Page 80 of Don't Think

I grin. “See you tonight, Al.”

She smiles, shaking her head. “See you tonight, Jax.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jax

I don’t think I’ve ever been to an amusement park.

Ever.

Back in Cardiff, we have a single water park, a few indoor trampoline places, and maybe a couple of indoor rock-climbing walls.

But roller coasters? That’s a hard no.

And yet, here we are—driving two and a half hours to meet the girls at an amusement park that apparently has a four-hundred-foot-tall roller coaster. Because nothing screamsfunlike staring death in the face from four hundred feet in the air.

James and Ana were going off about it last night when we were all hanging out, saying they’re going to ride that first before anything else.

Allie, on the other hand, didn’t seem too thrilled, but maybe she’ll surprise me. She’s been full of them since the day I met her.

Finding out she was a mum, well, that was a shock in itself.

What really got me, though, was the way she let me fall apart in her arms just a few nights ago. That definitely wasn’t my proudest moment, but I haven’t let myself forget it.

When she said she had me,I knew she wasn’t just saying it for the sake of being nice. She meant it with every fiber of her being.

Shehadme that night.

And she still does. More than I think she even realizes.

“Holy shit.” Gareth groans from the passenger seat with his feet kicked up on the dash. “Are we there yet?”

I have half a mind to slam on the brakes just to see him freak out for five seconds. It almost sounds worth it, but I know he’d just slug me in the arm regardless of me being the one driving.

“Almost, princess,” I say, chuckling and glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.

He raises his hand, real slow, and flips me off. Middle finger high in the air. “How’s that for a princess?” he scoffs.

“Almost good enough to get crowned,” I shoot back. “Keep practicing your royal wave.”

James barks out a laugh from the backseat, loud enough to ring in my ears—right before I feel a sharp slap to my arm. My hand slips from the wheel for half a second, and I shoot Gareth a glare before my eyes return to the road.

“Princesses don’t hit, Gareth,” James teases, still wheezing like a hyena.

I let out a loud laugh and Gareth twists in his seat, knees on the seat before he gives James a dead leg.

“Ouch, dude. What the fuck!”

“Oh, come on,” Casey says with a sneer. “You knew that was coming.”

Right. Casey.

I’d almost forgotten he was even here. The only time he’s come out with us was to the aquarium, and I think this might be the first full sentence he’s spoken the entire trip.

To think all it took was mentioning the water park to get Casey on his feet faster than I’ve ever seen him move.

And I lost five bucks to James because of it.