“You wanna get away from anything that reminds you of your parents or Antoine.”
I closed my mouth, astonished he’d guessed so accurately.
I opened it to say, “I’ve been to Bellebryn and I’ve been with Antoine. We took a holiday there once. He’d never been. He enjoyed it greatly.”
“Babe—”
I spoke over him. “There was more to Josette and my adventure than eluding my past. I’ve deduced that it’s likely on an adventure you’re experiencing so many things, you can think of nothing but what you’re experiencing.”
“You can’t escape your problems, sweetheart, or your emotions,” he told me gently. “They got a way of not letting go.”
He was undoubtedly right.
“Yes, but when other things are prevalent and they are that for a good period of time, those emotions have a way of fading away.”
“You got me there,” he muttered.
“In other words, I did know what I was doing, Noc, and now I don’t. Now my options are limited. And although I’d enjoy spending time with my brother, meeting my niece or nephew when he or she arrives, something I did not know which I now have to take into account, I think both of us can agree the time is ripe for a variety of changes in my life. And I feel, the sooner I see to them will be the better.”
“Come home with me.”
I froze in my seat, my eyes locked on him.
Noc did not freeze.
He continued.
“Valentine says she’ll take care of it all. And maybe we can give her some of the gold we got to bring us back if you get homesick. I can take a vacation, experience more of this world then. But now, or after your brother leaves, I won’t go with Finnie and Frey and instead take you back to my world with me.”
I sat mute and immobile, unable to take my eyes off him, but my mind was awhirl with hundreds of thoughts.
Maybe thousands.
But the one that repeatedly churned through the others was Noc’s attractive voice saying the words, Come home with me.
“Frey already asked her,” he carried on. “It’s all set. You gotta get away, there’s no further away than there, Frannie. And if you want an adventure to get your mind off shit, that’ll be the biggest adventure you can have, there aren’t any pirates and I’ll be there to keep you safe.”
I’ll be there to keep you safe.
By the goddess, he must stop.
“Noc—” I began in an effort to make him do that.
He reached across the table between us, caught my hand that was resting on the arm of my chair and laced his fingers through mine.
He had very long fingers. Competent-looking. Most appealing.
Bloody hell.
“Don’t decide on that right now either,” he urged. “You got time to think about it. But, babe,” he smiled and that was most appealing too. Always. “I’d love to show you my world. And you won’t be alone there. You’ll have Valentine. And Circe lives where we live too. She’s already gone back and from what she’s said, she can use a few friends who know her like we’d know her. You’ll have people. You’ll have resources. You’ll be good. You’ll be safe.” His smile got wider. “And you’ll be in New Orleans so you’ll have good music, great fucking food and every opportunity to have a shit ton of fun.”
I finally managed to string a thought together.
“I couldn’t ask you not to take your adventure in order to give me mine.”
“I get vacation days, toss a couple gold coins Valentine’s way, I’m back and I’ll get it.”
“Noc, that’s most kind but it’d be selfish of me even to consider.”
“Happily give up my adventure for a different one, that bein’ givin’ you yours.”
It appeared he was going to be difficult to dissuade.
Worse, as I was able to string together further thoughts, I was wondering why I would try.
I did manage to note, “There’s Josette to consider. And my new maid, Irene.”
“Don’t know about this Irene, Frannie. Havin’ a lady’s maid isn’t something people have in my world, much less having two. As for Josette, she’s your girl and I’d get you’d want her with you. But she was willing to cross the Green Sea with you, don’t think she’d back off from traveling to a parallel universe.”
Troublingly, I suspected Josette would follow me straight to hell if I guided her there. I treasured that loyalty even if I didn’t know how I’d earned it.
A place with such fanciful things as motorcycles and phones, if she was right there in the room with us, she’d say yes for the both of us before I could utter another noise.
“Frannie, it’s a good deal and you know it,” Noc pressed. “Better than whatever you wanted to see on another continent in this world. Hell, you eat a bite you’ll wonder why you didn’t say yes before I finished making the offer when you have pizza.”
I knew I shouldn’t ask.
But I asked.
“What’s pizza?”
“Tangy tomato sauce, smooth cheese, spicy sausage, all baked on top of a doughy crust with crispy, chewy edges. You got killer food here, Frannie, but the minute I get home, I’m getting a slice, and if you’re with me, I’m getting you one too. Extra cheese and pepperoni.”
I liked tangy sauce, smooth cheese and sausage.
I also liked bread.
No, I adored bread.
Drat.
“I must think on this, Noc,” I told him, and it was true.
What also was true was that there was no reason not to take this alternate adventure, except I’d be even further away from my brother.