Page 14 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
Trish pulls back. “Oh.” She ducks her head, looking embarrassed. “Sorry, Bodie.”
“I’m not,” Ian mumbles, nudging me farther out of the way with his shoulder and taking Trish’s hand, making me chuckle.
It’s nice seeing two people in love. Their kind of love may be something that I’ve willingly cut out of my present and future, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it when I see it. Even if lately it’s been making my chest tight.
“Oh, what’s that statue for?” Trish skips over to read the placard, pulling Ian along with her.
The rest of the walk through town is easy with Trish’s enthusiasm over every tourist sight and quintessential German knickknacks displayed in all the store window fronts.
But after a minute, my mind is back on the Southern blonde with killer finger guns.
“Tomorrow.”
“Huh?” I look at Trish, a feeling of déjà vu from being caught not paying attention in the meeting earlier.
Trish tilts her head, her top-knot falling to the side. “I was just saying how tomorrow Ian and I are going to see the castle that inspired Snow White. Isn’t that cool?”
“Uh, yeah. Very.”
“Maybe it will inspire my next book.” Swinging Ian’s hand, she looks at me over her shoulder. “You should come with us, Bodie.”
Ian nearly chokes to death on his next breath.
Trish pulls her hand free and pats Ian on the back. “You okay, baby?”
Ian controls his breathing while I try and control my laughter. “Yes,” Ian says, giving me a warning look. He clears his throat. “Yes. Fine. Just, ah, thought Jackie might like something from over there.” He waves toward a shop window. “I know you’ve been trying to find souvenirs for the girls.”
“Cool.” Trish fairly bounces over to the shop.
“You arenotcoming with us tomorrow.” Ian’s voice is low as he keeps his eyes on Trish, who’s staring intently at a window display of what seems to be a jewelry-slash-figurine store.
“I don’t know.” I rock back on my heels. “Looking at fairy tale-inspiring sights could be my new hobby.” I feel bad for messing with him, but he so obviously has something planned for tomorrow, it’s too hard not to tease him.
He looks panicked. “I—”
Trish runs into Ian’s side, pulling on his arm. “Sugar, you’re a genius. They have Hummels. And not justanyHummel. They have two with a little boy looking through a telescope!” She pulls again, tugging him toward the store. “Help me pick out the best one for Jackie. It will go perfect in her new office Flynn set up for her.”
Once Ian’s legs start moving, she lets go and jogs into the shop, expecting Ian to follow.
Instead, he stops, turns, and puts a hand on my chest, holding me back.
I rub my sternum after he drops his hand. I may have pushed the man too far.
But instead of threats or violent curses, he takes out his phone. In a few seconds, my own phone dings.
“There.” Ian pockets his as I take mine out. “That’s Rose’s contact information.”
I catch myself smiling and shrug, trying to play it off. “I don’t know why you sent me that. Who says I need her number?”
Ian scoffs. “Please.”
“You coming, sugar?” Trish calls from the store’s doorway.
A large smile on his face, Ian waves. “Be right there, baby.” When he turns to me, it melts off his face. “I swear to God, Bodie, if you follow me into that store, or even think of coming to Neuschwanstein Castle with us tomorrow, I will make life hell for you.”
Secretly, I’m triumphant. I should leave them to their souvenir hunting and get back to the hotel. Maybe catch Sinan before he heads out to the pubs. But messing with Kincaid is fun.
Shrugging, I take a step around him toward the store. “I don’t know. Castles are pretty cool. And I’ve never been that far south before.” I stop and throw a smirk at him, as he did to me earlier. “Might want to check it out.”
