Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Having a near-death experience will freak anyone out, but it seems to have affected David more than most.
Although it affected me pretty badly as well. I don’t want to step foot on another plane for a long time. Thank goodness we still have several months of tour left before I have to tackle that.
“I can get us on a guided tour this afternoon,” Brock says. “But I think it might be more fun if we just kind of hang out. Walk around, see the sights ourselves. I don’t know about the rest of you, but after yesterday, I don’t want to be rushed or…” He shakes his head. “Let’s just go on our own.”
“I’d like that too,” Brianna agrees. “Guided tours are great and all, and we can take one tomorrow, but today I think we all need to relax. Go at our own pace.”
“Amen,” I say.
The server brings a café au lait for Brianna and Brock, plus more croissants, butter, and jam.
“How’d you manage to get that?” Brock glances at Dave’s now empty plate of breakfast.
“All you have to do is ask,” he says. “But I don’t recommend you asking.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Brianna says.
She signals to our server and then orders breakfast for Brock and herself in perfect French.
“I’m sorry, Maddie,” she says. “Did you want some?”
“No.” I rub my stomach. “The croissants were good. I’ll just have an early lunch.”
“Isn’t that what this is?” Brianna asks.
“Nope. It’s late breakfast.”
Brianna laughs. “Good enough.”
Brock takes a sip of his coffee. “So I suppose we should start at the very beginning. The Eiffel Tower.”
“I don’t think I want to go to the top,” I say. “I think I want to avoid heights today. Maybe I’ll feel differently tomorrow.”
“I agree,” Dave says. “Let’s not start with the Eiffel Tower.”
“The Louvre then?” Brock says.
“Oh yeah,” I say. “Let’s check out the Louvre.”
“You sure you don’t want to take a guided tour through the Louvre?” Brock says. “There’s a lot to see. You can spend the whole day there.”
“We’ve got almost a whole day,” I say. “No, I don’t want a guided tour. I want to look at the art at my leisure.”
Dave sits rigid beside me.
“Let me guess,” I say. “A day at an art museum is not your cup of tea.”
“No, not really.”
“Then Brianna and I will go,” I say.
I won’t force Dave to spend time with me.
“Come on, cuz,” Brock cajoles Dave. “This is some of the world’s greatest art.”
Dave takes a deep breath in and lets it out. “Okay.”
We talk about nothing in particular until Brianna’s and Brock’s breakfasts arrive.
Once they’re done, Brock rises. “Shall we?”
Brianna rises as well. “Absolutely.”
I stand, and then finally, bringing up the rear, Dave gets to his feet.
There’s a weird look on his face.
What is wrong with him?
I won’t ask.
Not my place.
After all, he’s not my boyfriend.
Chapter Nine
Dave
Actually, despite my earlier words, spending the day in the Louvre sounds okay. I won’t have to do a lot of talking. We’ll simply be looking at art. I like art as much as the next guy. I just don’t know a lot about it.
But something is nagging at me today. I feel…
Jumpy.
Kind of like a grasshopper’s nibbling at the back of my neck and is going to bite through my spine at any moment.
I could give Aunt Melanie a call, except she’d still be in bed right now.
Besides, I know exactly what she’d say.
I’m suffering from some posttraumatic stress disorder. And of course I am. I had a near-death experience last night.
Why are the others handling this so much better than I am? Or are they? The three of them didn’t seem to have any trouble eating, though Maddie only ate a croissant.
I knew I had to have some protein this morning. My energy was already lagging, although I did sleep for at least a few hours after my tryst with Maddie. That helped me more than she can even know. It was hard and fast yet long and drawn out, and I’d love to do it again.
“I want to take the Métro,” Bree says.
“I think we should,” Maddie agrees.
“Okay.” Brock pulls something up on his phone. “There’s a stop just up the block, and I’ve got the route to the Louvre on my phone. Are we ready?”
“Ready,” Brianna and Maddie say in unison.
I simply nod.
“I’m going to hit the head first,” Brock says. “Dave, come on.”
“I don’t have to go,” I say.
“Then keep me company,” he grits out.
I shake my head at him. “Okay.”
We walk to the restroom on the first floor of the hotel.
Once inside, he turns to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
He wrinkles his forehead. “We’re in Paris, David. Last night was fucked up. But today’s a new day. Appreciate it.”
“I do.”
“Listen,” he says, “Jesse texted me last night after he left you. He said you seemed to be a little off. And now that I’ve seen you, I agree.”