Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Carvel had no reaction. Just stared at me long and hard.
Bastien appeared to catch on to the tension because he said. “You know each other…?”
At that moment, Luca finished up his conversation with a group of men and headed our way.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I wanted to duck out for the bathroom, but the second I left, Carvel would spill all my secrets. And that was not how I wanted to be outed. Without having a defense, without having an explanation, a side to the story.
Luca joined the group. “You’re so late, I hoped you weren’t coming.” He didn’t look at Carvel directly, so he didn’t catch the tension. He moved to me, but when he caught my expression, he must have seen the horror written all over my face. His movements suddenly grew still, and when he put his arm around me, he was so gentle, like he was afraid to touch me.
Carvel continued to stare like he hadn’t heard what Luca said.
I was about to choke on fucking air.
Carvel didn’t play along. Didn’t pretend like he didn’t know me. Seemed as affronted by this meeting as I was.
Luca didn’t ask any questions.
Bastien moved his hand to Carvel’s shoulder. “Come on, I want to introduce you to someone.” He nodded toward the crowd. When Carvel didn’t move with him, he gave him a tug. “And did you try the bacon-wrapped scallops…” Carvel and his date left with Bastien and moved farther into the crowd.
Jesus, Bastien was a fucking godsend. I could cry right now.
Luca remained at my side, his hand still on my back, but the interrogation never began.
To anyone in the crowd, I looked unperturbed, but inside, I was having a fucking panic attack. My heart slammed against my ribs. My palms were so clammy that I would mark my dress if I touched it. All the confidence and joy I’d felt fled the room like someone had left the window open and a breeze came through.
And despite my silent meltdown, Luca didn’t say a word.
“I—I need to use the restroom.”
No response. No questions. Nothing.
I walked away, feeling his eyes drill holes into my back, feeling the barrier that we’d conquered slide right back into place.
29
LUCA
I was able to pull strings behind the scenes and change tables. It was even less conspicuous because I had us seated at President Martin’s table, along with his wife and two daughters and some of his other close friends.
Aliénor was as pale as snow the entire time.
My phone vibrated in my pocket several times, so many times it seemed like it could be urgent, so I pulled it out and discreetly checked it.
Restroom.
It was Carvel.
He texted that to me in ten different text messages, trying to blow up my phone and get my attention.
I held my thumb down on the screen and left a thumbs-up on his message. Then I left the table without a word and crossed the room until I stepped into the large bathroom, the counters and sinks in a whole different section of the space.
Carvel was already there. With his arms crossed over his chest, he sighed when he looked at me. “We need to talk—”
“No.”
His eyebrows furrowed when I cut him off.
“I want to hear it from her.”
His eyes flicked back and forth between mine before he gave a sigh.
I turned around and headed to the door. “Not from you.”
30
ALIÉNOR
He said nothing on the drive home.
Didn’t ask me a single question.
And that was how I knew that he already knew.
He hadn’t left my side except when he went to the restroom, but Carvel must have texted him. Something must have transpired right under my nose, and I missed it.
The SUV drove us through the streets. I’d packed my bag so I could stay for the weekend, but I knew those plans were canceled. But when the driver turned toward the Eiffel Tower rather than away from it, I realized we were still going to his place as planned.
But that didn’t mean I wasn’t about to get dumped.
God, I couldn’t believe this was over. The best man I’d ever had was already gone. I almost cried right there in the back seat.
When we arrived at his home, we took the elevator to his floor, and that was even more awkward than the drive. After the long walk into his bedroom, he immediately carried my bag to the dining table and set it on top.
He normally carried it to the bedroom, so that wasn’t a good sign.
My heart was in my throat, and there was so much sweat on my skin, I could see it glisten when I passed one of the mirrors. My feet should be killing me in these heels, but because there was so much adrenaline, I couldn’t feel pain. My legs felt like anchors dropped from a massive cargo ship, and I collapsed into the armchair in my beautiful gown that cost a third of my paycheck.