said, bursting out laughing.
âAre you kidding?â Elise said.
âI told you opera wasnât my thing,â Flynn said.
âThen how are you going to help us with our opera?â I said.
âWell, itâs going to be a rock opera, right?â
Owen had been silent since weâd exited the theater, but now he said with an edge to his voice, âSo you smoke now?â
âI only smoke when Iâm in Paris,â she said. âYou know, when in Rome . . .â
âBut weâre not in Rome,â Owen said. âIf you were in Afghanistan, would you wear a burqa and let your father sell you off in marriage?â
âOf course not. Youâre being ridiculous.â
Flynn shot me a look that said, Uh oh, here we go .
Knowing it was best not to get involved, I snuck a glance at my phone and saw that Michelle had texted me back.
So jealous! Miss you. Jess does, too.
My father had texted me as well: Emma, please call home as soon as you can.
That seemed a little urgent from him, but it had been five days since Iâd last called home. Still, I felt uneasy as we walked back to school. What if something had happened to Grandma? She had been a little loopy these days.
While Flynn and Elise joked around and Owen sulked, I was in my own world of worry and angst.
âYou guys want to get a drink?â Flynn asked. âThe night is young.â
âI need to call my dad,â I said. âHe just texted, and Iâm a little worried. I think Iâm going to call it a night.â
âAw, come on,â Elise said. âYouâre no fun. What do you say, Owen?â
âIâll walk Emma back,â he said. âYou two go out and be French together.â
âOwen, donât be like that,â she said, sidling up next to him and flashing her most charming smile.
âI donât think Emma should walk home alone. Itâs late. And Iâm not really in the mood to go out anyway.â
âFine.â Elise pouted. âFlynn, you still up for a nightcap?â
âHave I ever said no to a drink?â
âMaybe we can call Jean-Claude and find out what heâs doing.â
Elise had pulled out the big guns and was pretty much dangling the threat of Jean-Claude right in Owenâs face.
âAll right, well, you kids have fun,â I said, trying to keep things light. âIâll see you tomorrow morning?â
âMaybe,â Elise said coyly.
Owen gritted his teeth, and I grabbed his arm and walked him away before tensions could flare any higher.
Poor Owen. It seemed he was always unlucky in love. Last year, Michelle had broken his heart when she revealed she was gay. Then I led him on by kissing him, and worse, by kissing Flynn a few months later. And now Elise was screwing him over, too. Why did it seem that nice guys truly did finish last?
We were walking past the Tuileries, all lit up like a fairyâs garden. The Ferris wheel cast its giant reflection onto the fountain, and up ahead, the Louvre and Peiâs pyramid lit up the sky like a fantastical mirage. The night seemed far too magical for the way we were both feeling.
âYou okay?â I finally asked.
âI donât know, Emma. I canât figure Elise out. I mean, I knew the distance might be a problem this summer. But itâs almost like sheâs trying to hurt me.â
I took his arm again. âLook, I know itâs no excuse, but her parents are embroiled in this ugly divorce right now. She hardly ever mentions it, but I think sheâs having a more difficult time with it than she likes to let on.â
âI know, but Iâm tired of getting my hopes up only to be disappointed.â I frowned and put my head on his shoulder as consolation. âAnd what about you?â he said. âAre you and Gray making it work despite the distance?â
âYeah,â I said. âOf course, I miss him. But I know itâs
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley