Seventeen Days (19 page)

Winking at me, she quickly turns around in her seat. “Can we go to the Louvre today, or won’t we have time? I’ve always wanted to see the inside.” It’s like she can read my mind. How did she know I wanted to go there? “And if we go do you think we’d be able to see The Mona Lisa?” Red asks. 

“Oh. Yes, you can see her across the room, but most days it’s a wait to get up close and personal. She’s much smaller in real life. Until I saw her, I always thought she was larger than life. And she’s not. She’s not much bigger than a standard size family photo.” 

Well, now she sounds disappointing. 

“Is she worth the wait?” 

“Yeah, exactly what she asked, is she worth it? We don’t have much time on this trip and is seeing her truly worth the wait? I’ve always wanted to see her, but if waiting till our next trip is what we have to do, it’s what we have to do.” 

“Aren’t all the great things in life worth waiting for?” he asks. 

Why yes, yes they are. 

It’s like he was talking straight to me. Like he read my mind about my relationship with Harrison. He can’t possibly know, can he? Do I wear my want across my face? Can my father see it? Never having been in this position before, I’m curious to know but keep silent. It’s not a question to ask a virtual stranger. I’ll ask Harrison later. 

I’ve never had a boyfriend before. Not a serious one, anyway. Admittedly, his words last night hurt. No matter what he says, it was like he was turning me away. Like he didn’t want me. But his body proved otherwise. And I meant what I said about being on the pill and being clean. I’ve never had sex without protection before but I trust Harrison with my life. 

And since he’s the only thing in my future I’m certain on, it makes it a non-issue. For me, anyway. I know we told my aunt we’re only friends, but obviously, things have changed now. 

I have a boyfriend. We may not have given ourselves a label, but it’s what we are. My heart is telling me he’s my future. 

No one has spoken since Julian said the best things are worth waiting for. We all know what I do when I find myself in an awkward situation. Deciding to
not
ask something embarrassing, I use this as an opportunity to get to know my father. How weird is that to say?
My father
. 

“What is it you do for a living? You said this cafe is near your office, correct?” Maybe he owns his own business like Harrison. My aunt never did say what he did. She’s a successful vet so I can’t see her having been married to anyone who didn’t have ambitions to equal her own. Although, she did get her education
after
their divorce. But, on the other hand, he does live in Paris and it’s got to be expensive. Plus, given the way Harrison has been drooling over this car, I know it’s expensive. I can see the Mercedes label; I know those don’t come inexpensive.

“I’m a defense attorney. I haven’t lived in Paris the whole time since leaving Alabama. Although, I did move here right after things went bad with Savannah but left a year later to study at Oxford. Where I studied law. Upon graduation, I was offered an internship here in Paris, which led to a full-time position. About three years ago, I opened my own practice. Do you know what you plan to study, Morgan?” 

Nope. No fucking clue, dude. Well, maybe a tiny clue, although I've never given it a voice. 

“No, I don’t. Before all this trouble I got in, I was planning on attending Columbia in the fall, but had yet to decide on a major. Honestly, I have never been sure what I wanted to do, maybe business will be a good fit for me. I’m not sure. For now, I’m doing some light office work for Harrison; he owns his own business.”  Yeah, so I may have only worked there for like two days. It counts for something, right? 

“Is that right? What kind of business do you own, Harrison?” 

“I own a company that runs fishing charters out on the Gulf of Mexico. My father opened it, and I took over when he passed away. I briefly debating on selling it but couldn’t part with it, so I put my business degree to use and opened the doors back up. And I haven’t looked back a day since. I’m planning on expanding the business for the second time this summer. Adding another boat and crew, maybe an overnight charter.” 

Julian is pulling up to a valet at what appears to be a pretty stylish cafe. 

“Sounds impressive, son. I’d like to take one of those tours one day. I’ll schedule it through you, now that I know someone who runs that type of thing. Maybe see if a few friends of mine can come along. With Morgan being in Alabama, I’ll have a good reason to come back and visit. My family isn’t in the area anymore, so I don’t get there much at all; it’s been quite a few years.” 

The valet opens my door to allow me out. I hope this place doesn’t make Harrison feel less than equal. He didn’t grow up around money like I did. This is probably the first time he’s been in a car that costs as much as a typical college education. Although, he does charge a pretty penny for his tours. I’m sure he could buy this car, if he wanted. Shit, he bought
two,
first-class, last minute plane tickets, and I know our hotel isn’t cheap. It’s probably a good five hundred a night, easy. 

Don’t think about money so much, it doesn’t define a person.
 

If I repeat it, I’ll start to believe it. You’d think with all the bad that has happened to me due to having money, I’d
know
that. But dammit, I always try to put value on a person depending on if they have money or not.
Stop being so shallow, Morgan.
Money doesn’t buy happiness; you’re living proof. 

Getting out of the car, I take the valet’s hand offered to me and stand to the side to wait for the guys to join me. Harrison is the first, and he places his hand on my lower back and starts to lead me toward the entrance. “Shouldn’t we wait for Julian?” 

