The Choice - Nicholas Sparks [47]
“Sounds like a Budweiser commercial. Aside from the fact that you were underage and the whole thing was illegal.”
“And you never did anything like that, right?”
“Actually, no,” she said. “I didn’t.”
“Really? Never?”
“Why do you look so surprised?”
“I don’t know. I guess . . . I just don’t see you as someone who grew up following all the rules.” When he saw her expression, he backtracked. “Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I just meant that you strike me as independent and someone who’s always up for new adventures.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
As soon as she said it, she remembered saying the same thing to Stephanie. She braced herself for what might come next.
He absently moved his fruit with his fork. “I know that you moved away from your home, that you bought your own house, that you’re making it on your own. To me, that means independence. And as for adventurous—you’re here with a bunch of strangers, aren’t you? You went parasailing and even overcame the thought of sharks to get dipped in the water. Those were new challenges. I think that’s admirable.”
She blushed, liking Travis’s answer much better than his sister’s. “Maybe,” she conceded. “But it’s not like traveling around the world without an itinerary.”
“Don’t let that fool you. You think I wasn’t nervous when I left? I was terrified. I mean, it’s one thing to tell your friends what you’re going to do, and it’s another thing entirely to actually get on the plane and land in a country where barely anyone speaks English. Have you traveled?”
“Not much. Aside from a spring break I spent in the Bahamas, I’ve never been out of the country. And if you get right down to it, if you stay close to the resort like I did—surrounded by American college kids—it could have passed for Florida.” She paused. “Where are you going next? Your next big adventure?”
“Nothing too far-flung this time. I’m going to the Grand Tetons. Do some camping, hiking, canoeing, the works. I’ve heard it’s breathtaking, and I’ve never been there.”
“Are you going alone?”
“No,” he said. “I’m going with my dad. I can’t wait.”
Gabby made a face. “I can’t imagine going off on a trip with either one of my parents.”
“Why not?”
“My parents? You’d have to know them to understand.”
He waited. In the silence, she set aside her plate and brushed off her hands.
“All right,” she said with a sigh. “First off, my mom is the kind of lady who believes that staying in anything less than a five-star hotel is roughing it. And my dad? I suppose I could imagine him doing something more exciting, except for the fact that he’s never shown interest in anything other than fishing. And besides, he wouldn’t go anywhere without Mom, and since she has her standards, that means the only time spent outdoors is patio dining. With a fancy wine list and waiters in black and white, of course.”
“Sounds like they really love each other.”
“You inferred that from what I was saying?”
“That, and the idea that your mom isn’t a fan of the great outdoors.” That elicited a laugh. “They must be very proud of you,” he added.
“What makes you say that?”
“Why wouldn’t they be?”
Why indeed, she wondered. Let me count the ways. “Let’s just say that I’m pretty sure my mom prefers my sisters. And trust me—my sisters are nothing like Stephanie.”
“You mean they always say appropriate things?”
“No. I mean they’re just like my mom.”
“And that means she can’t be proud of you?”
She took a bite of her burger, taking her time before responding. “It’s complicated,” she demurred.
“How so?” he persisted.
“For one thing, I have red hair. My sisters are all blond, like Mom.”
“So?”
“And I’m twenty-six and still single.”
“So?”
“I want a career.”
“So?”
“None of that fits the image of the daughter my mother wants. She has definite ideas about the role of women, especially southern women of proper social standing.”
“I’m getting the sense that you and your mother don’t get along.”
“Ya think?”
Just over his shoulder,