“Tess!” I cried.
“I know, I know, I’m a wimp. But let me tell you, he’s worse. Not only had Jack changed his relationship status to single, he also had been tagged in about a dozen photos, looking anything but single. You have to check out Facebook and Instagram. You’ll see he’s moved on pretty fast.”
“What is with men these days? They’re all cowards. Did that bother you?”
Tess hesitated before she answered. “No. I felt more relieved than anything. I guess in my mind it has been over for a while, but it’s kind of sad to think this is like the end of an era, you know?”
“It is the end of an era. But now you’re free to explore whatever this thing with Mark is.”
“I know,” Tess said happily. “I really like him.”
“Good for you honey. I hope it works out the way you want it to.”
I was happy for Tess, yet I couldn’t help but envy her newly discovered carefree ways. Had I been a little more carefree, I wouldn’t be sitting here all by myself.
“Well, wish me luck on my first official night as an unattached woman.”
“Good luck, and you know the drill. Be careful.” I wasn’t too worried since I knew she was in good hands.
We ended the call, and I straightened my legs on the ground and exhaled. I was alone, once again, in the city of love. What a difference a day made.
I took out my notebook and inhaled the sweet scent of the yellow daffodils that surrounded me. My eyes swept around the Tuileries, first at the flowers and then the pairs of people scattered throughout. I wondered how many people got engaged here each year. It looked like a Mecca for people who were in love.
One, two, three, four ... I counted at least two dozen couples locked together, one way or another. Hands, arms, lips.... Paris really did bring out the romance in everyone.
I let out another wistful sigh and tapped my pen to my knee as I thought about some of the places I’d visited earlier that day. Then I began to write out one of the ideas for Janice that had been brewing in my mind.
The Best Places to Kiss in Paris
By Lucy Banks
It has been said that Paris is a kissing city and the romance of the City of Love is contagious. Pretty much anywhere is a good place to lock lips, but whether a sidewalk café, street corner, or park, don’t forget that a kiss is not just a kiss. It is where everything begins or ends. The following hot spots will make that special moment even more unforgettable.
* Take it to the top. The Eiffel Tower will get your head in the clouds and provide a panoramic view of the city.
* The Pont des Arts was the backdrop for an epic scene in Sex and the City. Carrie and Big shared their fairytale moment on this pedestrian bridge that crosses the Seine River.
* Set on a hill, Montmarte offers breathtaking views of the city. This quaint village has starred in many movies, including Amelie, An American in Paris, and Sabrina.
* On top of the Arc de Triomphe is an open terrace, which overlooks the famous Champs-Élysées. For those who find shopping to be an aphrodisiac, this is a must-see.
* The Pont Marie is known to be the Bridge of Lovers. Legend has it that a kiss under the bridge will make any wish come true. Sail into the sunset on a riverboat cruise.
* Once the backyard of royalty, the Jardins des Tuileries is one of Paris’s most visited gardens. Stroll arm in arm on your way to the Louvre or cozy up on the grass with a romantic picnic for two.
* My personal favorite is the Catacombs of Paris. An underground ossuary is not traditionally known for romance, but will send the message to live for the moment. There’s nothing like your own mortality to make you take a chance on love.
Chapter Ten
Last mango in Paris.
Facebook Status June 10 at 7:00pm
On my way back to the hotel, I stumbled on a store that made its own soaps and bubble bath. It wasn’t until Tess mentioned Simon and his souvenir shopping that I realized I had forgotten all about Morgan in my travels. She had sent me to Europe, so the least I could do was send a little Europe to her.
I chose an assortment of bath products and threw in an extra bottle of mango bubble bath for myself. I couldn’t wait to get back to the room and run a bath. This was our last night in Paris and in a real hotel, so I wanted to soak up the luxury while I still had the chance.
Plus, I really needed to relax. It had taken a couple of hours to organize and write out my ideas, and my head pounded from too much thinking. It wasn’t the writing that had gotten my brain in a twist; it was the two men tangled up in my thoughts.
The first thing I did when I got back to the room was run a bath. I took off my clothes, climbed into the deep tub and submerged my body in the warm water.
The bubbles rose to my shoulders. “Ahhh.” I sighed. “Never underestimate the healing powers of a bath.”
I closed my eyes and rested my head on an inflatable pillow that hung from the back of the tub. I knew I should apologize to Simon, but I wasn’t sure what to say exactly. I stuck my head under the water and gripped the bottom of the tub to keep myself from floating. Maybe I should stop at his room with a bag of treats. I could bring salt for his wounds and a muzzle for my big fat mouth. I should also throw in a filter while I am at it since I never seem to say the right thing.
I came up for air and heard loud knocking at the door. I sat up with a start and reached for my glasses that I had thrown on the floor.
“I’m coming,” I called out. It had to be Simon. Suddenly, I was a big fan of the pop-in visit.
After using the robe for a towel, I threw it on and tied the belt around my waist. My wet hair clung to my head as I ran to get the door, but shockingly I didn’t even care what I looked like. Now was not the time to be vain. We were leaving in two days and this would probably be my last chance to make things right with Simon. Carpe Diem.
I took in a breath and smiled as I opened the door.
