After a fun afternoonat the museum, we visited the Tantalus Lookout to watch the sunset. Even though we both disliked heights, the view was too spectacular to be anything other than wowed by it. The city of Oahu stretched out below, surrounded by the sparkling blue sea. There were a few other couples scattered around, but they were far enough away to give an illusion of our own private oasis.
I spread out a hotel bath towel on the grass so we could sit while waiting for the sun to begin its descent. It thrilled me when Zio cuddled next to me and rested his head on my shoulder. He didn’t say anything, so I lingered in the comfortable silence as I enjoyed being near him.
“I can’t believe tomorrow is our last full day here,” he eventually said with a hint of sadness.
“Oui, it has gone fast.” Not wanting him to be melancholic, I looked at the bright side. “But thankfully, returning to Sunnyside isn’t the end of our relationship. It is only part of the beautiful beginning.”
“Will we go on dates and stuff?”
I squeezed him tighter to reassure him. “Absolument. I’m looking forward to spoiling you.”
“That would be a first for me.” He snuggled against me with a happy noise. “How often do you go on trips?”
“It depends on Arsène’s schedule. During the school year, he stays in Sunnyside to be with Felix. They’ll be spending part of the summer here, in the Maldives, and Paris. Felix doesn’t know it yet, but he’s also going to Scotland.”
“What a strange mix of places.”
He wasn’t wrong. “Felix writes under the pen name of Ever Princely. His series about Maltova royalty takes place in a country with a similar appearance to the Maldives. Arsène wanted to reward him for his first book doing well by taking him there to inspire his sequel. After that, they’ll be in Paris so Arsène can conduct business and introduce Felix to our family. He’ll surprise Felix by sending him and his friend North to a Scottish castle to collaborate on a new novel.”
His sigh sounded envious. “Wow, talk about an amazing summer. But that means you’re probably going with them, aren’t you?”
“Not to Scotland, but I’ll visit here, the Maldives, and Paris to assist Arsène on his photo shoots.”
“Meanwhile, I’ll be stuck by myself in the apartment because Rigby and Jude are visiting Japan.” His grumpy harrumph was too precious for words.
“You don’t want to come with me?”
He scoffed at the notion as he pulled back. “I couldn’t ask Luca for that many points to cover stuff, and I’d never afford it on my own. Poor graduate student on a stipend with no parental support, remember?”
“You wouldn’t need his help when you’re staying in my room with me.”
“But the airfare alone—”
I didn’t let him finish his protest. “Your brother isn’t the only one with frequent flyer miles to spare.”
“That’s way too generous! Even Luca would rightfully tell me to scale it down if I was greedy enough to ask.”
I had my doubts about that, but I kept them to myself. “What if it wasn’t a gift? What if you agreed to be mypersonal assistant? That would turn it into a business expense, which is covered by us.”
It was easy to see he was once again fighting a battle within himself between wanting to accept and feeling too guilty to do so. “Would you let me work for it?”
“If that would ease your guilt about agreeing, then of course.”
“We could really return here and go to the Maldives and Paris?” The sense of hope in his voice told me I was getting closer to winning the war.
“Oui, and I can introduce you to my dearMamanandPapa, which would make metrès joyeux.” Imagining their pleased reactions warmed my heart. “With Arsène and Isidore bringing Felix and Wren home to meet our parents, it will be an exciting summer at theChâteau de Devereaux. Plus, there is no finer wine than at their vineyard.”
It was cute watching his eagerness build at the prospect. “It’s not too much trouble?”
“Nothing would make me happier than to travel the world with you.” I couldn’t resist adding, “Especially since I could introduce you to a proper croissant and thechouxpastry you’re named after.”
He threw his arms around my neck as he almost knocked me down from the force of his happiness. “Having real French pastries? That would be incredible!”
Considering Zio’s sweet tooth, his excitement over the dessert aspect didn’t surprise me at all. “I’d make sure you had nothing but the best. You must try proper macaroons, too.”
He leaned back with a look of wonder. “Oh, and I could have bonbons, too! Ilovebonbons.”
“They’re so good, they named it twice.”
