Page 77 of Eat Your Heart Out
45
Gerard
Museums were fun, and so was lunch in the restaurant near my apartment on the Seine. It was time to do the last tourist thing Ali wanted to do that day.
We had an Eiffel Tower appointment, so I put my napkin down and nodded. “So, I think we have enough material for the blog.”
Ali nodded, and I motioned for the bill. The last time I’d been in Paris, I’d skipped our restaurant, saving it for later. I wished I’d picked somewhere different. The restaurant had great presentation, but the chef was clearly not as good as others in Paris.
As we waited for the waitress, my heart rate increased. Ashley’s blond hair was something I never thought I’d see again, but as she stepped closer, her face was unmistakable, as well as her pout. Seeing her again made me wonder how I hadn’t noticed earlier that we had nothing in common. Her arms were crossed angrily, but she dropped them as she came closer. She leaned down and kissed my cheek.
I met Ali’s gaze. I would hate if she had a setback from the gesture.
“Gerard, hi. Who’s this?” Ashley asked.
I reached across the table and took Ali’s hand in mine. “Ali, this is Ashley.”
Ali straightened her back. The waitress came over with the bill at the same time.
“TheAshley?” Ali asked.
I handed my card to the waitress and whispered, “Hurry.”
The waitress nodded and left.
Ashley cocked her head. “I’m shocked you’re seeing someone else so fast.”
“Ashley,” I warned.
Ali smiled. “It’s okay. I need to thank Ashley.”
Ashley sneered. “For what?”
The waitress returned. I signed and left an extra tip. The waitress quickly left.
“For letting Gerard go. He’s the most wonderful man I’ve ever met,” Ali said.
“I heard he picked someone… common,” Ashley said.
My heart raced. No one insulted Ali on my watch. I needed to stop Ashley.
“Excuse me?” Ali asked.
I moved my chair. “Ashley, you need to go now.”
She stepped back to allow me to get up. “I’m confused. I thought you’d be happy to see me.”
I waved for Ali to join me. My hair prickled as Ali stood. “I’m over it entirely, Ashley.”
Ashley stepped in front of us like she was some linebacker. “Look, I can forgive you for slumming—”
“Ali, let’s go,” I interrupted and directed us both to walk around Ashley.
Ashley called out with tears in her eyes, “Wait!”
I pivoted and put my hand on Ali’s back. “No one insults the woman I love, Ashley.”
We exited quickly. I wished my past weren’t so in our faces. I understood Ali needed to prove herself to herself. The last thing she needed was a setback. As we made it to the sidewalk, I replayed what had happened. She’d not batted an eye at Ashley, so hopefully, we were still on track. I nodded as I realized it was probably a good sign that she wasn’t afraid back there.
She took my hand. “She’s pretty.”
Ashley had survived based on her looks as a model. I shrugged and realized we would never have a perfect life, but as long as we talked and stayed together, nothing else would matter. I let out a breath. “On the outside. She had no right to come and insult you.”
“It’s okay. I figure women are going to be jealous that I have you.”
My heart stirred. As a couple, we were stronger together, and if she could handle Ashley, then she could honestly handle anything in our future.
