Page 57 of My Ex's Best Friend

This is the happiest I’ve felt in a while.

I can’t wait to tell Ellie and Tammy about it. I can only imagine their reactions. Ellie will throw me a horrified stare, and Tammy will faint. None of them will believe it. Even I can’t.

Sometimes, I feel that if I pinch myself too hard, I’ll wake up in a different reality, one where I still loathe him.

As the memory lingers, I glance at the clock and my eyes widen.

I'm late for the museum meeting!

Panic sets in, and I scramble out of bed, throwing the sheets aside in a hurry. I hastily pick out an outfit, yesterday’s events still playing in my mind like a happy reel.

Downstairs, the aroma of breakfast wafts through the air, and I find Jake in the kitchen, expertly flipping omelets. "Jake! Why didn't you wake me up? I'm late for the meeting!"

He turns, a grin on his face. "I figured you'd be up soon. You looked so peaceful sleeping; I didn't have the heart to disturb you."

"I'm sorry, Jake. I didn't mean to keep you waiting."

He chuckles. "No worries. Breakfast is almost ready. Sit down, and we can eat before you head out."

I take a seat at the counter, watching Jake as he prepares two plates for us.

"So, Kiera, are we ready to wow them at the museum?"

I take a sip of coffee, nodding. "Absolutely. I've made a few tweaks to the slides, and I think we're good to go."

***

The museum looms before us, a grand building that seems to hold centuries of history within its stone walls. It’s in the countryside, by a little village, away from the hustle and bustle of the main city of Paris.

The façade is adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures, a testament to the craftsmanship of eras long past.

Unable to contain my excitement, I fumble for my phone and snap a couple of pictures from outside. The ornate details and the sheer magnitude of the building are too captivating.

“You’re just going to geek out at every historic building we visit, right?” Jake says.

“Does that bother you?”

“Not even a little,” he says. “I can take your pictures with the place if you want.”

“Thanks, I’ll let you know.” I duck my head.

Derek used to say, “Try to keep the geek in your pants.” I don’t remember what I was doing when he said it, but his words cut me deeply every time. I could feel myself getting smaller by the second, and after a point, I stopped doing everything I loved in front of him. Just so that he wouldn’t make fun of me.

As we enter the museum, the atmosphere changes. The air is hushed, and the soft echoes of our footsteps reverberate in the vast halls.

I can't resist stopping at each exhibit, reading the plaques, absorbing the details, and occasionally taking more pictures.

Jake watches me with a fond smile on his face.

“Let me know if you want me to stop at any point,” I say.

“And why would I want that?”

I don’t have any reply to that.

Jake checks his phone. “Come on, they’re waiting for us.”

We cross a long courtyard and reach the administrative building at the back. There are four people in the corridor talking. My heart quickens as we get closer.

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