Page 24 of My French Love Affair

“Yeah - she’s sitting right here,” I deadpan, gesturing to myself. “There’s a good chance my father is going to murder me when he gets this month’s credit card statement.”

“At least it’ll be too late by then," Emma grins. “Might as well go out in style.”

“A tragic end,” Jas smirks. “Death by Chanel.”

I laugh, shaking my head.

"More like death by impulse purchases."

Leah is still scanning the crowd, her keen eyes sweeping over the endless expanse of wealth and linen shirts.

“I mean, I do know one person who could fund it,” she muses, tilting her head. “If only I could find him.”

I smirk. “How’s the billionaire husband hunt going?”

She lets out a dramatic sigh.

“Tragically, no sightings yet. But it’s early. The men with real money roll in around lunchtime.”

“You sound way too confident about that,” Jas snorts, taking a sip of her drink.

Leah shrugs. “I’ve done my research, and one thing’s for certain: Monaco is predictable.”

I flip my sketchbook closed.

“Well, while you’re busy hunting husbands, I’m hunting inspiration,” I tell her.

"Who knows? Maybe your inspiration will come in the form of averyattractive,veryrich man.”

I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Unlikely.”

Emma hums, peering at me with far too much interest.

"You know, you really don’t make it easy for men to approach you, Poppy."

I blink. "What?"

“She’s right,” Jas nods. “You’re too pretty. It’s almost intimidating.”

I let out a sharp laugh. "Oh,please."

"No, seriously," Emma insists. "You're drop-dead gorgeous, but on top of that, you have this whole 'don’t even think about breathing in my direction' aura."

"Yeah. Menfearyou,” Jas grins.

I sit back, considering that for a moment.

Then, I shrug.

"That suits me just fine."

Emma raises a brow. "You’rereallythat uninterested?"

"Yes!" I gesture emphatically. "Unlike Leah, I amnot here to find a billionaire, or a millionaire, or ananything-aire. I’m enjoying being single again and feeling like I can actuallybreathe -you know -air.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Jas nods. “Noah did make breathing difficult.”

"Right?" I sigh dramatically. “I’mtraumatised. I spent months pretending not to be physically pained every time he said something cringey. And believe me: he said alotof cringey things." I almost shudder at the memory of some of his worst one-liners. " mean it: I have no intention of spending unnecessary time withanyman."

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