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“To have the money?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t like my answer.”
She turns and smirks. “You’re going to tell me it’s good, right?”
“Nope. I was going to say, I don’t know what it’s like to have it because I’ve never been without it.”
Her lips part in a small gasp, and she nods as if she gets it. “Just like I don’t know what it’s like to have it.”
“Exactly.” She takes my hand and puts my arm around her.
“My turn.”
“What?”
“I’ve never been to Reno,” I say.
She shrugs and replies, “It’s a nice place to be from. Well, parts of it are great.”
“And your part?”
“It’s fine.” She looks away. She’s avoiding the subject, and I’m going to let her for now.
I’m weaving my fingers in and out of hers as we turn another corner. She looks around and smiles widely finally looks comfortable. I have no clue where we are, but she seems to know exactly where we are.
She says, “I hate to tell you, but your date was a fucking disaster.”
I swig and pass her the bottle. “And you could do better?”
“I already have.” She leads us down a street with a sharp left. Then I see how close we’ve wandered to the most photographed romantic spot.
She’s running and yelling at me, “I’ve never seen it at night. Holy fuck. Holy fuck, it’s so beautiful.” And as her coat flips up and I see her sparkly dress and her eyes glisten in the streetlights and the crisp of a February night, I feel the same. Holy fuck, she’s so beautiful.
“Fancy an elevator ride?”
I stare up at it. I’ve seen it a hundred times before; my parents made sure we know what metal was used and all about the architect, we’ve taken all the boring ass tours and been quizzed on its cultural significance, but with this girl in my arms, I realize I’ve never really seen the Eiffel Tower. Even though she’s avoiding talking about herself, everything else about her is infectious.
She pulls me along and I’m happy to be led, for a moment. We start rushing. “How are you running in those heels?”
She shrugs and says, “I don’t know, it just feels right.”
I whip her around and pull her into a hug. Her body smacks into mine because of the centrifugal force and she’s laughing. I pull her hair out of her face and say, “I know what you mean.”
Her lips meet mine in a soft but suggestive way. They’re slightly parted as if waiting to be complete and I oblige by gently tickling her inside lip with my tongue.
mak
“Monsieur, nous sommes obligés de monter au restaurant, il y a des gens qui nous attendent et nous sommes donc très en retard.”
{Sir, we are required to go up to the restaurant, there are people waiting on us and we are so very late.}
He answers in English, “I’m sorry there are no more reservations this evening.”
Tony grins and I know he’s thinking of slipping him money, but I can’t have that. No, thank you. I can get in here without the money. I like him. He’s funny, cute, and sexy.
I turn back to the elevator guard.
