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“One, FaceTime, Two, your carved initials. Three, I don’t like anyone as much as you.”
She guesses quietly, “Three reasons you’re here.”
“Three reasons, I’m here,” I reiterate.
“That’s the only place for salt I’ve decided.” She taps her glass to mine, “No more scrubs.” I toast her. “Thanks for coming here. I like your face. When do you have to leave?”
“Non-refundables to Marseille but you could come with me. Travel with me.” Her eyes get wide and she swallows hard. “Look, I’ve never been here.” I grin. “And you’ve never been where you are before.”
“I know you’ve been here. You’ve been here. Or was that a lie?”
“Metaphorical. Emotional. Relationshipal.” She makes an “O” with her mouth and I tap her tongue to bug her. She shakes it off. “Listen to me and then I won’t bring it up again. You’ve been walking around calling yourself a mess and meanwhile you carved your name next to mine in a tree in Bangladesh. I’ll bet you have those flowers in your camera bag.”
She nods.
“Will it be less of what I need if I go? And Ginny.”
“They will be just fine.”
“Who will?” Colin says as he leans down and kisses Kat on the cheek. They slide onto barstools next to us. “Kat, there’s no way I’d want to see that show today but somehow I wish I could have, without the naked.”
I reply for her, “It’s not a show without the naked.” She laughs and leans into me a little bit.
Ginny says, “What now? Are you all good?”
“No. We’ve spent approximately two hours not fighting or writing. How the hell should I know.”
“Then come with me and let’s see.” I look at Ginny, “Are you and Court the only surprises on her trip?”
She shakes her head. Kat answers, “Porter just left India.”
“Anna’s thinking about coming to meet up next week.”
I take Kat’s hand. “Skip over Prague, Cardiff, Copenhagen and come to Marseille with me tomorrow. Tell Anna to get on a plane and meet us there.”
She says, “You got another installment.” My heart pangs with a little guilt as I nod yes.
Ginny says, “She’s going. And Anna said something wholly surprising.”
“What?”
Ginny slides her phone over to the two of us.
ANNA: Fuck it. I deserve a vacation. Even if I’m the 3rd wheel. I’m in.
“The two of you explore while I work. Go see all the things in the South of France or sit on a balcony and drink Pastis. There’s a great tiny balcony that will be perfect for the two of you to catch up. Say you’ll leap with me.”
Colin says, “The man did fly across the world.” She grins and nods to my wingman.
“Okay. Let’s jump.”
Chapter 52
Teach A Man To Fish
ZANE
Marseille
