Page 38 of Mating of Convenience
When we arrived at the catacombs there was already a huge line of people waiting in front of it. “Wow,” Nathan said. “I didn’t think it was going to be this popular.”
“Guess I’m not the only one who thinks it’s cool.” In my mind, I had pictured French people as a little stuck up, but if they appreciated skeletons as much as I did, then maybe they were pretty cool after all.
“Looks like we’re going to have to wait for a while, though.”
“I don’t mind. I’m sure it’s worth it.” After Nathan had overcome his own fears and aversions to take me here, I wasn’t going to complain about a little waiting. How bad could it be? I turned to Nathan. “Think we should take a selfie while we wait? I need a few pics to send to my grandma.”
Nathan looked at the line in front of us and then back to me. “You want to take a selfie here?”
“No, you’re right. We should do it down in the catacombs, in front of the skeletons. That would make an awesome picture.”
Nathan made a face. I laughed.
“Don’t be like that,” I said to him. “Look, we’re going to be with lots of people down there, so it’s not going to be scary.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Sure you’re not.” I patted him on the back. I’d known Nathan long enough to know that skeletons were not his idea of fun. That he was willing to do this for me anyway meant a lot. That was why it was so hard for me to keep my distance, even though I had told him I wasn’t going to try anything. After the way I’d left him, I couldn’t. But if his behavior was any indication, he still cared about me. More than I deserved, probably.
It must’ve taken us an hour until we were finally at the head of the line. We’d taken a few pictures to pass the time, but nothing scandalous. Nothing that made us look like we were anything more than friends. I had to change that before our vacation was over. Even if it was just for a fake picture.
Once we finally got inside, though, I forgot all about romance--fake or real--to stare at the huge assembly of bones in front of me. We were at least thirty feet underground and a wide and dark pathway stretched out in front of us--and the wall to our left was made entirely out of bones and skulls that looked at us with empty eyes.
“This isamazing.” I’d never thought Paris was going to be this awesome.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Nathan said, though he didn’t look too amazed himself.
“You sureyou’reokay?” I asked.
“Yeah, I just didn’t think there would bethismany. And this is only the start.”
I gave him a smile because it was rare for him to admit that something was making him uncomfortable--especially when he thought he should be more alpha than that--and I loved when he was being honest with me. Like I was the only person he could be real with.
It probably helped that he’d seen me lose my own shit more than once. Like that one time someone beat up my little brother and I could never figure out who was responsible.
“It’ll be fine,” I told him. “Here, take my hand.” I grabbed his before he could respond. “Just stick with me and I’ll protect you from the scary skeletons.”
“I don’t need to be protected,” Nathan protested, but he didn’t let go of my hand so I simply nodded and started walking. Honestly, walking farther into the catacombs, I felt a little bit like a kid in a toy store. As if Nathan and I had never grown up. I liked that idea. It made things a lot less complicated. “We need to take a selfie,” I told him.
“A selfie?”
“Yeah, with the skeletons!” Had he thought I was joking before?
“Are you going to send that to your grandma too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s for my own private collection.” Although, when I thought about it, I wouldn’t mind sending the wicked witch a pic of me and Nathan down here in the catacombs, ‘bone-ing in Paris.’ Wouldn’t that make for a nice Christmas card?
“Okay.” Nathan laid an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Take your picture.”
I set my phone to camera mode and stretched my arm out in front of us. “Try to look scary!”
Nathan furrowed his brows, going for an angry look--which made him appear about as intimidating as an upset puppy. Laughter bubbled out of me before I could stop myself. Some of the other people walking the catacombs turned to us, but I paid them no mind. I was having the best time with my silly alpha. “Stay exactly like that,” I said, touching the photo icon on my phone and preserving this moment for eternity.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked.
“Just your face.” I shoved the phone back in my pocket.
“You don’t like the way my face looks?”
