Page 58 of Rescue

I shrug, feeling uncomfortable. I’ve been playing the role of the fucked-up one for so long now, it’s hard to imagine someone seeing me in any other way.

“You’re obviously sleeping better,” he says. “Because you don’t have those shadows under your eyes anymore. And you’ve put on weight, so you don’t look so scrawny anymore.” It’s his turn to shrug. “And you just seem like you’re enjoying yourself more.”

Am I enjoying myself more? The thought crosses my mind that any positive change he might be seeing in me might have something to do with proximity to Haylee.

“If you think she’s someone that can make you happy,” Karen says, as if reading my mind, “I’m all about you going for it.” Her voice lowers a little, intense. “And if that’s the case, there’sno onemore capable of helping you than me.”

“Really?” Levi asks, smirking. “You make it sound like you’re part of some kind of relationship special forces.”

“If there’s one thing Paige and I know,” she says, shooting him a withering glare, “it’s how to get the girl.”

“And how would you knowthat?”

“Because we have watched every romantic comedy ever made,” she says simply. “We’re experts.” She turns away from a still smirking Levi to look at me. “I mean it, Len. You want this girl, I got some game. That’s all I’m saying.”

I can’t help laughing, she looks so entirely serious. “Thanks for the offer, Karen. I think I would want to try to practice my own game first.” I sigh. “Or not. Because I think you might have been right about this not being the time.”

She nods, looking a little sad as she reaches across the table for my hand. “The time will come, Len. Maybe not with Haylee and maybe not right now. But it will come.”

Before I can respond, her phone rings.

“I thought we had a no phones at the table rule,” Levi complains as she reaches into her purse.

“We do, but this is Paige,” she says, as if that changes everything. “Hey, what’s up?”

I can hear Paige’s excited squealing from here. “That was today?” Karen asks, grimacing. “I thought—no, of course I trust you to keep track of your own schedule.” She sighs. “No, I did not mean to imply that you’re bad at planning. Fine. We’ll be right there.”

She hangs up and looks at us apologetically. “Guess who made plans for us today?”

“Why dowehave to go?” Levi asks.

“Because she made plans for all of us,” Karen says, her voice turning dangerously sweet. “And you don’t want to be rude to my very best friend in the world, do you?”

“Of course not,” Levi sighs, reaching for his wallet.

“I got this,” I say, throwing down some bills.

“You know that paying for my lunch isn’t going to get you out of coming with us, right?” Karen asks.

“I wouldn’t dream of trying to bribe you.”

Karen grins, standing. “Good. ’Cause Paige said Intrigue is coming with us.”

***

Half an hour later we’re crowded into the tiny lobby of a building right across from the Seine. The amazing smells of food cooking drifts up to us from the basement, but my enjoyment of the atmosphere is dampened by the fact that there are thirteen people in a room obviously built for a much smaller number.

“What are we doing here, Paige?” Daisy asks, rubbing her swollen belly. “That smell is making me hungry.”

“You’ll get to eat soon,” Paige says happily. “Just wait!”

We don’t have to wait much longer. A woman Reed’s age enters from the basement and greets us. “Oh, good, you’re here,” she says in accented English. “Welcome to Paris Cuisine. I’m Marie, and I’ll be getting you set up today.”

“We’re taking a cooking class!” Paige explains excitedly. Suddenly the aprons hanging behind the desk make a lot more sense.

“We’re cooking?” Daltrey asks, sounding skeptical.

“Baking actually,” Marie tells us. “We have you signed up for our French pastry class. You’ll be learning to make a variety of breakfast pastries as well as fillings.”