Page 36 of Irresistible Second Chance

“Italy? What part?” I was instantly envious. I hadn’t travelled much unless it was for work and not to Europe. Mark hadn’t been too interested in traveling with me since he had explored the world when he was younger and found most tourist destinations to be too pedestrian for him. When I mentioned I wanted to visit Paris, he turned his nose up at the suggestion. And when I had mentioned Rome, he practically rolled his eyes as if he were offended that I would even suggest it.

“I spent a lot of time in little villages there, just exploring. But I visited all the tourist areas too...Rome…Florence.”

“That sounds amazing, so much history.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t gone.”

“I’ve been busy with work, and Mark didn’t like to visit what he considered overcrowded tourist destinations.”

Chris said pointedly, “Well, Mark’s not here now, so what’s stopping you?”

I opened my mouth to reply and then shut it. He was right. Nothing was stopping me...well, but me.

“I don’t know,” I said with a sigh.

“I’m sure Robert would be glad to give you the time off.”

I still felt a little bad that I had accidentally bad-mouthed Chris to Robert, but the project in the Caribbean was going well and Chris did a great job. I didn’t ask if Lucia was now his partner because I didn’t want to appear jealous, even though I still sort of was. I didn’t want to think about Lucia; Europe was a much better topic.

I shrugged, “You’re right. But I don’t know...traveling to Europe alone sounds sort of intimidating.”

“Alone? What am I? Chopped liver? I’ll go with you. Just tell me when. It’ll be fun. And why stop there? We can easily see other places...maybe visit several continents. Why not? We could travel the world...together.”

I knew he meant it. And it reminded me of a conversation we’d had so many years ago. We had been sitting on the backporch of his parent’s house. He had just told me that he had gotten into the majors.

His hand had reached for mine, “Ready to go on adventure with me?”

I had only nodded and smiled tightly as he leaned down to kiss me, but my heart had been beating triple time. My words stuck in my throat because I couldn’t tell him that I was terrified. Terrified of him leaving me, terrified that he would travel the world and realize that I just didn’t measure up. Terrified that when he left he would realize that maybe I wasn’t enough to come home to.

Instead of telling him that, I had just kissed him back and told myself that I would have to let him go.

As I looked at him now, I felt the familiar stirring of doubt and fear. I swallowed it back. I was no longer a confused young adult still trying to figure out her own worth. I was successful, and I knew what I wanted in life. Well, professionally. Romantically, I was still a hot mess.

“Just know, I only believe in 5-star hotels and there’s no way I’m carrying a backpack or going off the beaten path. I’ve seen way too many horror movies about tourists being eaten while exploring something weird and unusual.”

“Got it, just tourist traps and no hostels, easy-peasy.”

“What’s a hostel?” Johnna said as her sister trailed behind her, an ice cream cone looking a little close to falling out of her hands.

“It’s a place for broke college students and horror movie villains,” I said making Chris laugh.

Johnna made a face, “That does not sound good.”

“Sounds good to me,” TJ said, “I love horror movies.”

“Mom doesn’t let you watch horror movies.”

“I know! But I still love them!” TJ insisted.

Before they could get into another argument, I stood up and said, “Let’s head home.”

I took their hands and the worker behind the counter called out as we left out, “You guys have a good night! You’re a beautiful family!”

Chris smiled wide and said, “Thank you!” The girls started to giggle, and I had to fight back the urge to correct the worker.

Johnna laughed, “She thought you were our mom and dad. You’re just our aunt. And you’re--”she paused and wrinkled her nose before saying to Chris, “Who are you, again?”

TJ sighed and answered for me, “He’s Auntie’s Syd’s boyfriend, duh!”

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