Page 26 of The Promise of Tomorrow
Rory didn’t reply, and Elena also went quiet as they walked back to the car. Why wasn’t he being more supportive? The sky had clouded over by the time they got in and put their seat belts on, raindrops pelting down. Rory took out his keys.
‘Any extreme sport has to be taken seriously,’ he muttered. ‘It would also be Tim in the shit if something went wrong. There aren’t many deaths in the bungee jumping world, but they happen, like last year, in Scotland, a bit close to home. A man mistook a hand signal and jumped before the cord was attached properly. That’s aside from the possible injuries, listed in that disclaimer and that I’d told you about, like eye problems, shoulder and spine issues, and…’
But she’d only gone a couple of seconds early, and obviously an aerodynamic shape was best, if you wanted to go fast. What a big fuss about nothing. Although she wouldn’t have wanted to get Tim in trouble. Nor Rory.
Elena’s ears felt hot.
‘Sorry. Really sorry,’ she said as they sat at traffic lights. ‘It was selfish of me. I acted like a complete idiot. Please pass on my apologies to Tim.’
‘It’s only because Tim cares,’ Rory said, the tension disappearing from his voice. ‘What’s more, who’s going to create a bigger home for Brandy and Snap if you aren’t around?’
‘How did you know about that?’
‘They told me. Put me right, in fact – said it hadn’t taken a fellow female long to work out what they really needed.’
Her face broke into a smile.
‘You were talking about it the other night,’ he said. ‘I came down for a glass of water and you’d just told them you’d finished that book you were binge-reading.’
One from theGame of Thronesseries. The books were much better than the TV show. Arya Stark – now that was one fearless woman.
‘Do you mind? About a bigger tank?’
‘It’s a great idea.’ The lights changed and he pushed down the accelerator pedal. ‘So… you’d jump again?’
‘One hundred per cent. I loved every minute. Skydiving next. Can you arrange that?’
‘You’re sure?’ They’d stopped at a junction and he gave her a surprised look. ‘It’s just lately… You are okay, aren’t you, Elena?’
‘Rory! Of course! Why wouldn’t I be? Look, maybe I got a bit carried away at Horton Green Park. I’ll stick, 1,000 per cent, to all the skydiving rules, however small. I’m honestly very sorry about today.’
They chatted about his skydiving experiences on the way back to Cariswell. Rory turned onto her drive and parked up. ‘That all gives you an idea of what it’s like. How about we cosy up over coffee and biscuits, and I tell you more about the local club I go to. Let’s also research stick insect living spaces and?—’
‘Can’t, I’m afraid.’ She beamed. ‘I’ve got to get ready for a date tonight.’
Rory stared at the garage door ahead. ‘Cool. Going out for food?’
‘He said he knew a good place and I’m just waiting for him to text. It’s a bit of a rushed arrangement.’
Rory waved to Tahoor, who was at his window, and followed Elena inside as the rain became even heavier. ‘I expect you’ve told Brandy and Snap all about him, before me.’
‘Not much chance of that. I’ve never met him before. In fact, we’ve not even spoken. I only loaded my profile onto the dating app yesterday. We matched this morning.’
Rory stopped taking off his jacket, drips of rain falling onto the hallway’s floor. ‘You haven’t got to know him a bit first?’
Elena threw down her keys on the kitchen unit. She flicked on the heating and filled the kettle with water. ‘Rory. Next you’ll be doing the moonwalk and telling me about the eighties.’
‘Seriously though…’ he said, walking into the kitchen. ‘What does he do?’
She shrugged, having skipped his details in the spirit of being adventurous. ‘Does it matter? He looks nice and gives good emoji.’
Rory put a hand on the backrest of one of the grey velvet breakfast bar chairs. ‘Do you know anything about him at all?’
‘He was prepared to meet me tonight. That’s enough.’
‘But—’
Don’t question me. Not now that I’ve finally found my zest for tasting the life everyone else has been drinking all this time. ‘I don’t have to justify myself, Rory Bunker. It’s a bit of fun, not an extreme sport with fixed procedures and disclaimers. Why are you making a big deal of it?’
