Page 62 of Road Trip to Forever
“I do, but that trust is waning slightly.”
“Are you two going to do this or not?” The kid stares at us. The smell of pot lingers in the air, and the cell phone sitting on the registration desk lights up, a barrage of text messages flooding the screen.
He clearly wants to be anywhere but here.
“Yes,” I say firmly. I drag Patrick to the counter and hand over my credit card.
“Great.” There’s no enthusiasm behind it. “Sign these waivers.”
“Waivers?” Patrick repeats. “Lo, I’m sure I can get Henry on the phone and—”
“And interrupt his honeymoon? Yeah, right. Come on, Patrick. They’re not asking you to sign in blood.”
“We could,” the kid says, and this is the first sign of life I’ve seen behind his eyes since we walked inside. “If that’s what you’re into.”
“A pen is just fine,” I say. “What are the rules?”
“You have ninety minutes. No phones allowed. You’ll know when you get shot. Ten lives each. If dark and confined spaces aren’t for you, I’d leave now. Oh, and watch out for Hank. He shows no mercy, especially not to newcomers.”
I nod and put my signature on the paper, not bothering to read the fine print. I sign for Patrick too, because I know he’s not going to be willing to scribble on a legally binding document.
Damn the repercussions.
“Any description of Hank?”
“He wears pink. Aim for his left side.”
“Got it.”
“Head to the next room and pick out your gear. In case of an emergency, break the glass on the wall. Hopefully someone comes to help,” the kid says.
“Great. Thanks.” I drag Patrick by the arm to the door before he can ask any more questions. The museum was hard to keep secret, but this has been nearly impossible.
“You have twenty seconds to tell me what’s going on before I pick you up, throw you over my shoulder, and get us the hell out of here, Lola Jones,” Patrick hisses.
“What do you always say you want to do when you retire from education?”
“Open up an escape room or join a laser tag league.”
“And what’s your favorite movie?”
“National Treasure, but I’m not sure how that applies to the situation we’ve found ourselves in. We’re watching out for a guy named Hank in a building I’m suddenly realizing has no windows.”
“What if I told you we’re about to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime quest?”
“Todeath?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. It’s aNational Treasureescape room with laser tag.”
He blinks once, then twice, dark eyelashes fanning out. His mouth drops open. “You’re fucking with me.”
“Nope.”
“You found a place that combines three of my most favorite things in the world?”
“The only one of its kind.”
“Fuck,you’re amazing.”He grabs a vest off the wall and sends four others flying to the floor. He slides it over my head, a glint in his eyes as he attaches the Velcro across my chest, making it nice and snug before humming in approval. “Pretty,” he says. His thumb traces down the line of my jaw.
