Four Nights in Paris, Part 2

That made me grin. Usually girls wouldn’t stop talking once I had asked a question. Even if she was just playing me, at least she was making it interesting.

“I’m investigating real estate options for a new hotel.”

“I’m enjoying my graduation present and mostly touring museums.”

“Why museums?”

“Why hotels?” She grinned, her eyes gleaming. I couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

“Graduation from college?”

“Yes, bachelor’s in art and vis. com. You?”

“Master’s in business. What do you want to do with art?” I finished the last of my scotch and leaned forward on my elbows.

“Still trying to figure that out; I’m considering grad school currently,” she said, crossing her long legs and leaning back. “Why business?”

“It fit my future goals.”

“The goals of your parents or your personal goals?” Lani cocked her head to one side, regarding me as if half-expecting me to come to some major realization of how much life I’d wasted on following dreams that weren’t mine.

“Both. Just because it’s what my parents wanted to see me do, doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have supported me in whatever I chose. But I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps.”

“Why? Isn’t it suffocating?”

I shrugged. “Not for me. I admire my father. We don’t always agree with each other, but if I could be half the man he is, I’d be content in life.” She nodded, though there was something about her expression that suggested she didn’t understand how I felt. Maybe it was because she wasn’t smiling.  “What about your family?”

“My mom does what she can and my step-dad’s all right. Not much of anything interesting there;” she shrugged, draping her arms over the sides of the chair.

I watched as she glanced around the room. Lani leaned forward long enough to pick up her drink. If she’d been wearing a watch, I half suspected her to eye it anxiously. But she didn’t make an excuse to leave or attempt to close the conversation.

“They think I’m wasting my time with art. Mom calls it a hobby that will leave me hungry on the streets somewhere,” she finally said, her eyes focused beyond the window and perhaps further beyond that. “Not everyone can have a happy family.” Lani placed her empty glass on the small table between us.

I wasn’t sure what to say. Lacking parental support was a difficult situation to be in. While my parents wanted my happiness in the future, they didn’t always agree with my dating habits. When it happened, it felt unfair and biased; then when they turned out to be right, it made me feel stupid, impulsive, and naïve. For a while, it seemed my entire manhood had been brought into question.

Lani reached forward and placed a hand on mine. “Let’s not think on sad things. It’s Paris after all;” her face lit up, a smirk playing across her glossy lips. Her thumb slowly stroked the back of my tanned hand. “Let’s go somewhere fun.”

I pulled my hand away from her, taking my phone from my pocket. “I have an early day tomorrow. I should be going.” Slipping the phone back into my pocket, I stood and offered to shake her hand again.

Though she remained smiling, a shadow fell over her eyes. Lani shook my hand, saying, “That’s unfortunate. Maybe tomorrow night?”

“Maybe,” I conceded, though I doubted I would see her again. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Lani.”

“You, too, Matt. Sweet dreams.”

I gave her a small smile, wishing her likewise before heading for the stairs to my room. She seemed like a sweet girl. It was unfortunate she reminded me so much of Danielle. If I didn’t see Lani the next night, I would know I had made the right decision in not entertaining her request for fun; if I did see her again—well, maybe there was something there worth exploring.