Chapter Twelve
Alexandre knew he’d probably see Mei today, but he was surprised at his nerves when he entered the park.
A flush rose to his cheeks when he spotted her looking summery in a cute green minidress, her hair partially swept back from her face.
Alexandre hugged her hello, hoping she couldn’t tell how flustered he suddenly felt, and took a seat beside her on the wooden bench.
“How was shopping?” Luc asked.
“Good! I found my dress.”
“She looked amazing in everything,” Ali added proudly.
Alexandre tamped down the twinge he felt picturing Mei resplendent in her wedding dress as she said her vows to Joey. He gestured toward Mei, Ali, and Luc. “Is this the last time you three will be seeing each other before the wedding?”
Mei laughed. “No. Livinpalooza’s in two weeks.”
“That music festival?” Alexandre asked. “You’re going?”
“Not Lollapalooza,” Luc replied. “Livinpalooza.”
“As in, my company,” Mei said. “I’m the only one going, but Ali’s picking me up at the end, because Joey will be back in Virginia for his exam.”
“What exactly is Livinpalooza?” Alexandre asked. “I still have no idea what you’re all talking about.”
“Sorry. It’s a mandatory Livin event that’s a cross between adult summer camp and Coachella.
Livin flies in every employee from around the world and makes us camp for four days.
Last year, it was outside London. This year, it’s in the Hudson Valley.
Julian calls it a celebration of togetherness, but it’s really his excuse to throw his own music festival with nonstop booze. ”
“No way.” Alexandre shook his head. “At my lab, our big holiday rager was pizza in a conference room.”
“You need to show him photos,” Luc said.
Children’s voices rang out from the playground.
“I’m going to check on Kaia,” Ali said. She walked toward the slides. Luc followed her.
Mei scooched closer to Alexandre on the bench. “This was last year.” She handed him her phone.
Alexandre swiped through the pictures. One showed rows of flimsy tents in a scraggly field littered with paper cups.
In the next, hordes of ravenous people mobbed a tater tot truck.
In another, inebriated young people in various states of undress mugged for the camera.
Alexandre tried to tamp down his disgust. This was a work event?
“Wow. I can practically smell the booze.” He passed the phone back to Mei.
She laughed uncertainly. “Not feeling Livinpalooza?”
“Not really.”
The sounds of birds chirping filled the silence. Alexandre felt Mei studying him.
“Why are you so annoyed?” she asked. “I’m the one who has to go.”
Alexandre tried to make sense of his thoughts.
Why was he such a grump? “In academia, I wrote countless grant proposals to fund my research—research that would’ve improved people’s lives as they got older.
I didn’t get all the grants I applied for, but even if I did, they would’ve been a tiny fraction of the cost of an event like that. ”
“I get it.” Mei wrinkled her nose. “It’s not fair.”
“It’s capitalism at its worst. Why do you go along with it?”
Mei huffed, clearly displeased with his moral grandstanding. “You know why. Livinpalooza is just one event I have to deal with. I hate camping, and being forced to do it with twelve thousand coworkers is the worst.”
Alexandre shuddered. “I love camping, but Livinpalooza would be my nightmare, too.”
“Last year was cold and miserable. I was freezing the whole time. And sleeping outside is creepy. I’m always afraid of an ax murderer breaking into my tent.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, City Girl.” Alexandre playfully nudged her shoulder. “There won’t be any ax murderers at Livinpalooza. Just lots of drunk people.”
Mei laughed. Alexandre’s chest filled with warmth. The midday sun filtered through the trees. A soft breeze blew the loose strands of Mei’s hair.
Alexandre pictured the outdoor equipment lining his living room wall. He could only imagine what percentage of the Livinpalooza budget went to alcohol and what went to keeping employees comfortable. There was a twisted logic to the breakdown, as much as he hated to admit it.
“Do you need any camping gear?” he asked.
“You have some recommendations for me, Mountain Man?”
“I don’t know how you’re picturing my life in Oregon, but I actually lived in an apartment, not a log cabin in the woods.”
“Aw, you’re ruining my fantasy! Please tell me you at least wore flannel shirts. And woolen beanies.”
“I may or may not have a few of those.” Alexandre took in Mei’s shining brown eyes. He felt different around her. Infused with a sense of calm, combined with something else. Something unfamiliar.
“So what kind of camping gear would help?” Mei asked.
Alexandre mentally ran through the essentials he packed for every trip. “Good wool socks that are light enough to wear during the day, but warm enough when the temperature drops at night. A headlamp for walking in the dark and lighting up your tent.”
“I could use that.”
Alexandre reached for his phone. “I’ll send you links.”
Mei typed in her number. “We should start a group chat with Ali and Luc. I’ll send you Livinpalooza updates in real time.”
“And if you need anything before or during, let me know.” Alexandre stopped himself from adding, I’m here for you.
Still, Mei seemed to understand. She gave a little nod before glancing toward the play area, searching for Kaia and her sister.
Alexandre forced himself to follow her gaze, away from the sunbeams dancing on her hair.