re on time, you’re late. It’s engrained into my DNA at this point.

I attempt to call my parents while I’m waiting, but I get no answer. Sighing, I leave a voicemail for my mum.

“Hi Mum, it’s Liv. I wanted to see how you and Dad were doing. I haven’t spoken to you in a few weeks. Hope you’re doing well. Love you.”

It’s the most bland message to leave, but I doubt it’ll get a follow-up. They ignored my message last month too.

As the time ticks past seven, I no longer wait for my friends. Giving the hostess Sienna’s name, I follow her through the restaurant.

This is one of our favorite places in London. Pink flowers cover the ceiling and walls as we pass through the entryway. Blue and green glass floors are lit up from below. Oversized velvet booths fill the space as I’m led to a table in the corner overlooking the cathedral .

“Enjoy your evening.”

“Thank you.” I take the menu and set it down. I could recite it forwards and back.

Our server comes to the table and I order a drink while I wait.

“Sorry, babe. Sorry!” Sienna comes hurrying over, dropping a kiss on my cheek. “Tube was running behind.”

I smile at her as she drops into her seat. It’s always the tube running late with her.

“You know you didn’t have to cancel your date,” I tell Sienna as my usual drink is dropped off.

“And miss this? Never.”

“I haven’t missed anything, have I?” Imogen rushes towards us in a whirl of expensive perfume and a slinky black dress.

Stunning, as usual.

“No dish has been served,” Sienna says.

“Good.” Imogen rubs her hands together. “We’ll get wine and then I want to hear all about your evening.”

She waggles her brows at me, waving her hand at our passing server to order a bottle of red for the two of them.

“It is so embarrassing. I can’t believe it happened,” I groan, burying my face in my hands. “This is why I don’t do things like this.”

The bottle of wine is dropped off with two glasses. We wait as they’re poured and handed to each of them.

“But the sex was good?” Sienna asks.

“How does that help the situation?” I hiss, gulping down half my drink. The gin helps to calm all my raging emotions.

Emotions I’m not used to feeling.

“But why are you embarrassed? You haven’t told us that part,” Imogen oh-so-helpfully points out .

“Because he’s the new coach!” I bury my face in my hands.

“I’m still not seeing the problem,” Imogen says. “You don’t work under him. It’s not a conflict of interest.”

The noise of the restaurant grows louder in my ears. I can’t believe I got myself into this situation. This is not what I was imagining would happen when I tossed all common sense out the window.

“C’mon, Liv. It’s not the end of the world.” Sienna’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“No. In fact, this would be a wonderful chance to keep hooking up with him.”

“What? I can’t do that!” I shriek.

Imogen cackles. “Darling, you can. You’re an adult and can do whatever you want. Including…wait, what’s his full name?”

“Why?”

“Name.” Sienna snaps her fingers at me. “Now.”

“Stanley Easton III. Tag.”

Imogen pulls out her phone and types away with a perfectly manicured finger. “Holy shit. I do not remember this man being this sexy last night.”

Sienna’s jaw drops and her eyes go wide as she stares at the image filling the screen. “Damn, Liv. I can’t imagine how good the sex was.”

Heat creeps up my cheeks. This is the last thing I need to be thinking about. How good things were with Tag.

Not just good. Great. God, it was the best sex of my life. I don’t need to tell these two. I will never hear the end of it.

When the server comes back around, we order small plates to share for our dinner.

Dumplings. Bao buns. Spicy tuna rolls.

All of our favorites .

“It’s okay, we know.” Imogen winks. “Your face says it all.”

“What? No, it doesn’t.” My hands fly to my cheeks, trying to hide the furious flush. I hate how my face gives me away.

“Give your poor sex-deprived friends all the details. We need them.” Sienna clasps her hands under her chin. “Please?”

“Please, please, please,” Imogen begs.

“Ugh, fine. It was incredible, alright?” I concede, dropping my voice to a low murmur to ensure no one around us hears. I don’t want to flaunt my sex life to anyone else but these two. And even with them, they have to pry it out of me.

