Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
See you then.
I got into a taxi, and it took me across town at the very edge of the 19th arrondissement. The taxi dropped me off on the one-way road, and I walked inside the double doors to discover an American-themed breakfast joint with orange booths. It was packed with people, but Luca immediately stood out as he sat alone in a booth, in a long-sleeved shirt with his elbows on the table. His eyes immediately caught mine, and with the recognition, he gave a hint of a smile. He slid out of the booth and stood to his full height as I approached, a slight smirk moving over his lips at the sight of me.
When I was close enough, his arm circled the small of my back, and he pulled me close for a kiss, greeting me the way a man greeted his woman, like I was someone special, someone who made him get to his feet.
Luca had been the biggest jackass when I met him, but now he was someone different.
At least, he was with me.
He let me go and returned to where he’d been sitting in the booth.
I scooted onto the bench across from him.
He set his menu in front of me.
“So, what’s good here?”
“I get everything.”
“You get everything?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s a small menu,” he said with a slight shrug.
The waiter came over, and he seemed to know Luca because they fist-bumped each other then talked about football. They seemed to like opposing teams because there was a little shit-talking back and forth. I ordered a coffee, and Luca stuck to water.
“You come here a lot?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Take girls here the morning after?” I meant it playfully, because it was a joint that only served breakfast until they closed at two p.m.
His eyes hardened at the taunt. “I don’t do that.”
“Then you come here alone?”
“I come here with the guys sometimes. Usually on Sundays.”
“Aw, that’s cute.” I looked at the menu and tried to decide.
He sat with his elbows on the table, hands together in front of him, staring at me.
I could feel the stare. “Since we’re on the topic, can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
My eyes lifted to his, surprised he gave the same answer as before, clearly trying to make an effort with me. Maybe to someone else, it wouldn’t seem like much, but I’d meant nothing to Luca when we met, and I could see the stark difference between then and now. Words might be hard to come by with him, but he showed his affection in other ways. “Have you ever been in a relationship?”
“Be more specific. There are lots of different kinds.”
“Well, tell me what kind of relationships you’ve been in.”
He was quiet as he massaged his knuckles like they were sore from punching someone last night. “I’ve been in situationships. I think that’s what kids are calling it these days.”
I smiled.
“I have regulars. Hookups and booty calls. But I’ve never been in a monogamous relationship for any length of time.”
No wonder this was a challenge for him.
“Until you.”
It was hard not to smile, especially when I felt the joy burst in my heart like a firework. “Why me?”
He continued to massage his knuckles as he considered the question, taking one of his signature pauses that lasted a lifetime. “I don’t care about anybody.” His eyes strayed as he searched for words that didn’t readily come to him. “But I care about you.”
They were simple words, but coming from him, they were more profound than a poem by Charles Baudelaire. “I care about you too.” He was more beautiful than the cathedrals and spires and sculptures of this great city. More beautiful than any piece of artwork displayed in the Louvre. But underneath, he was a catacomb of thoughts and emotions, and that only added to his depth and complexity. I liked the muscle, but I liked everything underneath it too.
We stared at each other for a while until his eyes flicked away to the door behind me. They stayed there, and slowly, the calm he exuded started to fade. His kind eyes suddenly looked irritated.
I almost turned around to see whatever he was looking at, but I thought it was better to stay still.
His eyes followed someone approach our table. His elbows left the table, and he sank back into the cushion of the booth.
At my side appeared a six-foot-something beast of a man with blond hair, blue eyes, and black ink all over his arms and up his neck. He would have been absolutely terrifying if he didn’t smirk at Luca—like they were friends. “What have we got here?”
Luca didn’t reciprocate his warmth.
At his side was a pretty brunette, significantly shorter than the man she was with.
It immediately clicked in my head who he was, based on what Luca had told me. “Bastien, right?”