Page 12 of Organized Chaos
“Are you going to spread his ashes there?”
I nodded. Dad’s cottage was the last place we shared a good memory. “Come with me.” As soon as the words slipped out, my mind blanked.
“What?”
“Don’t get on that flight. Come to Italy with me instead for the weekend.”
She didn’t respond.
Had I truly gone mad?
Most men enticed females with jewelry or dinner. I used a morbid rendezvous as bait. A funeral was meant to coax her into missing a flight.
“You want me there while spreading your dad’s ashes?”
No.It was an impulsive suggestion. We had only just met; there was no way she was accompanying me to something so personal.
“Yes. We’ll come back in a few days and then fly out together.” The speedy proposal made me wonder if the plan was subconsciously brewing in the back of my mind all night.
Maya seemed uncertain. She was struggling with inner turmoil—her sympathy over my situation versus investing a whole weekend into a man whose romantic goals didn’t align with hers, on the account that I didn’t have any.
It was apparent she had whimsical notions. Maya might be a little geeky, but that didn’t dissuade men. Even plain beauties like herself received plenty of offers for sex, last night being a case in point. Her choice to remain a virgin signified romantic fantasies.
“I hope we are friends at this point, and friends are supposed to help each other out, right?” I said to soothe her contemplations. “And you don’t have to worry about the cost. I’ll pay for everything, along with your plane ticket.”
Piercing blue orbs seared into mine, trying to read my impassive expression. “You don’t have to do that,” she whispered. “My ticket is changeable, but Brandon, this trip is personal. Are you sure you want me there?”
Like hell, she was right; this trip was goddamn personal. I didn’t need anyone holding my hand while I spread daddy dearest’s ashes. “I’d like that more than anything.”
It was official.
I had gone certifiably insane.
Chapter 4
At the crack of dawn, I fell asleep on the couch. Unbeknownst to me, Maya slipped out to grab her things. By the time my alarm went off, a neatly packed suitcase was waiting by the door.
