“If you don’t want me to join you, though, I’ll go,” he says.
I don’t answer right away. Again, I’m trying to find a way to get rid of him that’s diplomatic. Or maybe I just want him to convince me he genuinely would rather walk around Prague than party with the people in his bus. What’ll Rose and Kelly think if they know he came with me instead?
“I think you should go back to your party,” I say slowly.
He holds my gaze for a second, then gives a quick nod. “All right, then. Have fun at the dump.” He winks as he brushes past me.
I shut my eyes and clench my teeth. I don’t want him to go. I guess I wanted him to fight to stay, which is dumb. Besides, his little surprise stunt did make me realize how vulnerable I am.Dang you, Austin Sheppard.
“Wait,” I say.
10
MIA
Austin faces away from me,but he’s stopped. If I had to guess, he’s smirking biggly right now.
“Fine,” I say. “You can come.”
He turns on his heels like an eleven-year-old wearing Heelys and faces me. “But do youwantme to come?”
I stay silent. My pride will absolutely not allow me to utter those words.
He walks toward me, his mouth drawing into a smile until he’s standing right in front of me. “You are one stubborn woman, Mia. Just say it. You want me to come.”
I’m quiet as the grave. I’m Ariel after her run-in with Ursula.
“Here, I’ll help you.” He reaches for my cheeks and smooshes my lips together. “Oh, Austin,” he says in a high-pitched, swoony voice,“please come with me. I desperately want you to.”
He gives a big, fake sigh. “Okaaay, Mia. Jeez. Twist my arm.”
I reach for his mouth, squishing his lips just like he did to me and keeping my voice high and nasal. “Mia, please validate me. I desperately want you to want me.”
His cheeks resist my efforts, pulling into a smile. “Is that so bad? Wanting you to like me?”
I let my hand drop and start walking. “Why do you care?”
“Because I likeyou.”
The lines this one has. I look at my map. “Right.”
“I’m serious,” he says, coming up beside me.
“No, I mean weturn righthere.” It’s better if I just ignore his attempts to charm me. It’s like the kid’s bookIf You Give a Mouse a Cookie, but this edition is calledIf You Give a Player the Time of Day.
We head into the subway station on a long escalator going down. It’s a lot more crowded than I would’ve expected for the time of night, and the people hurrying down the stairs force us against the right side and much closer than I had planned on getting to Austin tonight.
I’m new to the whole subway thing, but I pretend like I know what I’m doing. Unfortunately, Austin has to intervene twice to keep me from wandering in the wrong direction. Probably toward the actual city dump.
We make it to our stop, and I reluctantly surrender to Austin’s superior knowledge of all things Europe and let him lead the way. With him guiding, I can admire my surroundings a lot better anyway. Surroundings not including him.
The city is alive, with signs for hot wine, streetlights illuminating the gray cobbled sidewalks, and people lined up for a midnight snack. The city reminds me of Easter, with its pastel yellows, greens, pinks, and blues.
I glance over at Austin, who’s looking at me with the hint of a smile.
“What?”
He shakes his head and looks forward again. “Just remembering how I felt when I first saw Prague. It’s about to get even better. Come here.” He jerks his head toward a shop with a bigCzech word over it. We get in line behind two people, and I try to peer inside.
