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“Believe me, I don’t want to go.” He brushes a strand of hair off my forehead. “I think what we found together is something… Something worth exploring.”
I warm all over. “I think so too. And I never dreamed it would happen.”
“Me neither. It was so far from what I came here for.”
I cock my head at him.
He shakes his head. “Now don’t go taking that the wrong way. I’m glad it happened. And in a fucked-up way, I’m almost glad of that near-death experience we all shared. I think it all helped us get our heads on a little straighter.”
“You can say that again,” I agree.
He brushes his lips over mine. “I can still spend the day with you. I don’t have to be at the airport until around two thirty this afternoon for a flight that leaves at five.”
“Okay. What would you like to do?”
“Stay in bed all day?”
“I’d say yes in a heartbeat,” I say. “But that wouldn’t be fair to you. This will be your last few hours in Paris. You haven’t even gotten to see the Eiffel Tower.”
He shrugs, frowning. “Honestly, I don’t have any desire to see the Eiffel Tower. But I would like to stroll along the Champs-Élysées with you. Maybe buy you a little token of my esteem.”
“Your last few hours in Paris, and you want to take me shopping?” I can’t help a laugh.
“I think I do. Besides, I can come back to Paris anytime I want. Once whatever this is blows over. Maybe if it blows over quickly, I can get back on the tour and join you.”
A half hour later, Dave and I go down to breakfast in the hotel café. Jesse and Brianna are there, along with Brock and Rory.
“I think you should go,” Jesse says, as Dave and I join them.
“I’m so glad you agree,” Brianna says. “I don’t want to leave you, especially since we’ve just come so far in our relationship. But if I’m going to prove to my father that I’m an adult and can one day take his place managing the orchards, I have to show him that I’m serious about our family.”
“I agree,” Brock says. “The only issue is whether I can get you on the same flight with Dave and me.”
My heart drops. “Brianna…”
She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “I know, Maddie. I made a promise to you, but this is my family. Something big is going on.”
Rory smiles at me. “Jesse and I will be here for you, sis.”
“But you guys will be busy taking care of the band. This is your big shot, and you’re already working with a substitute drummer. Neither of you can take the time to hang out with me.”
Brock raises his eyebrows. “What if I try to get both Brianna and Maddie on that plane tonight?”
Jesse frowns. “This is Maddie’s big chance to see Europe. I understand why Brianna has to go, and I agree with her. She needs to be there for her family.”
“I don’t understand,” Dave says. “My dad told me that Uncle Talon and Aunt Jade said you should continue the tour and see Europe, Bree.”
“My parents are treating me like a child,” Brianna says, “and I honestly don’t blame them. I acted like a child when I was back home. I let my father down by coming on this tour. I should’ve stayed, worked with him, begun my life’s work.”
Jesse puts his hand over hers. “But I’m glad you came. I’m so glad we found each other.”
Brianna looks adoringly into his eyes. “I am too. Truly. And I was so looking forward to spending the rest of the tour with you. But this is something I feel I have to do.”
“I know, and I agree with you,” Jesse says. He turns to Maddie. “Tell you what, Mads. What if I promise to bring you back here someday? You won’t get to follow the band around on tour, but you’ll still get to see Europe. You’ve seen our set a million times at this point anyway. Maybe we’ll get Callie and Rory to come too and make it a Pike siblings trip.”
I look around at all their faces.
Jesse is serious, and he’s going to marry Brianna, so he’ll have the money to bring me to Europe. So will Callie and Rory.
