Page 5 of Boarding Pass
She stops for a second, like I’ve startled her. When she looks up, I notice two things: her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are sharp, sizing me up like she’s not convinced I’m actually here to help.
“No, it’s fine.” Her voice is tight but controlled. “Really, it’s nothing.”
“Oh, it’s something,” I smile as I crouch to wipe up the floor. “But hey, I shouldn’t judge. Last week, I dropped an entire iced coffee in the middle of Starbucks.”
To my surprise, she laughs softly and she seems to relax a bit. “Thanks.” She finally looks me in the eye, and holy hell. I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman in my life.
“You’re welcome.” I toss the wet napkins in the trash and take the seat next to her. “Do you spill drinks oftenor am I just the lucky guy who gets to use it as an excuse to meet you?”
Her lips twitch, and for a second, I think she might actually smile. “You caught me. It was a tactical spill.” Her dry sense of humor catches me off guard. “I figured causing a scene might summon a hero—looks like it worked.”
“Well, here I am.” I laugh heartily. “I’ll try not to disappoint.”
For a moment, neither of us says anything. She studies me like she’s still deciding whether or not I’m worth talking to. I wait with baited breath, hoping for a miracle.
“Do you always rescue strangers?” Her fingernail digs at the wood on the bar top.
“Only if they have excellent taste in wine.” I gesture to the bottle of Bordeaux sitting next to her overturned glass. My cheesy line garners a genuine smile—a small one, but it’s there. I offer my hand. “Miles.”
She takes it and her grip is firm. “Sophie.”
“Sophie,“ I repeat. Her name rolls off my tongue. It suits her—effortless, classic, and a little intriguing.
Sophie picks up her glass and refills it, taking a small sip. Her gaze flicks back to me. “So, what brings you to Paris?”
The question feels loaded somehow. I debate giving her the short answer, but something about her makes me want to be honest.
“I needed a change,” I say finally. “I just sold my company—a gaming studio I started with my best friend. Now I’m figuring out what’s next.”
Her eyebrows lift slightly, as though she’s intrigued. “Gaming studio?”
“Hungry Llama.” I brace for the inevitable blank stare.
Instead, her lips curve into a smile. “Oh, how cool. My niece lovesPuzzle Pet Paradise. She spent last Christmas trying to explain it to me.”
“Clearly, she’s a genius.” I nod solemnly. “And you should listen to her.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s warmth there. “What’s it like? Selling a business you built from scratch?”
“It’s…weird,” I admit. “Ishouldfeel excited, but mostly I feel like I’m floating. I spent so much time building the company, growing it. Running it. I forgot to think about what happensafter.”
For a moment, she just watches me, her expression unreadable. “I get it.” She nods. “The in-between.”
“What about you? What brings you here?” I finish my glass of wine.
Sophie pours me another glass from her bottle, then her gaze drops. “I’m a photographer. I just finished shooting Fashion Week, now I’m taking a few weeks to…figure things out.”
“Figure what out?” I tilt my head to the side. Talking to her feels effortless. Like we’re old friends catching up.
She hesitates, and for a second, I think she’s going to brush it off. But then she sighs as her fingers trace the rim of her glass.
“Tonight I found out something pretty cool. I’ve been offered a solo exhibit.” She closes her eyes and smiles, then catches herself and resumes a reserved demeanor. “In New York this fall. It’s a big deal—huge, actually. Instead of being excited, I feel,um. Untethered.”
Her honesty surprises me. It’s refreshing. Raw. Something about her demeanor provides me with a surge of kinship. It’s strange, but also comforting.
“Hmmm. Maybe untethered is normal for people like us,” I hearmyself say.
Her eyebrow spikes. “People likeus?”
