Still, a few cavities would be worth it. The pastries were so good here. He selected a tiny croissant coated with apricot glaze for himself.
“I was thinking,” Angela said, sidling up to Noah at the fruit station. “I want to take Jake on a trip.”
Noah scrunched up his face. They were already on a trip.
“I mean, I want to take him to another city here. By train.”
“Oh.” Noah frowned. Their days were already pretty full, and now Angela wanted to tack on another city? Still, when it came down to it, this was her vacation. She’d paid for the tickets, the hotel, everything but what meals Noah had managed to snag the check for. If she wanted to go, they’d go. “Where did you have in mind? I can look at tickets.”
Angela’s cheeks reddened. “Uh, I was thinking, just me and Jake. The two of us.”
Noah nearly dropped the pineapple he was scooping onto his plate. “Really?”
He couldn’t remember Angela ever taking Jake anywhere solo, other than school or the occasional doctor’s appointment. Not out of town, and certainly not on a train or plane or anything like that.
“It would be good practice for if he moves here. Plus it would let him see more of the country. Get a sense of what it would be like, living here with me.”
Noah wanted to tell her no. Pull the plug. Sabotage this.
Do everything he could to stop Jake from even considering staying here in Italy with his mom.
He couldn’t do that, though.
“When were you thinking?”
“Today.”
“Today?” They finally had a free day. Jake wanted to see Ramin. They were going to—
“Why not?”
Noah couldn’t think of a good reason. Except that he didn’t want her to. Because he was petty and selfish.
“All right,” he finally said.
“Good. Thanks.” Angela swallowed. “I also thought you might like the chance to spend some actual time with Ramin.”
It was Noah’s turn to blush. Was it that obvious? He’d stayed in the moment. He’d paid attention to Angela and Jake and focused on theirfamily. He’d only texted on breaks, or while they were waiting for the subway, or late at night.
“Angie, I swear, I—”
“I know, I know, you’ve been with us and you’ve been present and I’m not mad. But this is your vacation, too. I want you to have a good time. And you do, when you’re with him. Don’t you?”
Noah pictured a flash of green eyes. A dimpled smile.
A pack of condoms stuffed in the bottom of his dresser.
He shouldn’t want this. But he did.
He really did.
Unfortunately, Jake very much didnotwant it.
“But youpromised,” Jake said. He dropped his fork and looked at Noah with big, hurt eyes. “You said—”
“I said we’dtry, Jake,” Noah said. “I haven’t even talked to Ramin yet.”
“But… but…”
