Fifteen
If I didn't hear from her soon, I would have the entire city swept from top to bottom to find Jennifer Downs. The Honda was missing, she was missing, and I had no idea where the hell she had gone. I was so desperate to find her that I even called Abbie. Damn it, I fucking hated doing it, but I had to track her. I turned into a giant pussy overnight, and I was worried. Worried that something terrible had happened to her. How could I not be?
Nothing would lift the feeling of desperation, loneliness, or worry. As I sped down the streets of Vegas, looking for her car, I received a single text from Luke.
Jennifer is with me. Boarding now.
I let out a long sigh of relief. Relief that she hadn't been kidnapped, relief that she didn't lose her fucking mind and pull another one of her ridiculous stunts like the last time I almost lost her. Jennifer fucking Downs had run to my little brother, and of course, he had taken her in. He was always a sucker for damsels in distress.
I smiled at the thought and at how stupid I had been to not contact him first. God, she was so predictable. At least I knew that she was in good hands, and hoped he would keep his hands to himself.
Another piece of me was pissed the fuck off. Why would she run to Luke if he meant nothing to her? She just called him up and ran into his arms. I wouldn't play these games. I wouldn't be left wondering about us, or her and Luke. If my brother were to choose between my happiness and his, he would choose mine. Luketon Brand loved me and would do anything for his big brother. He also knew how I felt about Jennifer, and without a doubt, if it came down to choosing, he would walk away. But would Jennifer?
She was the common denominator, and I couldn’t change her regardless of how much I fucking wanted to. There were times when she would fold for me, but other times when she stood so strong that a nuclear explosion couldn't knock her down. Smart ass, stubborn, and hardheaded—all character traits that described her perfectly. I really had met my match.
After the big conference this weekend, I had planned to surprise Jennifer by taking her to Paris. Fucking Jesse ruined that. I wasn't the dickhead to blame this time. Although it would be better if she hated me, and easier if we just walked away from one another, that wasn't happening. She was mine, I was hers, and no matter what happened, we would work it out. We had to.
I couldn't help but wonder what Luke would tell her. He was terrible at keeping my personal life personal and had a knack for revealing things I didn't want people to know. Undoubtedly, Jennifer would know everything about my childhood leading up to yesterday. Reason number fifteen why I didn't want his ass involved with The Elite. He would make me look like a giant pussy before it was all said and done, and I couldn't have that. I had a hard-ass image to uphold.
The constant nag of distress slowly disappeared and replaced itself with slight anxiety. When I wanted and expected Jennifer to react a certain way, she did the opposite. The unexpected drove me crazy.
Sixteen
It was dark when we arrived in Paris, but the lights below glowed and connected the city. The illuminations acted as veins and seemed to pulsate and purr as I imagined all the people below. We made it to the airport, which looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. A circle building with cement arms extended to the edges of the property, totally Star Trek or something. Or it could a combination of exhaustion and hunger creating those thoughts.
Luke rested his head against the seat until it was time for us to get off the plane. I leaned my head over toward his and he smiled.
"A driver will be waiting to take us to our flat. Shouldn't be much longer."
"Alright, Luketon Brand. I just want to sleep in a bed. Seriously don't even care about food right now."
My back hurt, everything hurt, and I felt numb all over. I expected snow, but got cool air as we walked through the hangar. The lights in the distance twinkled, and I was so relieved to be standing. The ride was worse than driving from Texas to Vegas; talk about turbulence and horrible food. But the Eiffel Tower made it all worth it, and I would suffer that trip a million times more just to see it.
A car waited for us just as Luke promised. We whizzed through the traffic, and I sucked in a deep breath. I scooted toward Luke; he wrapped his arm around me and held me close. I closed my eyes—the ones that were burning and tired from traveling—and almost dozed off. Luke just stared out the window.
"I've missed this place so much." It was like he spoke to me from a faraway place, lost in his memories.
"Oh, sorry. I must have drifted off again."
We sluggishly exited the car, and Luke grabbed my bags.
The building had thick columns and little balconies. Bourbon Street in New Orleans, I swore, had buildings exactly like this. Oh, French, right.
"Do you like it?"
I smiled at him.
"I'll take that as a yes."
The driver handed Luke a set of keys, and we made our way to the front door. A studio apartment was filled with canvases, drawing paper, and a large open space for working. Not to mention, a couch, oversized chair, and a bed in the corner. There were no rooms; the floor plan was open. Well, except for the bathroom.
Luke dropped the bags on the floor and exhaled loudly as he searched around the room. He placed his hands behind his head and stretched.
"Everything I requested is here. I'll have a go at it tomorrow."
He opened the refrigerator, pulled out a piece of cheese for himself, and offered me a slice. I grabbed it and sunk my teeth into the creamiest piece of cheddar in the entire world. So creamy, I couldn't help but be vocal. He laughed.
"Hey don't judge me. This is good," I said.
"Totally not judging."
"Let's get some sleep, yeah?"
"Yeah. So exhausted."
I unzipped my suitcase and went to the bathroom to put on my pajama pants and a shirt that said, "Texas has a bigger thing than yours." It was my favorite, and it was funny, at least I thought so. While I changed, Luke did as well. He wore a plain white shirt and pajama bottoms that hung loosely on his hips. He yawned, ran his fingers through his curly hair then laughed.
"I already said to not judge."
"I'm not. I swear to it."
We stood beside one another as we figured out the sleeping arrangements.
"I'll sleep on the couch," I said.
"No. I will."
"Paper, rock, scissors for it?"
Luke shook his head.
"Alright, flip a coin?"
He shook his head again.
"I'm not winning this argument, am I?"
Then he gave me a nod and a smile. I released a begrudging sigh and crawled under the covers. Luke searched the flat for an extra blanket and grabbed the pillow from the other side of the bed. There was only a thin sheet, but he didn't complain and plopped on the couch.
I lay on my side and had no clue what time it was, but it seemed either late or early. I was thrown off of my schedule and hoped it would fix itself soon because I wanted to enjoy France.
Before I dozed off, I thought of Luke sleeping on that couch, and heard the springs as he twisted on the couch.
"Luke."
No answer.
"Luketon," I whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Come on. Come to bed. It's silly. You need a good night’s rest, and I won't take no for an answer."
Silence.
When I rolled over to look at him, he stood beside the bed with his pillow.
"I know there is no arguing with you. You're as bad as Finn."
He plopped the pillow down on the bed and slid under the blankets. I rolled over with my back toward him with a huge smile on my face.
"Goodnight," I said.
"Night."
We both drifted off to the sound of each other’s breathing in the room. I needed to sleep until my body told me it was time to wake.