“He’s right behind us, babe.” 

So far, today hasn’t been awful. Going to bed angry at myself—and Harrison—you’d think I’d have woken up in a bad mood, but nope, I’m in a great mood.
Must have been the tension I relieved by myself last night.
If we would’ve been intimate last night, I’m positive I would have been a delightful mood this morning. I’d have been like Mary Fuckin’ Poppins. 

“Harrison, may I speak to you for a moment? Morgan, will you please go inform the hostess we’d like a table for three?” 

“Um. Sure, I guess.” Wonder what he wants to ask Harrison that he can’t say in front of me? Weird. 

My life has been an out of control spiral over the last month. Welcome to adulthood, Morgan. As if I didn’t have enough to worry about. Why did I make the stupid decision to take ecstasy? It’s a question I ask myself at least twice a day. Can’t say I regret it all that much, anymore. It brought me my aunt,
my father
, Harrison, Mac, and Rusty Sprockets. All of those things are a hundred percent better than the toxic people that were in my life, people I had considered my family.
What was I thinking?
 

My dad is alive, he’s a lawyer, and I’m having brunch with him? I still can’t believe it. 

Crazy. Insane. Discombobulating. Awesome. Wonderful. Blessed. All of those words can be used to describe my life now. 

The hostess leads me to a table near the center of the cafe. Although, how this could be considered a cafe, I have no idea. 

“May I offer you something to drink before I leave?” she asks me in French, automatically assuming I speak the language. Ordering mimosas and coffee for the whole table, I glance at my menu as I’m joined by Harrison. 

“Where’s Julian? What did he want to speak to you about?” 

“He’s in the restroom and will be right here. He wanted to let me know before the bill came he’ll be picking up the check. I guess he didn’t want you to know and try to insist on not letting him. Don’t worry, I informed him you’d be more than okay to be treated by him.” 

“You had to have known you were lying to him, right? Maybe tell him you’ll pay for dinner tonight or I can use Aunt Savannah’s card.” Seeing Julian walking toward our table, I quickly stop talking and glance back down at my menu. 

Once he takes his seat, I let them both know I ordered drinks for the three of us. 

“They have an amazing brunch buffet, if you like. The chef will make you a quiche to order, or omelet, whatever your heart desires. It’s in the back room to the left. But if you’d like to browse the menu instead, be my guest.” 

Placing my menu back down on the table, I state, “I’ll take the buffet.” 

“Me too. And I’ll try one of those quiche things you’re so amazed with,” Harrison says while winking at me, which earns him a head shake in return. This man, I swear. 

“So, Julian, did you have plans to be a lawyer before you left Alabama, or was it something you decided after leaving?” 

“No. Back home I was studying to be a chemical engineer at the University of Alabama. I was in my second year when things fell apart. Once I moved here, I decided to change my major. It was actually my lawyer during the divorce that helped make the decision. Knowing I wanted to be a lawyer, only not what kind, I took a year off before applying for Oxford.” 

“Here’s to hoping some of your brains were passed down to me. Chemical engineering sounds like a foreign language to me. I’ve been thinking lately, maybe I’d like to own my own business. That is, once I decide what I’m actually going to do with my life. My mind changes every day. Shit, it changes every hour.”

“Not to try and make the choice for you, but Alabama offers a great business program.” 

That could be an option for me. Once we get back to the States, I have a lot of thinking to do. I’ll probably make a list of things I know I want, and go from there. Guess I should research the colleges around and in Alabama. I could probably live with my aunt while I studied, or whatever. There’s so many choices that I need to make about my future—like yesterday.

“It’s one option,” is all I say. Great, I made this weirder. As if it wasn’t weird enough. 

The day flew by and was more fun than I thought it’d be. Julian was right, Mona Lisa is small. And she’s not all that impressive. 

We’re back in our room getting dressed for dinner and the club. 

Morgan was able to find a dress and shoes to wear tonight that she deemed acceptable. A sexy little white number. I tried getting her to try on an emerald one, but she claimed white was the better choice. It was frustrating as fuck to keep her from using Savannah’s card. I had to secretly hand my card to the sales attendant while she was changing. It was bad enough she almost caused a scene in the boutique, but when I brought it to her attention, she immediately stopped. She did, however, grab the shirt I was buying for myself and paid for it. I’ll pay Savannah for it once we’re back home. 

Red mentioned to me once we were alone that she’s debating on asking Julian to lunch tomorrow, only the two of them. I think it's a hell of an idea myself. They need bonding time, alone. 

Watching them together today was nothing short of amazing. Neither one noticed but they have the exact same mannerisms. They both like using their hands to talk, walk similarly, and are not afraid to speak their minds. Having met Julian, I can see where her feistiness comes from. Let me tell you, once you hear a person get put in their place in French, you’ll never be the same. He cussed out a valet, and I think the kid’s ears are still ringing. Poor kid stumbled for words after he handed Julian his keys.