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)
“Fuck Jesse anyway.”
“Look. I know Jesse has had problems with our family in the past, but he’s in love with Brianna, and he’ll be a part of our family in the future. He would be anyway because of me marrying Rory and Donny marrying Callie. I think he cares.”
“He sure didn’t like me sleeping with his sister.”
“Would you want him sleeping with Angie or Sage?”
Brick to gut.
Man, do those words hurt. I feel like I should go apologize to Jesse for fucking his sister.
“Jesse’s over it,” Brock continues before I can reply. “He’s over it because he realizes, after last night, that it’s so easy to get caught up in the little things that don’t matter. So tell me what’s bugging you. I want to help you. This has been traumatic for all of us. Do you need to talk to someone?”
“What if I do?”
“Then we’ll find someone.”
“My French may not be as bad as yours, but I can’t speak to somebody here.”
“We’ll call my mom, then.”
“She’s not even up yet.”
“You think that matters? I’m her favorite son. She’ll take my call.” He grins.
I look at him and frown. “How can you be so…happy?”
He raises his arms to either side of his body. “Because I’m alive, man. And so are you.”
He’s right, at that. “I just feel like I shouldn’t be here. Like if I hadn’t come here, maybe none of this would have happened.”
“We were all going to be on that same chartered flight,” Brock says. “So whether you were here or not, yeah, it would’ve happened.”
I look to the floor and kick at the bathroom tile. “I was so excited about this trip, you know? After dealing with all the bullshit in our family lately. Then when I got here, and Maddie and I kind of hooked up, it was fun. I’m not looking to fall in love, and I don’t think she is either.”
He smirks. “Don’t be so sure about that.”
“What are you saying? She’s in love with me?”
“No, I’m not saying that. But all three of her siblings are now with members of our family. I’m pretty sure it’s on her mind.”
I sigh, rub my hand over my hair. “She’s great, man. This thing between us… It’s new, but it’s great. But that’s all it is. It’s not love. At least I don’t think it is.” I drop my hand to my side. “Hell, I don’t know.”
“Are you feeling something different?” he asks.
“Yeah, but I feel something different with every woman. Don’t you?”
“Of course. It’s always different with a new lover. But I was pretty sure after a few times with Rory. It was different different, if that makes sense. I knew it was something that could blossom into something amazing, and it did.”
“I’m not feeling that yet,” I say.
But I recognize the lie for what it is.
Because I am feeling something different with Maddie. Something that could bloom into something wonderful.
But right now, I’m not sure I know myself. My head is a mess. It’s jumbled with thoughts and horrific images. Of the way my stomach sank to my feet when that plane dropped. The way I had to hold back nausea as I helped Maddie get her yellow mask on before I adjusted my own.
The way I failed to hold back nausea after the fact.
How I…
But I was strong.
I thought of Maddie before I thought of myself.
And now? Now that we’re safe?
I’m in my own head.
I’m fucking freaked out.
“We’re here, man,” Brock says. “Whatever happens between you and Maddie isn’t the biggest thing in the world. The biggest thing is that we’re alive.”
I nod.
Part of me doesn’t agree. Because part of me thinks that what’s happening with Maddie and me is something big. Something fucking huge. But based on where my head is right now? I’m not good enough for her.
“You ready?” Brock asks.
“Don’t you have to take a piss?” I ask.
“No, I’m good. It was an excuse to talk to you.”
I go to the sink, look at my face in the mirror.
I look the same.
Same face that looks like a masculine version of my mother except for the blue eyes that come from my father. The dark hair, the classic Steel jawline, the broad shoulders.
And I recognize myself.
Except I don’t.
Maybe talking to my aunt Melanie wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Maybe I should just go home.
But I won’t. I promised Brock I would stay, at least through Paris. After all, I came here for a vacation. God knows I need one.
Brock washes his hands as well, and we leave the bathroom. The women are still sitting at the table, and they rise.
“All right, Brock,” Brianna says. “Where to first, cuz?”
“To the Métro first,” he says. “And then, on to the Louvre.”
At the entrance to the Louvre is the Louvre pyramid, which looks terribly out of place, in my opinion. It’s a modern design, constructed with glass panes and metal poles, and it juxtaposes oddly against the historic architecture of the museum itself.