Page 29 of The Problem with Princes
I shake my head. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
He shrugs. “Okay, but you’re missing out.” He pushes the ignition on the car and pulls out of the parking lot and into traffic. His hand sits on the gearshift between our seats, but I keep my hands clasped together in my lap. My gaze keeps flicking to his hand, my fingers itching to move to the console and see if he’ll hold my hand again. But I can’t bring myself to do it. My brain wars with itself, both afraid he will take it and afraid that he won’t. Why am I such a weirdo?
“So we’re good?” Tyrone’s voice is soft and a little hesitant. “You weren’t quiet because I did something stupid again?”
I nod. “Yeah, we’re good. I think this whole thing is just so surreal.” I look out the window. “I mean, look at these surroundings. This is all so amazing. I did so much research before we came, it just doesn’t feel real to be seeing it all.” I glance over at him.
He raises his brows quickly and grins. “Allof your surroundings?”
I mimicked his expression. “Mostof them.”
He chuckles and the strange tension between us lifts. It’s like we are just two friends hanging out. I breathe in deeply. That’s it. I just need to think of him as a friend that I have absolutely no interest in. A strictly platonic friend who is showing me around Atraxia.
“So I know you live in Washington, DC. Is that where you’re from originally?”
I let my shoulders relax. I can do conversation. In fact, I’m quite known for my gift of gab among friends. “No. I grew up in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, in Utah.” I open my mouth, prepared to answer the next inevitable question from foreigners.Where is Utah?
He whistles. “Wow. You’re a lucky girl. All that amazing snow just a short drive away.”
I tilt my head and look at him. Not what I was expecting. “You know where Utah is?”
“Yeah. I am educated, Grace. I know geography.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you don’t. It’s just most people I run into outside of the US—even some inside the US— have never even heard of Utah. I’m just surprised.”
“Then you don’t associate with serious skiers. Utah has some of the best snow I’ve skied.” He looks at me. “Is that really true that people don’t know where it is? I mean, there was an Olympics held there.”
I shrug. “That was a while ago. But yeah, it’s true.”
“So what was it like growing up in Utah?” He watches the road, but his gaze constantly flicks over to me, so I know he is listening.
“I loved it. I miss it a lot, actually. Utah is one of my favorite places on earth. It has such a diverse landscape. There are snowy mountains and red rock desert all within a few hours of each other.” I sigh. But I especially miss it at Christmas time.” Just talking about my childhood home makes me feel warm and cozy.
“Don’t you go home for Christmas?”
I nod. “Usually for a few days, at least. But last year my firm had just landed this big company, and it was all hands on deck. No one got time off except the partners.”
He scoffs. “Oh, yes. The partners got the time off. That seems to make sense.”
I chuckle. “It was way better that way. Those were some of the best days I’ve had at work. There was a ton to do, but without the partners there, things just went smoother and there was less stress in the office.”
He glances over at me and holds my stare a little longer than I think prudent for someone who is driving. But he finally returns his gaze to the road. “If you don’t like your job on a daily basis, why do you stay?”
I don’t like where this conversation is headed. I’ve had it plenty of times in my own head. And even more times with Texie. I don’t need to have it with a guy I barely know who has no idea what it’s like toneeda job, so you can do things like, you know, pay bills. “I didn’t say I don’t like my job. I do. Mostly.” I really need to work on my lying voice.Idon’t even believe me; And from the look on his face, Tyrone doesn’t either. “I may not love what I do right now, but if I put in my time, then eventually I will have my dream job. My boss told me in my last performance review that I’m on the fast track. It should happen pretty soon.” Fast track to what, I’m not sure. My boss used a lot of catch phrases but not many details.
Tyrone nods, but doesn’t look at me this time. “That’s good then, right?”
I nod and fold my arms across my lap. I don’t need his approval. I have a plan and I’m well on my way to achieving it.
We pull into an empty parking lot. I stoop down and look out the front window, the Hilltop Monastery just barely visible at the top of the rock formation in front of us. I turn to Tyrone and bounce in my seat. “This is the Hilltop Monastery. Oh, my heck. I’ve wanted to visit this place since Tex and I decided to come here.”
Tyrone grins at me. “Yes, I heard Miss Kincade mention how much you want to see it.” He gives a little chuckle. “And she may have reiterated it in the message she left.”
“How did she leave you a message?” I ask, because I have no idea how I would go about calling the palace. Let alone leaving a message.
He lifts a shoulder. “I have no idea. But I get the idea that your friend is more than a little determined.”
I laugh. “Oh, you have no idea.” I look around the parking lot and then glance at the clock just above the radio on the console. It is after ten, but ours are the only vehicles in the lot. Why is no one here? I sag. The monastery must be closed for some reason. A sign, just at the bottom of the trail leading up the hillside confirms my suspicions. “Ah, shoot. It’s closed today.”
