Page 41 of The Paris Chapter

‘Good point. Actually, I have some news on that front…’ I leaned against the kitchen counter and he stepped closer.

‘Oh, yeah?’

I nodded. ‘Juliette had an interesting idea today. We had brunch and went shopping. I told her how I felt like it was a shame to be leaving Paris when I’m just starting to feel inspired again and she suggested I come and stay with her so I couldwork on my book here,’ I said a little nervously in case he wasn’t excited by the idea.

But Ethan instantly wrapped his arms around my waist. ‘Are you going to do it?’ he asked eagerly.

‘I think I might…’

He leaned in and gave me a soft kiss on my lips. ‘I would love you to stay longer. Obviously for selfish reasons. I want to get to know you better and do more of this…’ He kissed me again. ‘But also, if it will help you write again, you have to do it. Where better to write a book set in Paris than Paris itself?’

I smiled, happy he was keen for me to stay longer. ‘Exactly. I have just over two weeks until my deadline and I need to get something down on the page, and soon. I haven’t told my publisher how stuck I am, but they are excited for a book set in Paris so I think this could be a good plan. Juliette said I could stay with her and you could stay with Oscar once we have to leave here. What do you think?’

‘Let’s do it,’ Ethan said. ‘So…’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I got you something.’ He let go of me, reached behind him and handed me a bag. ‘I walked past this stall selling prints and, I don’t know, this one reminded me of you.’

Curiously, I opened up the bag and pulled out the print. It was of a woman sitting in an armchair holding a book, a cup of tea beside her, and behind her was a window showing the skyline of Paris including the Eiffel Tower. To my intense embarrassment, I felt my eyes prick.

‘God, what did I do?’ Ethan asked, searching my eyes anxiously with his.

‘No, I…’ I wiped away a tear that had rolled down my cheek. ‘I’m being silly. It’s just I feel like you see me.’ I thought about what Juliette had said about being myself. Did this gift mean Ethan was happy with who I was?

Ethan took the print and put it out of the way, then he cupped my face with his hands. ‘That’s not silly.’

‘After I left Joe’s place,’ I said in a quiet voice, ‘I found a flat in Putney to rent and just kind of threw my things in there and didn’t bother with making it my own. This will be the first piece in there that I love.’

Ethan touched my damp cheek. ‘You’ve had a tough time, Tessa. Be kind to yourself. You’ll make the flat your home. And when we go back to London, we’ll be neighbours.’

‘Huh?’

‘I live in Putney too and the restaurant I work in is around the corner.’

‘Oh.’ We looked at one another. I let myself hope that we could see each other back in London. ‘That’s crazy.’

‘I love being able to see the river; it reminds me of looking out at the Seine here. It feels like you’re in London but also very far away.’

I nodded. ‘I know exactly what you mean. It’s been the best part of the last two months, getting to know the area. I would love to try your restaurant.’

‘A table at Bon Appétit is yours anytime,’ Ethan replied. ‘I didn’t only get that print while I was out…’ He trailed off, looking embarrassed. He showed me the other item in the bag. It was a copy of my last novel,A Love Like Ours. ‘I want to read something that you’ve written. If that’s okay with you?’

‘Of course it is. I…’ My words caught in my throat again. A man I had been with had never voluntarily read one of my novels before. ‘I hope you like it,’ I said shyly.

‘Why wouldn’t I? You wrote it, and I think it’s pretty clear that I like you.’ Ethan reached out and wiped another tear away from my cheek. ‘Are you really okay?’

I nodded.

‘So, do you want to go out somewhere? I’ll take you anywhere in Paris you want to go.’

I thought about all the places I’d seen over the past five days and all the places I had yet to see in this incredible city. But then I looked around the apartment that we had shared, and would soon need to leave.

‘I’d rather stay in here with you,’ I admitted.

‘You would?’

‘It’s our last afternoon in this apartment,’ I said. ‘It just feels…’ I trailed off.

‘Right,’ Ethan supplied.

‘Exactement,’ I replied, copying what Juliette had said earlier.

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