“What the fuck?”
I almost crash the car, and she laughs softly. “I’m guessing it was a joke, but I didn’t let on I am fluent in Spanish too.”
I feel seriously uneducated around Rose and exhale sharply. “Is there any language you don’t speak?”
“Several. I speak English, French, Spanish and Italian. Also Portuguese and some Cantonese.”
“Why the fuck did you learn Cantonese?”
Her soft laughter causes me to smile, and she shrugs. “Why not? It was a challenge, and there isn’t much to do at the convent in the evening except to pray.”
“And once again I wonder again why you are so keen to get back there.”
“I was.”
“Was?”
“You were right, Julius; life can be fun if you go with the flow.”
“The flow?”
I laugh out loud. “You amuse me, Rose. I never know what I’m going to get with you. I like it though.”
“I’m glad.”
She appears to be thinking hard and then says with a slight stutter, “I’m, um, kind of enjoying playing at being your wife, Julius.”
This time I take a very deep breath because miracles can apparently happen.
She adds, “I know it’s only fake and to get us through the madness, but well, I never realized how nice it is to be with someone outside of family. It’s as if you carry chaos in your hands and I reach for it, anyway.”
“Chaos?” I chuckle softly. “This isn’t chaos, baby; it’s normality, and if you stick around, you’ll soon discover that chaos is addictive.”
She says nothing, and as we continue our journey, I must agree with one thing she said. It is good being in a fake marriage with her, and I never thought I’d ever say that.
18
ROSE
Iam on the road trip of my life and enjoying every second of it. Julius is surprisingly good company, and I’m loving spending time with him. Part of me will be sorry when this is over, but I’m here now and intend on making the most of the experience – making the most of him.
After a few stops for food and drink, we pull into a hotel entrance where a valet is waiting.
“Where are we?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
He shakes his head, and I roll my eyes. “Of course, but what’s the plan?”
I’m hoping like crazy he only books one room, and I’m shocked at that. I’m a virgin nun, not a harlot in training, and I’m mortified at the way my thoughts are heading.
“The plan is to book a room, shower, change and head out to the finest restaurant in town and eat until we can barely stand. Then return to our room, where I’ll run you the deepest bath, while I arrange our flights home in the morning.”
“It sounds–” I swallow my excitement. “Amazing.”
Julius flips the trunk, and the bellboy loads our luggage onto a cart that merely consists of one bag each, courtesy of our shopping trip. He tosses the keys to the valet, and as his hand curls in mine, it’s as if it has always been there.
We head inside the impressive lobby and, as Julius checks us in, I gaze around at the spectacle, noting it’s a world away from the Order of The Holy Mother of God.
