Love Condemned: Beginnings Read Online Free PDF Page A

popped out. Perhaps it was a good thing too, if she would have been thinking and trying to guess the answer for a long time, she probably wouldn't have had the guts to ask it anymore.
    Adrian felt his heart drop to his stomach as Miranda asked him the question about having a girlfriend. He knew that he would have to talk about his life in the US eventually. He had hoped that he had more time to build up the courage. Now, he was cornered, forced to answer the question.
    “Not anymore.’ Adrian said a little softly. “I had a girlfriend for a while, but things not really work out.”
    He did not want to expand further on his explanation, so he turned the question back on her, “And what about you? Do you have all the men chasing after you back in England?”
    Secretly he hop ed she would say no, this thought surprised him. He did not realize that he started to like her, even though he just met her.
 

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    Both the thought that she was happy that he was single, and the one about it being a shame that it didn't work out with his girlfriend flashed through Miranda's mind. She had no time to react or to realize how much both thoughts contrasted with each other. Miranda grinned when she imagined men chasing after her in England. 
    "Not really," she replied while stashing her phone back in her pocket. "I don't think I'm very attractive to men. I don't really have an attitude or something. My dad always says that I'm like a package with the stamp "handle with care", and that's the reason guys don't actually talk to me. Well, with the exception of Patrick. He's my best friend, and the reason you are on this bus right now."  She pointed at the seat he was sitting in, the only one that had been unoccupied before.
    Adrian was very surprised to hear her tell him that men do not talk to her. In his eyes, she was very attractive, she had good taste in music, and she seemed very unique. Thoughts started to go through his mind, and he wondered if there was more to this girl than he knew. Something had to keep the men from talking to her.  Whatever it was, it did not keep him away.
    Miranda had told him that her friend Patrick was the reason that he was lucky enough to get a seat. Apparently, her friend could not join her on this adventure. He was sure that was a disappointment to her. Then his thoughts went to her friend Patrick. Maybe he is being too quick to get his hopes up that she might like him. He will probably end up being another ‘friend’.  That is just what he does not need to hear right now.
    “I am sorry that your friend could not join you, but for more selfish reasons, I am glad that he couldn’t.” Trying to be funny was never his strong area, but he figured that he would give it a try and see what her reaction was.
    Miranda smiled, though she didn't c omment any further. She could hardly admit that somewhere deep inside she was a little glad it was Adrian sitting next to her instead of Patrick. But he had to retake a test he had failed, so he couldn't come. After weeks of hesitating and nightmares, Miranda had decided to take the tour on her own. She had already paid and the travel agency wasn't giving back money. That combined with continued pressure from her parents she decided to go. Patrick hadn't minded. As he had put it, he thought she'd 'loosen up' a bit. 
    Conversation was fluent again, though they had to lower their voices not to disturb the sleeping passengers. Occasionally, lights of the cars passing them lit up their faces. Miranda had refused to close the curtains when the other passengers closed theirs; she liked the rain on the window too much. At half past ten, the bus stopped for the second time at another gas station. Miranda guessed they had to have crossed at least two thirds of the breadth of France now. 
    She stood up and stretched her legs, feeling they were getting a little stiff now after six hours with only a short break. "I'm just going to the loo," Miranda said to