“I’ve come to the conclusion that leading a life as a criminal is the best way to make a living in Paris.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. The way I see it, you’re beautiful and could totally distract my unsuspecting victim while I clean them out good. We can hit a spot every few days then go on the run. Come back with a disguise or something. I wouldn’t want the police force to catch on to our ruse.”
“Our ruse? I don’t know about that, Tyler. It sounds more like you’re using me.” Leaning up on my tiptoes I kiss him and let my lips linger against his. He’s only been here a day and my mind has spent a majority of our time together in the gutter. Not that I’m sharing my thoughts, even though I know he’ll appreciate them. We definitely didn’t have enough time together before I had to leave and he can’t stay in my room his whole time here. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Sue are expecting pictures and stories of his time in France, I’m sure.
“You wouldn’t be the Bonnie to my Clyde?”
I angle my head and pretend to think about this offer. He tickles me when I don’t answer right away.
“Tyler, I don’t know how I feel about leading a life of crime. Isn’t there something else we could do?”
His face gets serious. I’m afraid I’ve opened Pandora’s Box now. We have to have a conversation and it’s one that I don’t want to even think about. A simple life is what I want, but he won’t allow it. I could go on, living like the invisible person I am, except Tyler wants me to shine and brighten everything around him.
“Where are we going next?” As much as I wanted to wait until it was dark, he’s right. We should leave and find a place to discuss us and any future we might have. Taking his hand in mine I lead him back to the elevator. We cram in like sardines as we descend to the bottom.
Since I told Tyler about the high rate of pickpockets in the city, he’s on high alert. The shoulder bumping, the people suddenly falling in front of you and even the lame attempt to get your attention has him walking closer to me, ready to protect if given the chance.
“I’m afraid I’m going to punch someone.”
“Do it. The police won’t care. I doubt they’ll even get the hint. I’ve seen some tourists fight with them and the police just sit there.”
“I know I’m from the country and don’t get out much, but this is crazy. They’re like mosquitos.”
“Yeah I guess they are.” I hadn’t though of them like that, but he’s right. It doesn’t matter how hard you hit them, they keep coming back for more.
We walk along the Seine. My head rests on his shoulder and our hands are clasped together. This is what I’ve dreamt about. Being in Paris and being in love. The city is magical and you can’t help but fall for it.
Tyler directs us to a bench and we sit down. He angles his body so he can look at me and I know... this is the talk. Not that I’ve been dreading it. I just didn’t want it to happen.
“Paris is beautiful, Savannah.”
“You haven’t even seen all of it yet.” I remind him if only to earn more time before he blurts out the words I don’t want to hear.
“I’m trying not to be that guy. I’m trying to let everything happen naturally, but now that I’m here and holding you in my arms, I have to know. Or maybe I don’t have to know and I’m just telling myself I do because hearing the words will either make or break this trip for me. What do you want Savannah?”
I breathe in deeply. He’s asking the same question I’ve been asking myself for months. It’s easy to say that I want Tyler. I know for a fact I want him in my life, but how and in what capacity can we make it work? Knowing the answer to that question would solve the “what ifs” plaguing my mind.
“Before I answer, know that I love you. You need to know that you’re the most important person in my life and the only one who is willing to let me grow up and be who I want to be. With that said, I don’t know who I want to be. I think being back in Texas reminded me that life used to be so simple. You get up, you work, you play and you enjoy your family. New York didn’t work like that, at least not for me. Right now, I resent my mom for taking me away from you, your mom, Aunt Sue and Uncle Bobby. Hell even Jeremiah. I missed so much, but I’ve also been afforded an opportunity to live here.”
I spread my arms out, and he looks around, listening to what I have to say. I’m not sure if it makes sense, but he’s paying attention. He’s giving me the freedom to speak my mind without judgment.
“There are two things for certain: One, I want to be with you. Two, I want to go to school. Now whether that is here, or in Texas or some other state, I don’t know. My fear is that if I tell my mother that I want to be in Texas, she’s going to stop paying for me and I don’t know what I’d do. I can’t ask Uncle Bobby for money and short of mucking stalls, I don’t have any work experience.”
Tyler takes my hand in his and relaxes against the bench. “I’ve done a lot of thinking since you left. I know you’re too young to settle down and I also know you don’t want to live on the ranch.”
I start to shake my head but the look in his eyes makes me stop.
“I can accept that we’re different, Savannah, and it’s okay. What I want to tell you is this… I want you to come back to Texas and move in with my momma. She says you can live there and go to school. I’ll come up on the weekends if you want me to, and we’ll try having a relationship. If your mom cuts you off, I’ll help pay for school.”
“Tyler – ”
“Listen, please. We want you home, Savvy. The short time you were on the ranch changed things. You’re the beacon - or something like that - according to Aunt Sue and she misses you. So even if you’re only there for the weekends or holidays, we want you to come home.
“And I want to be with you. I want to take my girl to the honkytonk and two-step with her on a Saturday night. I want to hold you by the bonfire and make love to you under the stars. Hell, right about now I’d get down on my knee and ask you to be my wife, but I’m not ready for that.”
The thought of marriage doesn’t scare me, but being married at eighteen does.