My heart sunk when I saw that it was Tess.
“Surprise,” she said in a sarcastic tone.
I hate surprises.
“I am so upset,” Tess whined, charging past me.
“You and me both,” I muttered under my breath. “What happened?”
“You’re not going to believe this. Mark is such a jerk!” Tess shook her fists and started to cry.
My hand flew to my chest and a sinking feeling washed over me. “What did he do to you?”
I ran over to Tess and looked her up and down. My mouth had gone dry, and I nervously licked my lips. “Did he force himself on you? I swear to God, I will kill him. I should’ve learned my lesson with Pierre.” I clenched my fists and my nails pierced into my palms. “I should never have....”
“No, no! He didn’t do anything to me. That would’ve meant that he actually showed up. He blew me off,” Tess sniffed. She brushed her cheeks with the backs of her hands, leaving mascara streaks behind. “I sat at the bar for oh, forty-five freaking minutes.”
“What?” I giggled with relief. “Tess, there has to be an explanation.”
“Oh, there was.” Tess’s eyebrows were knit so close together they had practically become one.
“Okay.” I walked over to the mini-bar and pulled out a bottle of water for Tess and a can of Diet Coke for myself. “Sit down,” I ordered while I handed the bottle to Tess. “Now tell me what happened.”
She reluctantly took a seat on her bed. “Well, I had been waiting so long I finally decided to text him. Get this one. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, he didn’t feel well. Uh, was he planning to tell me?” Tess looked at me with wild eyes.
“Okay, calm down. It sounds like he caught some sort of bug. Maybe he was too sick to call or text right away? Then again...” I frowned and stroked my chin. “He could’ve still texted, even if he were hanging over the bowl. But you know men. They’re such babies when they’re sick.”
Tess clasped her hands behind her back and simply stared at me.
I raised my shoulders. “It�
�s true. Your father’s the same way. Let’s just hope we don’t catch it. I once came down with something so bad that—”
“Aunt Lu, there was no bug,” she said pointedly. “I left my key here and figured you were probably out, so I went to the front desk to get a new one. That’s when I saw her.” Tess’s bottom lip trembled, and she pressed them together.
I froze with the can of soda mid-air. “Her? Who her?”
“His ex,” she spat.
“Shut up!” I slammed the can down and some fizz spilled over the side onto the top of my laptop. “How do you know? Are you sure?” I pulled out the desk chair and sat down.
Tess framed her face with her hands and took a deep breath. “Positive. When I got to the front desk, there was a girl about my age already being helped. I heard her. She was all like ‘I just flew in from Chicaaago, and I believe my boyfriend left a key for me. Mark Anderson?’ Ugh.” Tess groaned as she stuck out her tongue.
“This can’t be,” I said, shaking my head from side to side. “There has to be two Mark Andersons.”
“Well, it seems there are. One is a charming phony, and the other happens to be a total dick. C’mon Aunt Lu. What are the odds that two women from Chicago know a Mark Anderson? I’m such a fool.”
“No. He’s the fool. Did you call him out on it?”
“No, but I texted him right back. I was like ‘how about I bring you some soup or maybe we can watch a movie together?’”
“Good for you. Make him squirm.” I nodded my approval.
“Well, I don’t know how much squirming he did. He wrote back before I could even get to the elevator. He said he was going to lay low tonight. Oh! And tomorrow, too.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath, thinking fast how to reassure my niece and get back at that slime ball for hurting her. “You need to let him know that you know what he’s up to.”
I may have sounded calm, yet I felt anything but as I jumped up from the desk and began to pace. “This is all my fault. Again. Had we stuck together you would never have gotten your heart broken.”
“Oh, come on. I’m a big girl, Aunt Lu. He seemed great. So did his brother. They could be serial players for all we know.”
“You’re right. Maybe they are. How would we have known?” I stood still and pinched the bridge of my nose. A thought occurred to me. “Is he even aware tomorrow’s our last full day in Paris?” I wondered if Simon was.
Tess nodded her head sadly.
“So you mean to tell me that after all the time you spent together, this is it? This is how he chooses to end it?”
“Oh,” she said with a face. “He thinks we’re meeting up in Rome this weekend. Whatever.”
“He does?” I took a sip of soda to hide the smile that teased my lips. I let the soda bubble on my tongue before I swallowed the fizz.
“Yeah. It came up this morning. They planned on going to Italy so they figured they’d meet us in Rome before we leave to see Landon in Florence. I figured you wouldn’t mind since you and Simon were looking pretty chummy.”
I blushed and hid my face behind the can.
“So, that’s how he left it. ‘I will see you in Rome,’” she concluded. A lone tear rolled down Tess’s cheek, and I got up to hand her a tissue.
“I really liked him, Aunt Lu.” Tess paused to blow her nose. “He was different from most guys. I know we only spent a few days together, but I never felt that way before. I hope for your sake that Simon is different,” she said with a sigh.
I rolled my eyes and made a frown. “That, whatever it was, is done too.” I told Tess about the real reason I left the Catacombs. I happened to leave out the part where I called Cooper back. Minor omission.
