12 Hours In Paradise Read Online Free Page B

slightly unevenly on his nose. His beautiful, perfect nose. “I can stay out another hour. No one will know. How about you?”
    He paused for just a second before answering. “In for a penny, in for a pound.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “An expression my father taught me. It means, if you commit to doing something, then you may as well do it all the way.”
    “And that’s what we’re doing, right?” I was relieved to hear him say that. “Totally committing ourselves to this adventure. That’s why we’re wearing our uniforms.”
    “You’re right again, of course. You haven’t been wrong once yet.”
    “Next question,” I repeated, and Arash glanced down at the article.
    “Next question. ‘Before a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you’re going to say? If so, why?’”
    “Dumb question,” I answered. “If it’s something important. Like if I was going to apply for a job or talk to a college admissions officer, yes of course I’d rehearse what I was going to say. But if I’m just talking to one of my friends…then of course not.”
    “What about if you were going to call me?” he asked, and I had to admit that stopped me in my tracks.
    “You see,” he said, “maybe not such a dumb question after all.”
    “When would I be calling you? How much time has gone by since this night? How well do we know each other?”
    “You’re calling me one week from tonight. It’s the first time we’ve spoken.”
    “Then, to be honest, I probably would think about what I was going to say. Because…because we really don’t know each other.”
    “Why would that matter? Why should you have to measure your words with me? Shouldn’t you just speak from the heart?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I’d be nervous. This is silly. You answer.”
    “Like you,” he said, “I speak spontaneously to my friends but generally pre-think more formal calls.”
    “What about…what about if you had to call your chaperone right now and tell him what you’re doing?”
    “If I had to tell Mrs. Coburn what I was doing right now, I would definitely rehearse what I was going to say.”
    “Would you lie?”
    “Absolutely not. But I would present the information in the most advantageous way.”
    “Okay, I’m Mrs. Coburn. Ring…ring…ring. ”
    Arash kept walking, eyes straight ahead.
    “Arash. Ring…ring…ring. Get it? You’re supposed to pick up.” I put my thumb and pinky next to my ear and mouth to pantomime making a phone call.
    “Oh. Oh, I see.” Arash mimicked me with his finger and thumb. “Hello. Who’s there, please?”
    “It’s me, Mrs. Coburn. Can’t you just feel my gray hair and mean-librarian glasses over the phone?”
    “Oh not all, Mrs. Coburn. Because you’re actually quite attractive.”
    “What?” I swung around to give him a dirty look.
    “For an older woman, that is.”
    “So where the hell are you, Arash? Someone reported you missing, and everyone’s out looking for you. You’re in big trouble. And I’m not attractive, especially when I’m mad. Which I am right now.” How was I actually jealous of this phantom Mrs. Coburn?
    “Mrs. Coburn, there’s something I have to explain. I’ve met this girl, you see. A young lady. And she’s everything I’ve ever dreamed…what I’m trying to say is that she has all the qualifications for a fellow adventurer and I’m currently on an adventure with her. It’s too late to turn back now.”
    “Oh yeah, I get it. In for a penny, in for a pound.”
    “That’s it exactly. Thank you, Mrs. Coburn, I knew you’d understand.”
    “Okay, well, you take care, Arash. Talk to you later.” I swung my hand down, and Arash did the same thing.
    “That went well, didn’t it?” he said.
    “Better than I expected.”
    We passed another opala can. “Should I take a look?” Arash asked. “You never know what someone might have left for us.”
    “No, that’s okay.” I laughed.
    There was a young guy sitting on the sidewalk next