Read Online Circuit Of Heaven by Dennis Danvers - Free Book Online Page A

shop window, it was her reflection he looked at, and not the merchandise.
    She figured that once they got to the hotel, he planned to bolt. But she didn’t intend to let him leave without an explanation. If he couldn’t trust her with the truth, then maybe it was better he left. That prospect hurt more than she would’ve thought. You’ve just met the guy, she reminded herself. It’s not a big deal. But she knew she was lying. She remembered Angelina in her dream. She was crazy for a guy, too, and look where that got her. But she wasn’t Angelina, and Nemo certainly wasn’t any Steve. Not that she’d mind if he was a little more assertive. She felt like she was doing all the work.
    Nothing ventured, nothing gained, she thought, like a voice in her head. She couldn’t remember where she’d heard the expression before, but she liked the old-fashioned sound of it. She took it to mean she would have to get in his face.
    EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALMOST ELEVEN O’ CLOCK , THE LOBBYwas still full of people. By the front desk computer was a group of Indians, their luggage piled around them, checking in. They stood around chatting except for a little man in a white linen suit, probably the tour guide, who scurried around counting everybody.
    “Buy you a drink?” Justine asked Nemo and nodded toward the bar.
    The entrance to the bar was off to her right, a rock archway with
The Grotto
writing itself repeatedly in blue glowing script across the top. It was about half full of couples having drinks, huddled over hurricane lamps. Way back in the darkness someone played drippy piano non-stop. She wondered if anyone else in there was like Nemo, just visiting, having a drink, his real body in a coffin. Maybe Nemo was wondering the same thing.
    “I can’t,” he said. “I have to go. Lawrence and I have some stuff planned.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked over at the Indian tourists as if something interesting were happening over there.
    She didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to talk to the side of his head. When he finally turned back to her, she looked him in the eye. “What’s going on, Nemo?”
    “What do you mean?” He started to look back at the Indians, but settled for the floor between them. Part of her just wanted to drop it. If he wanted to go, let him go. But she at least had to know why. She liked him a lot, still believed he liked her in spite of the way he was acting.
    “What I mean is, you act like you’re interested in me all evening—in a sweet, shy sort of way. You don’t say a word on the train, but you sit close to me, hold my hand, look at me all dreamy-eyed. And now, all of a sudden, you’ve got ‘stuff’ to do? Did I miss something?”
    He shook his head and spoke to the floor. “I’m sorry. It’s late. I’m tired. Thanks for coming to my birthday party.”
    “Fine. Don’t tell me. And by the way, your father was right. What you said was thoughtless. I spoke up to get you off the hook. I guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”
    He raised his head and looked at her, his brow creased with worry and concern. “I’m sorry, Justine.”
    “Sorry for what? Just tell me, Nemo. What is it? Does it bother you I came with your Uncle?”
    “No. That has nothing to do with it.”
    “He asked me out. He seemed nice. He wasn’t. You never made a mistake like that?”
    He shook his head and looked into her eyes. “That’s not it at all.”
    “Then what is ‘it’? There is an ‘it.’ You just said so.”
    “Look Justine, I really like you. I’m glad I got to meet you. But now I’ve got to go home, get something to eat.”
    That was too much. “It’s because I’m in the Bin, isn’t it? Why is that such a problem for you, Nemo? Most people are. It’s not catching, you know. I won’t steal your body while you’re not looking.”
    His mouth opened and closed a few times before he spoke. “I’m sorry. I just need to get home.”
    “Okay. I’ll figure out my own story.