Page 59 of Enemies to French Kisses
I ignore her tone and give her a polite smile. "Charlotte.” She’s always been a wild card, a force to be reckoned with. "I see you found a date to the event."
"I couldn't bear to miss Gabriel and Amelie's party." In other words, she couldn't bear to miss out on an opportunity to rub shoulders with Parisian elite. "Besides, where's your cute little American girl?"
"That cute little American girl happens to be one of Innov' Biotech's most talented managers, a true star of negotiation and strategic thinking." Describing Laura in those terms feels like an instinctual defense mechanism, like I need to prove to Charlotte that I've moved on and found someone even better. But the truth is, Laura has become my closest friend, my confidante, my partner in every sense of the word.
Charlotte rolls her eyes. "Sounds like you're trying a bit too hard to convince me."
"I don't need to convince you of anything," I say evenly. "Laura is an amazing woman. She's changed my life. She's changed me." I look back to find Laura chatting with a couple I don't recognize as they wait in line. She's doing just fine—I wouldn't expect any less of her.
Charlotte's expression softens, just a little. "I'm happy for you, Marc. I really am. Truth is that I’m making a big change in my life. My studies started just this week." She shifts her weight back and forth. "Much because of you. Given all we’ve gone through, I wouldn’t have guessed I’d be telling you today what a good friend you’ve been to me. And I only have a few friends left."
If I'm one of Charlotte's few friends, then she has really run low on the social meter. She and I hardly talk, and when we do, it's often tense. Though I know enough about Charlotte to know that her armor is thicker than mine, a default position that she can't break free from. And she suffers because of it.
I don't have feelings for her the way I used to, and I never will. But I remember the girl she once was, the ambition and determination. Also her fear and insecurity.
It seems some things don't change, even if we get better at hiding them.
"Wait," her words finally connect with my brain, "studies?"
Her eyes light up and her shoulders pull back. "That's right, Monsieur Observational. And I have you to thank for that. Remember how you told me that I was too busy in the business of others because I hadn't found my own path?"
I cringe. It's true—and I wasn't exactly kind in how I said it that day when she showed up at the apartment. But Laura was standing in the living room and Charlotte was doing everything to find out the details of our relationship—details which I absolutely could not divulge.
Seems that Charlotte listened to me.
"You were right, Marc."
"I don't think I've ever heard you say that. Ever."
"Don't get used to it." Her eyes sparkle in the light of the chandelier. "Fact is that I once had a dream which I buried deep, and a long time ago. But with the end of you and I," she gestures quickly, wagging her finger between us, "I’ve had to find something that would fill the glaring gap in my heart."
These words are so different from the Charlotte I know now, and yet they remind me precisely of the girl she once was, full of spirit and ideas. "This is incredible, Charlotte—"
"I've enlisted."
"You didwhat?"
She laughs and nods, "That's right. I've enlisted. I'm going to be a military medic."
As I look at her, my mind races with disbelief. Charlotte, a military medic? I'm stunned silent. And then I remember.
"Your grandfather."
She beams with pride. "Following in his footsteps, the way I always wanted to. Finally putting that medical training to use. You remember how I used to spend my summers—"
"—in the countryside doing first aid at all the equestrian events. I remember." It may be hard for me to reconcile this woman wearing a dress that belongs on the runway with the girl who ran around, covered in mud, attending to injuries big and small at the stables. But it also makes perfect sense.
“Looks like I’ve finally stunned you silent.” She nudges me with her shoulder.
“It’s true, I don’t know what to say. Except that I’m happy for you.”
“Me too, Marc.” She looks me straight on. “And I’m happy you’ve found someone with whom you can just be you. I miss the man you used to be, before responsibility sat heavily on you.” She glances over to the bar area. “The American is good for you.”
“I think so too,” I whisper as I watch Laura in the crowd, my heart filling with a sensation that just might be bliss.
“Shall we go find your lovely Texan then?” Charlotte marches off and every ounce of bliss transforms into terror. Laura doesn’t know that I know the truth of our situation, and Charlotte could ruin everything.
CHAPTER25
