Chapter 41 - City of Bones

There is a huge terrace outside the house and I am tempted to lie down on one of the chaises. But I know it’s way too cold to do so.
I turn my head towards Ben. “Dude, you’ve outdone yourself this time.” I laugh.
“You did not expect this?” He asks and I shake my head. “Nope. I thought it would be the same as the hostel we had before.” I say honestly.

“Are you disappointed now?” Ben asks. I shake my head frantically. “Hell no. It couldn’t get any better than this.”
I explore the rest of the apartment. The bedroom is tiny, with just enough room for the bed. But it’s enough for me. I sit down on the bed and it starts creaking. I giggle. “Ben, no dirty time in this bedroom!” I shout at Ben who’s still in the living room. He peeks around the corner of the bedroom. “What? Why not?” he asks. I bounce up and down and the bed creaks louder. “Therefore.” I giggle.

“Hmm, I should not be doing this then.” Ben says and leans in to kiss me. I pull him on top of me.
The bed creaks again. “Hmmm, probably not.” I mumble against his lips. “And then I should not do this either.” Ben sucks on the skin in my neck and I moan. “Better not, no.” I moan.

“And what if I do this?” Ben rolls over and pulls me on top of him.

-Creaking-

I giggle. “Not good either.” I rest my weight on him and he grabs my butt. “Will the bed creak if I just hold you close to me, like this?” He squeezes my butt and pulls me close against him. “The bed might not creak, but I might moan. Loudly!” I say.

I bet the neighbors must have heard the creaking and moaning sounds coming from our bedroom when we had the wildest sex we have ever had. “Never knew you could be such a beast.” I laugh while dressing myself. “I will be sore tomorrow.”

“You weren’t really quiet either. I think the marks on my back will still be visible tomorrow.” Ben says. He turns around and I see the scratch marks on his back that I made with my nails. “I did not do it on purpose.” I laugh. “I think this was just the best sex I’ve ever had.”

“Hmmm, I’ll top that tonight.” Ben groans before kissing me.

“Can we go out now?” I ask. I look on my watch, it’s already 5pm and I haven’t had any food yet. My belly is grumbling. “I need food.” I say.

Ben slips his shirt over his head. “Ready to go now miss.” He says and grabs my hand.
We stroll through the little Barcelona streets and find a Dutch restaurant near the hotel. “Wanna go there?” Ben asks and I chuckle. “I wonder what they sell there? Probably just Dutch junk food. So, no thanks.”

“That one maybe?” I point at an American diner on the other side of the street. “Thanks, but no thanks.” Ben laughs. “Two worlds united in Barcelona.” I smile.

“Well, I think there were two worlds united in the bed too.” Ben teases and I nudge him. “The best of both worlds.” I laugh.

“Let’s go French.” Ben points at a French restaurant. “This is the whole world on one street.” I grin but I agree. “As long as I don’t have to eat snails, I am okay with everything.

The French restaurant is very fancy and I can’t understand a thing that’s on the menu. Ben doesn’t understand it either and we both order something that sounds like it might be steak.

It tastes very good and we enjoy our meal.

“I want to take you to La Sagrada Familia tomorrow.” Ben says. “Again? But we’ve been there in June.” I say.
“I know. But this time I want to do it right. I want to go to the top of the towers with you.” Ben replies. I look at him. “Are you sure? You are not going to throw up if you are up there, right?” I ask
“I will try not too.” Ben grins.

Ben leans across the table and grabs my hand. “I love you Lynn. Thank you for joining me on the trip 7 months ago. Nothing went as planned but I had a great time anyway.” He says.
I smile faintly. “Thank you for letting me tag along with you.” I say. I stare at him and he is looking back at me. The butterflies are fluttering wildly. “I’ve never been in love like this before.” I mumble honestly.
“Not even with Rick?” Ben asks me and I shake my head. “No. I don’t think I was in love with Rick at all. He was just there for me when I needed someone. I really thought I was in love with him. I thought I could change him. And he did, for a while.” I sigh.

I never really thought about the good times I had with Rick. Not since I left him. “I have to admit, we really had some good times. I agreed on marrying him. And I wouldn’t have done that if I did not really love him at that time. But he changed too quick after that. I can’t do anything but blame it on the drugs.”

Ben squeezes my hand. “Well, you can leave it all behind now. Things can only get better from now on.” He says.

“I wish I wasn’t scared. I really am afraid that things will go wrong between us. And that I will be left alone with a broken heart, without anyone to lean on if that happens.” I say.
I look at our hands on the table and I feel a tear rolling down my cheek.

“Don’t think about that. We have survived so much, in such a short time. Don’t you think we deserve some good times now?” Ben asks me and I nod. “I think so. But every time things are going great, something bad happens. And I don’t want that to happen to me now. I don’t really dare to be happy.” I admit.

“Details are for suckers, remember.” Ben says. I look up at him. “I know that. But it’s hard to be happy after a time like this.” I say. “But I am trying and I am willing to do so.” I agree.

“Let everything come as it goes.” Ben says. “Such a wise words for a young man.” I tease.

The smile is coming back on my face.

“I simply love you Benjamin Graupner.” I say. “You know how to make me smile every time. You always seem to know the right words.”

“That’s not true. Everything is just easier when I am with you.” He replies.

I lean over the table to give him a kiss. “Let’s go.” I whisper. “I want to dance.”

“Can’t we go back to the hotel to see if the bed is still creaking?” Ben asks while wiggling his eyebrows. I poke him. “No, we can’t.” I laugh.

We pay and leave the restaurant. The street is buzzing with happy people. People that are ready to go out and people that are having a great time.

Ben and I are two of them.

This main street is full of little bars to have a drink or to dance. I hold Bens’ hand. He squeezes my hand and I look up to him. “I love you.” He mouths. I blow him a kiss.

There is a little bar at the end of the street. Flamenco music is coming out of the open door. “Lets go there.” I say.
I step inside and look around. From the outside it looked nice and cozy, but inside it’s huge.
Booths to sit in, on the right side. On the left is a huge dance floor. There are cozy lights all around and there are dark wooden floors all around.

Professional Flamenco dancers have taken over the dance floor and the bartenders are running around behind the bar, to keep up with all the customers wanting a drink.

“You want to stay here?” Ben asks and I nod. “It seems like a great place to me. Let’s get a drink.” I walk over to the bar and order two beers in quick Spanish. I still feel proud to hear myself speak fluent Spanish.

The bartender winks at me and tells me it’s on the house. I smile and hand a beer to Ben.

There is a empty booth next to the bar and we sit down. I lean my head on Bens’ shoulder and enjoy the music.

“I feel like I am in Barcelona for the first time. It’s like our trip is starting all over again. But this time it will all be better.” I say.