Fine. I’d train him but I’d look for Aimee too. The first stop would be Les Pouffant’s to sign up for that Extravaganza thing. And even though she’d never texted back, I clung to the small shred of hope she’d be waiting for me with the sun sparkling off her hair, smiling and waving. At the café, Malcolm and I hovered at the edge of the outdoor patio. I searched the flow of customers but Aimee was nowhere to be seen. Malcolm babbled on about espionage in a newbie sort-of excited way, something about night vision goggles. I placed my hand on his arm to shut him up. “I’m going to check inside. You keep watch. I’ll be right back.” I walked into Les Pouffant’s and strode over to the glass case. No one noticed me because some woman was crying and babbling in French into the arms of Pouffant himself. He snapped his fingers and the maitre d’ scurried over with a steaming cup of cocoa. Watching him listen and care for her made me feel a bit empty. I missed my friends and my mom.
