Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“It sure is.” I looked down at myself, wishing I had on anything other than my ugly server uniform.
“Now that the tour is over, I finally have a chance to breathe. I was hoping you and I could talk.”
I looked over my shoulder to find the other servers watching us like hawks. “I’m on the clock for another hour, until ten.”
“I’ll wait for you.”
“Here?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“Because you’re a little distracting.” I glanced around again.
“I’ll leave, if you prefer.”
I shook my head. What was I thinking? Yes, he was distracting, but no I didn’t want him to leave. I’d missed him so much. His smell. Those gorgeous blue eyes looking back at me. I wanted to run away and jump into his arms all at once.
I finally seated him at a table in the corner, where I hoped no one else would bother him. Remaining tense for the rest of my shift, I glanced repeatedly at Tristan as I balanced trays of hot dishes and wobbly beverages. The weight of his eyes never left me, even as I tried to keep him distracted with food and drinks—on the house, per my manager. Mike was a huge fan, apparently.
When my shift was finally over, I grabbed my purse and went to his table, my stomach fluttering with anticipation. How I’d missed his chiseled face, his radiant smile, the intoxicating way he smelled. But mostly I’d missed the way he looked at me, which hadn’t changed. His eyes were still penetrating. Somehow our connection still felt as magnetic as ever. What does that mean?
“It’s so good to see you, Emily,” he said as he rose. “I’m sorry I didn’t have the opportunity to come before now.”
Heat traveled to my cheeks. “It’s good to see you, too.” I willed myself to act casual despite freaking out inside.
Tristan walked me out before we faced each other in the parking lot. “How did you end up working here?” he asked, looking back at the diner.
“This is the place my mother works. She was able to switch to the day shift, and I work some nights. Just passing the time until I can find a permanent job.” I looked around, unable to ignore my coworkers’ attention on us as they peeked through the window.
“Wanna take a ride?” he suggested.
“I have my car here.” I pointed to my old navy Corolla. “I can’t just leave it.”
“I can drive you back to get it after.”
There wasn’t much to think about. It wasn’t like I could say no when he’d come all the way here. It wasn’t like I wanted to say no, either. Any time with him felt like a gift.
“Okay...” I shrugged.
The inside of Tristan’s black Range Rover smelled just like him, heady and spicy, a painful reminder of having his scent all over my body. He started the engine and took off down the windy country road. “So, you’re wondering why I’m here...” he began, glancing over.
“Yeah. Of course.”
“I pretty much had to block out everything that happened before Europe in order to get through the tour.”
“You seem to have found a good distraction, from what I read online.”
“What do you mean?”
Blood rushed to my face. “You’re dating the new PR manager. The whole world knows about it.”
Tristan grimaced. “I guess I forget how that works sometimes. I don’t pay attention to the press. But figures they reported on that.”
That certainly wasn’t a denial. I cleared my throat. “How’s that going?”
“It’s not too serious.”
“Well, I’m glad you seem happy.” I tried my best to not let my bitterness show.
“What about you?” he asked. “Are you happy?”
I raised my chin. “I’m dating someone, too.”
He nodded several times. “Who’s the lucky person?”
“His name is Ethan. I’ve known him since high school.”
“Is he a good guy?”
“I wouldn’t be with him if he wasn’t.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Well, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
True happiness is what I felt with you before you knew who I was. Before I turned both of our lives upside down.
“You still haven’t yet told me why you’re here, Tristan.”
“I need your help.”
“Help with what?”
“Let me find somewhere to park so we can chat.”
On pins and needles, I looked out the window as he drove down a side street and parked. He turned off the engine. Nothing but the sound of crickets rang out in the night.
“I know you and I have history,” he began. “And I still haven’t worked through all my feelings where that’s concerned. I just pushed them aside. But I’m hoping you can look past the complicated nature of our relationship and help me. You’re the only person who can.”
“What is it?”
“I want to get to know my son. Who he was. Posthumously.”
I blinked. “Okay…”
“You knew him best. I feel like I can’t go on until I take some time to learn about him. To feel his spirit. I know he’s not physically here anymore, but this town is where he lived. I want to go to the places he went. I want to eat at his favorite restaurants. Meet his friends. I want to know what made him smile. To see his childhood home and meet his parents. It’s not the same as getting to know him personally, but it’s all I have.” He leaned his head back against the seat. “I’ve now read every page of his journals, but he only started those the last few years of his life. It’s not enough for me, Emily.”