Page 8 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

I want to say Frankfurt! Audi!

“I know a few Germans and am very familiar with that accent.”

I start to put on some lotion.

“Shall I do that for you?”

I stop. I look him up and down.

“No, thank you. I can do this quite well by myself.”

George nods. He wants to talk.

“I’ve been watching you all morning, and no one has come to sit with you except me. Are you sure you’re alone?”

“I already told you.”

“I saw you playing with a little girl and shutting down some guy.”

Incredible. Has this guy been spying on me?

“Look, George, I don’t want to seem rude, but what the hell are you doing keeping tabs on me?”

“I don’t have anything better to do. I’m on vacation with my parents, and I’m bored. Will you let me buy you a drink?”

“No, thank you.”

“You sure?”

“Very sure, George.”

His insistence and his youth make me laugh at precisely the moment my cell rings. A message.

Flirting, Mrs. Zimmerman?

I immediately sit up. I look around until I see him. Eric is at the bar, and he’s watching me. I smile at him, but he doesn’t smile back. Uh-oh.

I can tell from his face that he’s wondering who this stranger is here. But I want nothing more than to get this over with.

“Do you see that tall blond man who’s looking at us from the bar?” I ask the young man.

“The one with the sour look?” asks the boy as he follows the direction of my index finger.

I laugh and nod.

“The very one. I want you to know he’s German, like you.”

“So what?”

“And he’s my husband. From the look on his face, I’d say he doesn’t like it one bit that you’re here.”

He flinches. Poor man!

Eric is bigger, stronger, and taller than he is. Now very serious, George immediately gets up. “I’m sorry, my apologies. I’m going,” he says as he steps away. “I’m sure my parents are wondering where I am.”

I give him a smile as he takes off, and I look up at my husband, but he’s still unhappy. I roll my eyes and wave at him to come join me. He doesn’t. I pout, and then, eventually, I see the right side of his mouth starting to curve.

Finally!

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