Chapter 52 Love at 300 Feet
"No," I say firmly, arms crossed over my chest. "Absolutely not. We are not getting on that…" I eye the gigantic Ferris wheel. "...monstrous thing."
Scarlett throws her head back and laughs. "Just admit you're scared, Lawrence. It's okay. I won't judge much."
I shoot her a look of utter appallment. "Of all the things in this world I could possibly fear, baby, that oversized death trap is not one of them."
She smirks, unconvinced. In her baby-pink crop top that reveals a teasing sliver of sun-kissed skin, tiny denim shorts, and matching pink platform sandals, she looks sweet and radiant like pure summer. And also, far too persuasive for my sanity.
"Okay, Mr Tough Guy," she says, tilting her head. "If you're not scared, then what's the problem?"
I hesitate, glancing back at the colossal Ferris wheel. Its massive white structure looms against the bright London sky, colourful gondolas swaying gently even from this distance.
Ginormous doesn't even begin to cover it.
"I'll lose my composure," I mutter under my breath.
Scarlett's grin turns wicked. "You mean you'll scream like a little girl?" She jokes, stepping closer. "Or maybe puke the second we reach the top?" She pokes my chest playfully. "Don't worry, I'll hold your hand the whole time."
"No," I grumble, even as my will starts to melt under the power of her sweet smile.
"Great! We're going." Scarlett claps her hands together, her eyes sparkling with pure delight. "I'll go get the tickets. Don't move."
"Scarlett, wait. I didn't agree to…"
She's already mingling through the crowd.
I stand alone in the middle of the park's bustling fun fair, the afternoon sun warming my skin.
All around me, laughter, roller-coaster screams, and cheerful calliope music mix together. Even the air is filled with the smell of sugary treats.
Families walk past with excited children holding balloons and oversized stuffed prizes, while couples stroll hand-in-hand, lost in the carefree atmosphere.
I usually don't like jam-packed places like this. It's the last place I wanted to bring her.
But I knew the moment she spotted the advertisement for the giant observation wheel that her vibrant, playful spirit would latch onto it. After a week of showing her some of London's sophisticated hot spots, she wanted something fun and childlike, especially with me.
Who was I to say no?
Still, as I stare up at the slowly rotating behemoth, a tight knot forms in my stomach.
Maybe I should have tried harder to talk her out of it.
That thing is not just big.
It is terrifyingly big.
And knowing Scarlett, she is going to make sure we ride it straight to the very top.
I let out an exhale. "Oh boy."
A woman with sleek black hair sweeps past me, and the sight instantly drags my mind back to the office a few days ago.
I had seized the moment Scarlett excused herself to the restroom to speak to Veronica, putting her in her place.
"Finally," Veronica said, rising from her chair and abandoning her laptop as I stepped into her office, closing the door behind me.
"I was starting to wonder if that tour would ever end." Her voice slid into an overly intimate tone. "Dinner tonight? We can catch up properly."
"No," I replied coldly.
"You should reconsider." She tried again.
"Veronica," I began, "I respect you as a colleague. But let me be crystal clear so there is no room left for misunderstanding."
Her flirtatious mood changed the instant she noticed the seriousness in my tone.
"I am not interested," I said. "I have never been interested. And I never will be."
"Lawrence, I…"
"The texts stop today," I interrupted. "Every single one."
"But I was only checking up on you…"
"Really?" Disbelief seeped into my words. "We both know what those messages were about. Don't insult my intelligence."
A heavy silence filled the room. Her lips pressed into a thin line as colour flooded her cheeks. She looked away for a moment.
"We work together," I continued. "That is all it will ever be. I expect you to accept that, respect it, and respect yourself while you're at it."
Veronica's arms folded tightly across her chest, her nails digging into her sleeves angrily. When she finally met my eyes again, hers were glittering with a mix of fury and embarrassment.
"So that's how it is?" she bit out coldly. "You're suddenly telling me all this now? Why? Are you seeing someone?"
I held her gaze. "That is none of your business. My only demand is that you know your place and stay in it."
Veronica gave a sharp scoff. "Fine. Message received, boss."
I didn't wait for anything more before leaving.
"Lawrence!"
Scarlett's voice cuts through the memory.
I blink, pulling myself back to the present as the noise of the park rushes back in.
She's jogging toward me, a bright smile on her face, two tickets held triumphantly in the air.
"Got them!" she announces. "You're not backing out now."
She's so excited, she's almost bouncing on her toes. "Front row, baby. Best view in London."
I chuckle briefly at her excitement, my chest swelling with affection.
Even if I do scream like a little girl… it might be worth it.
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"I am never going on that thing again," I mutter under my breath, swallowing hard against the wave of nausea, and fighting the urge to throw up.
Hell, even the ground still feels like it's swaying beneath me.
May George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. rot in peace for unleashing that spinning nightmare on humanity.
It's not fair. Scarlett looks perfectly fine.
Better than fine, in fact. The woman's practically glowing, bubbling with leftover adrenaline, while my insides are still churning like I've been tossed in a blender.
The entire ride, she screamed delightfully, raising her arms in joy and laughing into the wind, while I gripped the safety bar for dear life, questioning every life choice that led me here, and praying for solid ground.
"So, what next?" she asks happily, turning to me with that contagious grin.
"What next?" I echo, incredulous. "Nothing, baby. We're heading home before I embarrass myself on these concrete paths."
"It's too soon to head home," she pouts, scanning the park with eager eyes. "Come on, Lawrence. We've only done one ride! There's still the bumper cars, the carousel… or we could do the Ferris wheel again…"
I shoot her a look of pure betrayal. "Don't you even dare."
She laughs brightly, and it cuts straight through my misery.
Stepping closer, Scarlett slips her arm through mine, leaning into me.
"Okay, okay. No more Ferris wheels. But you can't drag me to an amusement park and then tap out after one ride. That's against the rules."
I groan, but I'm already losing the fight. Her excitement is contagious, even if my stomach hasn't gotten the memo.
"Fine. One more ride. Something that doesn't spin, flip, or drop without warning."
Her eyes sparkle with even more excitement. "Deal. How about the haunted house? Is that nice and slow enough for you?" she teases.
I narrow my eyes at her. "Don't push it."
A giggle bursts from her mouth. Tugging me forward, she replies, "Don't worry. I'll hold your hand the whole time. I promise."
Despite the lingering nausea, I let her pull me along.
The truth is, I'm actually enjoying this… enjoying her.
The ground beneath my feet has finally steadied, and it has nothing to do with the world stopping its spin.
It's because she's holding my hand.