Chapter 97: Date

Chapter 97: Date

Chapter 96

Nolan

It’s an amusement park.

An actual, honest-to-God amusement park.

At our age, Ciel and I have never been to one. Tillermill was too small, too sleepy for something like this, and the closest one was a few towns over—a trip that always stayed a "someday."

But here we are now.

The scent of caramel popcorn, the shrieks of laughter from roller coasters, the dizzying whirl of color and motion all around us. It feels surreal.

Jack’s idea. Of course it was.

I glance over at him where he’s standing, one hand shoved in his pocket, watching us with that satisfied little smirk of his—like seeing us happy is enough reward.

But it’s Ciel that steals my attention.

He’s practically glowing, eyes wide and bright as a kid’s. His hair catches the sunlight, and he’s looking at the spinning rides like he can’t decide which one to start with first.

I can’t remember the last time I saw him this carefree.

He grabs my wrist suddenly, bouncing on his heels. "Nolan, look! They have a Ferris wheel!"

I laugh despite myself. "You’ve seen one before, haven’t you?"

"Not in person," he says, almost breathless. "It’s huge!"

Jack steps forward then, sliding his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. "Well, sunshine, I suppose that’s where we’re starting."

Ciel turns to him, eyes sparkling. "You’re coming with us, right?"

"Of course, sunshine. What do you take me for?" Jack says, flashing him that confident grin.

"It seems pretty high, will you be okay?" I ask, pretending to sound innocent.

His eye twitches. "Why wouldn’t I be? It’s just a ride." He says it with that fake bravado that makes it even funnier.

Who knew Mr perfect alpha himself was afraid of heights.

"Yeah, the Terrorizer seems fun. I’m also looking forward to it," I say casually, watching the faint flinch again.

"Terrorizer... huh. What kind of name is that?" His voice comes out just a touch higher than usual.

Ciel giggles, "It’s supposed to be the scariest ride in the park! It goes all the way up and then drops suddenly—like whoosh!" He gestures wildly with her hands, clearly delighted by the idea.

Jack swallows, visibly forcing a grin. "Oh, great. Sudden drops. My favorite."

I bite back a laugh. "You don’t have to come, you know. We won’t judge you for waiting down here with the kids."

His head snaps toward me. "I’m coming. I’m definitely coming."

I have to hand it to Jack—credit where it’s due—he actually thugs it out and stays in line. You can practically see the internal screaming behind that smug face of his.

We inch forward, the mechanical hiss and screams from above getting louder, closer. Ciel’s bouncing on his toes like a kid on Christmas morning. Jack, on the other hand, looks like he’s mentally rewriting his will.

By the time it’s almost our turn, I swear he nearly bolts. It’s so hilarious I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

"Don’t tell me you’re scared," I tease, tilting my head.

He looks at me like a man trying to keep his dignity intact. "Scared? Nolan, please. I’ve faced worse things than a glorified elevator."

"Sure," I say, smirking. "Then you won’t mind sitting in the front row with me."

He hesitates. "Front row?"

"Mhmm. That’s where the view’s best."

Ciel’s already skipping ahead toward the line, laughing. "Come on, you two!"

Jack sighs, muttering under his breath, "I’m going to regret this."

I grin. Yeah. Probably.

***

Jack

I heave, bent over with my hands on my knees, trying to remember how breathing works. My stomach’s still somewhere up there with the gods, spinning on that cursed contraption.

Ciel pats my back, all concern and soft-voiced sympathy. "Jack, are you okay? You look pale."

Pale? That’s generous. I’m pretty sure I’m transparent at this point.

"That was the single worst experience of my life," I manage between breaths. "Literally."

Nolan’s laughing so hard he’s doubled over beside us, absolutely no remorse in sight. I shoot him a look that could curdle milk, but he just wipes his eyes and wheezes, "You should’ve seen your face, man—like you saw death itself!"

"I did

"Nollie, stop laughing," Ciel says, trying for serious but failing miserably when Nolan doubles over, practically wheezing.

"I’m sorry—Jack—I didn’t know," Ciel says between snickers, his hand rubbing my back like I’ve just survived a near-death experience which, honestly, I have.

"It’s on me," I mutter, still trying to steady my breathing. "For thinking I could handle that thing. Never again."

"Oh, come on," Nolan says, his grin wicked and far too pleased. "There’s still the Sky Drop next."

My entire soul leaves my body. "The what—? No. Absolutely not. You can drop me off at the food stand instead."

"Don’t be a chicken," Nolan says, smirking.

"I will be a chicken," I say proudly. "An alive chicken. With normal blood pressure."

Ciel bursts out laughing at that, bending over a little and clutching his stomach.

I glare at him weakly, though I’m fighting a smile. "Laugh it up, sunshine. You weren’t the one hanging upside down screaming for your ancestors."

Ciel’s lips twitch. "Yes, because I was excited."

"Excited?" I raise a brow.

He tilts his head with that infuriatingly sweet grin. "You were terrified."

I open my mouth to argue, but... he’s not wrong. "Screaming," I say, with as much dignity as I can muster, "is a normal human reaction to fear."

Nolan snorts loudly beside us. "That wasn’t just fear. That was a full-blown exorcism, Jack. You nearly summoned a priest."

Ciel bursts out laughing, clutching his stomach. "He’s right though, Jack! You had your eyes screwed shut the entire time."

"I was meditating," I say flatly. "Trying to achieve inner peace before the end."

"Oh yeah?" Ciel teases, stepping close enough that his shoulder brushes mine. "And did you find it?"

"Almost," I mutter. "Until you started laughing in my ear."

He laughs again, the sound soft and bright, and for a second,even with my pride in tatters—I think maybe dying on on such a monstrous ride isn’t such a bad thing.