“I knew it.” Imogen is preening. “I bet he made you come more than once.”

“Multiple.” I know it’ll egg her on, but I do it anyway.

“If I didn’t love you so much, I’d hate you,” Imogen says. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve had an orgasm without the use of a vibrator.”

“You know there are apps for that, right?” Sienna asks.

“Weren’t you telling us last week that you’ve had bad luck?” I ask.

“Maybe if there were Tags on these apps, I’d be more satisfied.”

“Shush,” Imogen quiets her. “The better question is, are you going to see him again?”

“I can’t. It would be unprofessional of me to do so.”

I know, before I even finish the sentence, the pushback I’m going to get from these two. I love them dearly, but they are so predictable.

“Why is it unprofessional?” Sienna asks, swirling her wine glass between her fingertips. “You don’t report directly to him, do you? ”

“No,” I answer.

“And he doesn’t report to you?” Imogen asks.

“No, of course he doesn’t.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Imogen pierces me with her look that says she’s calling me on my shit.

“Because he’s not on my five-year plan!” I huff, throwing my arms in the air and narrowly missing the server and his tray. “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

“S’alright.”

It seems whatever good sense I had, I left with Tag.

Dishes of steaming food are placed in front of us. My stomach rumbles, needing something to go with the gin I’m sipping on.

“Listen, Liv.” Imogen starts grabbing small plates and passes them around as we each help ourselves to the appetizers. “I love you, darling, but to be honest, your five-year plan is boring.”

“No, it’s not. It’s sensible,” I scoff, smushing a bao bun between my fingers and taking a bite. Flavors explode on my tongue as I savor the ginger, pork, and kimchi.

Delicious.

“Find a nice guy. Get married. Have 2.5 kids. Get a dog. Buy a nice flat in the city.” Imogen ticks each one off her fingers. “I get you want stability, but what’s wrong with having some fun?”

“But it’ll throw off my?—”

“Your plan, yes. Make it a ten-year plan. Have something fun to think back on when you’re old. Because this man?” Sienna nods towards Imogen’s phone. “You want to have these memories.”

A shirtless Tag fills the screen. What a shame I didn’t get to lick all those abs of his.

Wait, what? Where did that thought come from ?

“Look, Tag and I had fun, but that’s it. It was a fun night. I need to focus on my plan.”

“Make this man your five-minute plan. He is too sexy to leave that many orgasms on the table.”

I choke around the bite I took, trying my best to swallow and suck down deep breaths.

“Imogen!” Sienna scolds. “Let’s leave our poor friend alone. If she doesn’t want to keep seeing Tag, then that’s her decision.”

I dab at the tears gathering in my eyes with my cloth napkin.

“I’m only saying she should have fun,” Imogen defends.

I sip on my drink, letting my throat relax. “But…”

“Liv, let me ask you one question and then we’ll put it to bed. Both of us.” She eyes Imogen, who looks more frustrated than she should considering it’s not her life in question.

“What’s that?”

“Do me a favour. Try to think of a reason to say yes? Just one.”

“Only one?” I mumble.

She nods.

“And you can’t say because of the great sex. We already know this man can make you orgasm.”

“Imogen!” I hiss. “You can’t say these things in public.”

She shrugs. Nothing bothers her.

But her point stands.

Every instinct is telling me the reasons to say no to starting things with this man.

He’s not a part of my plan. The humiliation I would face at work if things went sideways is too much to bear. But …

“You don’t have to tell us,” Sienna starts, “but I can see the wheels spinning. Think about it, okay?”

“Okay.”

The conversation moves to Sienna’s date, but I focus on her request.

One reason to say yes?

Every voice in my head is shouting at me that Tag is not in the plans.

Say no, Liv.

They won’t push the issue if you don’t want to see this man again, but I will.

Like they said, what harm could come in having some fun?