“Ready for a little adventure?” Oliver asks, his voice more playful than I’ve ever heard.
“Adventure?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “What are we getting into now?”
Oliver chuckles and hands me my coat. “Oh, you’ll see.”
I watch out the window as the town gives way to rolling green hills—the buildings fading until it’s just us and the countryside.
“Where are we going?” I ask for the third time.
Oliver’s mouth curves into that infuriating half-grin, eyes still on the road. “Oh, nowhere.”
“That’s ominous,” I mutter, which only seems to make his grin widen. “Dumping my body out here?”
“Maybe,” he says, tilting his head like he’s considering it. “If you keep asking.”
Eventually, he slows down and pulls onto a narrow shoulder, just wide enough for the car to tuck off the road.
“And what are we doing here?” I ask, looking out the window for some sign of where we are or why we’re here.
“Well,” Oliver says, turning toward me with a mischievous spark in his eyes, “I’m going to teach you how to drive.”
I blink. “What? Drive… where?”
“Here.” He gestures outside the car like I’ve asked a ridiculous question. “It’s the perfect place. Quiet roads. No pressure.”
I look at him like he has two heads. “Oliver, you realize driving here is the opposite of everything I’ve ever known, right? Wrong side of the road. Wrong side of the car.”
“You scared?”
“Of course I’m scared!” I let out a nervous laugh.
“Addison, life is made up of moments. Don’t let your fear hold you back from having them.”
“But—”
“Trust me, Addie. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
Damn it. He says that like it’s a promise.
So,naturally, I say the first dumb thing that comes to my mind.
“Okay.”
He hops out of the car, and we switch places. I climb into the driver’s seat like I don’t belong there. Everything feels backwards.
“This just feels wrong,” I whisper, running my hands along the steering wheel.
“You’re fine,” Oliver says. “Nice and slow. Easy does it.”
I follow his directions and jerk the car forward. His face remains patient and encouraging, but inside he has to be wondering what the fuck is wrong with me.
“Oh my god. I’m gonna kill us, aren’t I?”
“Nope,” he says casually, as if my lack of control isn’t terrifying him. “You’re doing fine.”
I shoot him a look. “You are a terrible liar.”
“I’m a captain, remember? It’s my job to instill confidence in my teammates. Now keep your eyes on the road before you drive us into that hedge.” He grins, pointing ahead.