“Aunt Lu, it sounds to me like Simon completely overreacted. We all have a past, and it’s not your fault that yours is still a tiny piece of your present. Your break up just happened.”
“I know,” I agreed reluctantly. “I did send mixed messages though. Regardless, it never would have worked out. It’s not as if I liked him the way you liked Mark.”
I got a funny feeling in my stomach and wasn’t sure why. I held it in tight and then slowly released the muscles. That move was supposed to be a tension buster, but today it did little to alleviate the strange sensation inside me. I reached my hand into the bag of chips that Simon had brought last night.
“I don’t want to see him in Rome, Aunt Lu,” Tess whined.
“No, no, no. I agree, totally.”
“Thank you. You’re okay with rerouting?”
I was momentarily taken aback. I had meant Tess should avoid Mark. I wasn’t talking about a reroute, but it was my duty to protect my niece. I certainly didn’t need for her to get mixed up with a boy like that.
“Of course,” I said.
“Okay, so we’ll stop in Munich like we planned, but then how about we go right to Landon in Florence? The only guy I want to hang out with right now is my brother,” she sniffled. “Can we please get out of here in the morning? I would die if I saw them together, and since you don’t seem to care about Simon...” Tess trailed off and looked at me with pleading eyes. The look on her face reminded me of the one she had worn the day she begged me to take the trip.
“Right,” I said through gritted teeth, my stomach churning even more. Simon and I would never have worked out, so of course we should go straight to Florence. I put my hand on my middle and shifted on the bed in an attempt to get more comfortable. What was up with my stomach? Suddenly it was bubblier than the bath I’d left behind.
“Thank you, Aunt Lu.” Tess crossed the room and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “We make a good team. To hell with cowardly men. First I discover Jack is dating through a Facebook status and then Mark disses me on text. Is there anyone out there who has enough balls to end something face-to-face?”
I thought about Cooper as I smiled back at my niece. He, at least, had the decency to look me in the eye when he broke my heart. Was I a coward for avoiding a face-to-face meeting with him? Or was I just protecting myself?
“I’m going to call my mom,” Tess said as she opened the door to the balcony.
“Okay,” I said absently.
Tess and I made a good team, but I knew we wouldn’t be together until death did us part. What I needed was a real partner, the kind that would stay with me for life.
I picked up my phone and fell back onto my bed. After I’d reread the email from Cooper, I rolled onto my stomach and rested my chin in my hands. For a moment, I allowed my mind to drift down memory lane. Cooper and I really did have some pretty fabulous times together. Yes, he acted like a total jackass, but what if he really was the one for me? What if this break-up was just a speed bump in what was to become a very long road ahead of us? Would we laugh about this one day, like on our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary? Or our fiftieth?
How would I know? I probably wouldn’t. Unless...
I jumped up and sat on my knees. Should I just let him come see me? If he wanted to spend eight hours on an airplane for a two hour dinner, then who was I to stop him?
I picked up my phone and began to type a reply back.
Cooper,
I thought about your invitation. We will be in Florence on Friday night, so if you want to grab a bite, I’m game. Let’s meet at your hotel and keep it simple.
-Lucy
Then I pressed my fingers into my aching stomach and positioned myself into a child’s pose. My gut was trying to tell me something, and I wished it would just pipe down already. I sure was getting tired of the way my stomach, head, and heart worked in tandem. They were the three amigos from hell and always had each other’s backs.
“What do you want?” I groaned. “Are you hungry? Mad that I may see Cooper? What are you trying to say? I’ve had it with mixed messages...” Before I could change my mind, I hit send.
Five minutes later, I received a reply back. I jumped to my knees and read Cooper’s message.
Lucy,
Thank you for putting th
e biggest smile on my face. I’ve booked a room at the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze and will meet you in the lobby at 6pm on Friday. I promise you won’t regret this. Can’t wait to see you.
Love,
Cooper
Filled with nothing but regret, I looked over at the balcony at Tess. She was pacing around with the phone to her ear, making sharp turns every ten feet, alternating between wild hand gestures and rapid twists of her hair.
I shook my head. I had forgotten all about her in my temporary insanity. How was I going to explain Cooper? It felt like an ulcer was forming in my stomach, and I fell into the fetal position, hugging my knees to my chest.
C’est la vie, bebe. C’est la vie.
Chapter Eleven
Hi ho, Hi ho, back to the dorms we go.
Facebook Status June 11 at 4:00pm
When we checked into the Munich hostel the next day, I actually had to take a long hard look at my watch. The time may have read two o’clock, yet the ambiance screamed midnight. Between the insanely loud Katy Perry music and the beer bottles scattered around, it looked like a cross between a fraternity party and a rave.
After our peaceful stay at the Parisian hotel, the raucous scene was a shock to my system. Where the last hotel had votive candleholders and hurricane vases scattered throughout, the Munich hostel seemed to favor ashtrays and the random left-behind pint glass. All the posh people had been replaced with sloshed people.
I was, however, quite pleased to discover that for once, I wasn’t the oldest person in the crowd. The owners themselves were older Americans, and although they looked as if they belonged on the set of Animal House, the place itself wasn’t actually that bad.
Tales From a Broad Page 16
