Page 60 of City of Love

“Lydia,” I say, sounding a little strangled.

“Hmm?” she says, grabbing her purse from where it hangs beside the door and then heading to the lift.

“The back of your dress fell off.” It’s a stupid thing to say, and sadly, it didn’t even sound better in my mind, which is sluggish at the moment.

She laughs, a clear, joyful sound. “Business in front, party in the back.”

I just nod. I’m being ridiculous; I’ve seen clothes like this before. There’s nothing scandalous or shocking about it. And yet, on Lydia…

I take a deep, steadying breath. Then one more for good measure. We take the lift downstairs before heading to the metro, and a short walk after we get off leads us to Harry’s New York Bar.

It’s a tiny place, crowded, with a neon red sign and a long, thin interior of paneled dark wood. When we step inside, Lydia just stands there for a second, looking at everything.

“This,” I say, nudging her forward a little bit, “is supposedly where the Bloody Mary was invented. Ernest Hemingway used to come here. I’m sure others did too,” I add.

“It’s amazing,” she says, still looking around with a smile. Her eyes catch on something in the back, and she stands on her tiptoes and gives a little wave. I turn to see Luc, who has secured a little corner booth for us. He’s not wearing scrubs for once, dressed instead in a button-down shirt.

“Go on back,” I say, speaking into her ear so that she can hear over the bustle of the other patrons. “I’ll order. What do you want?”

Her eyes brighten as she looks at me. “Can I order?”

I shrug, and I can’t quite contain my smile at how excited she is. “Sure. I just want water with lemon, though.” I’m not averse to responsible social drinking every now and then, but being with Lydia makes me want to have all my faculties about me. She makes me feel half-drunk as it is.

She nods and crosses to the bar, standing and waiting, and I shake my head with amusement before going back to Luc. He’s already got a drink and some peanuts, which I help myself to.

“Please don’t be pushy,” I say to him, sitting.

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but he doesn’t say anything.

“What?” I say.

“You said ‘please.’”

I roll my eyes. “I’ve said that before.”

He makes a skeptical sound, eyeing me. Then he frowns. “What are those earrings?” he says, leaning forward and looking more closely.

“What?” I say, touching my ears. “Oh, these? Lydia brought them for me from the States.”

Luc’s frown twitches at the corners until it’s an obnoxious smirk instead. “They make you look like a beautiful princess.”

“Shut up,” I say, not wanting Lydia to overhear him. “I don’t mind them.”

“I assume she bought these before she realized you were a man?”

“Clearly,” I say. “And then she was embarrassed that she’d brought me something so feminine. So shut up, or you’ll make her feel bad.”

Luc shakes his head. “You’re saying ‘please,’ you’re wearing women’s earrings…”

I roll my eyes. “Just drop it. Oh, Lydia.”

She’s emerged from the crowd, and she sits next to me, smiling at me and Luc.

“I ordered your water,” she says to me. “And I’ve never tried one, so I got a virgin Bloody Mary. I love tomato juice; it should be good.” Then she looks at Luc. “Hi,” she says. “How are you?”

They chat for a minute while I listen, finally jumping in when they start talking about the bar.

“Do you like it,chérie?” I say to her. I gesture at the room around us. “I know it’s crowded, but I thought you might like the history.”

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