AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
Juno
Ispot Bode as soonas he boards the plane. When he realizes his seat is beside mine, his jaw tightens slightly - just enough for me to notice. He stows his bag and then sits down.
“Juno,” he says without looking at me.
“Bode,” I say, smiling at him. I make him so uncomfortable.
He’s looking around, nervously.
“If you want to switch seats, maybe Keene will...”
He cuts me off, “I don’t need to switch seats.”
We’ve seen each other a handful of times since the night of the kiss. Eli likes to invite him to family events. Bode is always stiff as a board around me and manages to stay at least ten feet away from me at all times. This is the closest we’ve been since kissing.
He leans his head against the headrest and closes his eyes.
I sit back and face forward, turning my attention to the book I’ve just started. I read the same sentence five times before giving up. I’m not going to be able to focus with him beside me.
“What are you looking forward to eating the most?” I say, setting my book down.
He doesn’t open his eyes. “Pasta.”
I laugh. “That’s specific.”
He grunts.
“Any particular kind?”
“All of it.”
We’re flying to Italy to meet Declan and Maggie in Florence. They’ve been staying in a villa for a week now and the rest of the family is coming to join, minus James and Elizabeth. Apparently, being President of the United States comes with a lot of perks but running off to Europe for the summer is not one of them. James told us he’s trying to work out a quick trip around some summit thing he has to attend in Brussels later this summer. The trip is just family other than Bode. Eli invited him, which is how we find ourselves sitting side by side for the next ten hours.
“Well, I’m looking forward to gelato,” I say.
He doesn't open his eyes or make a sound.
“I read about this gelato place in Rome that one of the Popes would have delivered to the Vatican. I have to try it. I figure if it’s good enough for the Pope, it’s good enough for me.”
He opens one eye. “Is that right?”
“It’s basically my life’s motto.”
He snorts.
“It’s never failed me,” I say.
“Oh really?”
I nod. He’s still looking at me with one eye.
“Wanna come?”I ask.
