Anywhere Read Online Free Page A

no .”
    Asher laughed—this warm, wonderful sound that wrapped around me and brought my anxiety level down a good three notches. I smiled.
    “No,” he said. “Personally, I think that’s the best way to travel. Sure, you can plan the whole trip and make reservations—and, yeah, that takes some of the guessing out and you always know you have a bed—but where’s the adventure in THAT?”
    “I want to have a bed.” That was kind of a necessity in my mind, and now I was starting to panic again that I should plan it all out. How long was the train ride to Rome? I wondered if I had enough time.
    But Asher patted my arm. “You will, Skye. Don’t worry. You just might have to search for it sometimes.”
    I paused, my hands not sure whether to reach for food or my travel books. Did it matter if I had to search for a hostel? I could look them up on my phone when I got to each place and call first. And I could probably find a cheap hotel if they were all booked, like we’d done in Paris.
    Okay, food it was. And going with the flow. I could do that.
    I offered Asher some brie and bread. And we talked. For hours. I couldn’t believe it—there were no awkward silences, I never had to struggle for something to say as I did with a lot of people. It was nice.
    I fell asleep still tucked under his sweatshirt. He woke me, as promised, when his alarm went off so I could turn my phone on. He smiled sleepily at me and closed his eyes again. I stared out the window of the train, my phone clutched in my hand, thinking about Paige. Wondering and worrying. But there was nothing to see. Darkness draped over the landscape like a shroud, keeping it secret for the night, leaving me sitting quietly with my reflection.
    The gentle rhythm of the train rocked me back to sleep, and I didn’t get a text until morning.
    PAIGE: We’ve traded places—I’m getting married.

four

    ME: Are you sure???
    PAIGE: That I’m getting married? Yes. He asked. I said yes. I’m fairly certain in most cultures that means I’m getting married. Probably even in France.
    ME: Haha. You know what I meant.
    PAIGE: Yes, I’m sure. We talked. He loves me, I love him. I know it seems rushed, and it IS…b/c of the baby, but it feels right. Really and truly.
    ME: *cries happy tears*
    PAIGE: Me too. I’m crying at EVERYTHING. Seriously. It’s ridiculous. Oh! Where are you?
    ME: Almost to Rome!! ROME. *flails*
    PAIGE: Jealous. Wish I was there.
    ME: Me too.
    “You okay?” Asher’s head lay against the seat, a concerned look on his face. I hadn’t realized he’d woken up. At some point during the night, he’d slipped a light blue sweater on, and it made his eyes look waterblue in the morning light.
    “Yeah.” I wiped my eyes, then realized it was his hoodie I was using. “Oh, crap. I’m sorry, Asher.” I scrambled to find tissues in my pack, but he reached out and gently stopped me.
    “Hey, Skye. It’s fine. They’re just tears—I don’t mind.” He waited until I sat back in my seat. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing. Paige is getting married.” I smiled through my tears and tried not to worry that Asher would think I was insane.
    I was happy for her, but I couldn’t help but worry. She hadn’t really had a chance to start her life, and here she was pregnant and soon-to-be married to someone she hadn’t known all that long. I mean, Blaine and I had dated for a year before he proposed, and then it had been another year before the wedding almost happened. And it hadn’t worked out after all that time. (Thank god.) How could she know whether she’d want to be with Danny for the rest of her life?
    Not that most marriages lasted that long. My parents divorced when I was seven, and most of my friends’ parents were divorced. I actually don’t know why I looked at marriage as a life-long commitment when clearly it wasn’t. I guess it was the idealist in me. I wanted to get married once and only once. I wanted to find someone who I fit with so