After adding a pair of tights under my dress and putting my coat back on for warmth, I wander down to the street not sure which way to go and today, I don’t mind.I have no schedule and no aim.It is all about living life like the French.Living the phrase ‘Joie de vivre’ for the first time in my life.
With all the pre-planning I’ve done, the carefree feeling I felt didn’t seem to weigh down on me now that I was actually here despite the sensation being new.
Walking down the cobblestone street, I absorb everything—the architecture, the smells, the sounds, and the soul of Paris, breathing it in.When I turn the corner I pass a florist with buckets of colorful flowers filling the sidewalk.My mind has already committed me to daydreaming of living in Paris one day.If I lived here, I would always have fresh flowers, ones that I bought from the neighborhood florist like this.A café sprawls out ahead, patrons filling the tables despite the chill.
“Kandace?”
I turn toward the sound of my name and see Olivier sitting at a table near the door.He waves me over and I go with a bigger smile on my face than I want.I’m still undecided if he has earned this grin, so I try to contain it.“Hi.”
“Bonjour.”
“Bonjour,” I say.
“Join me?”
“Merci.”I sit down, then cross my ankles.
“You are sightseeing, oui?”
I nod.“I just left the hostel.Any recommendations of places I should visit in the area?”
“Kandace, you must learn to slow down and enjoy.It’s a beautiful day made for enjoying, not rushing around.Have a drink with me.We can celebrate your arrival.”
The way he says my name and the excitement in his eyes makes me want to stay exactly where we are.“You’re right.I have days.”
“And tonight.”
I catch his eyes on me, intense with a spark of something more.With all the possibility that resides in the blues of his irises, it’s easy to be attracted to him.Sidetracked might be a better word though, so I turn away.Looking out over the quiet street, the sun hits.Just as I reach into my purse to pull out my sunglasses, he says, “You have beautiful green eyes.Tis a shame you must cover them, my Rayon de Soleil Américain.”Self talk is a standard for me, but in this moment, all advice I’d normally give myself silently, leaves me under his compliment.“You blush so easily, like a rose,” he says.
“I’m not used to compliments.”
“Non?But you’re so delicate and...”he waves his hand as if the gesture is all that is needed.“Enchanting.”
“You’re too kind.”
“I only speak the truth.There is no reason to hide behind pretenses.We are friends.Oui?”
“Oui,” I reply.
“Très bien.”
The waiter arrives and as Olivier speaks I’m drawn to the sound of his tongue as it slides over the words so provocatively.I find myself staring at his mouth until words end and a cocky grin appears.When I look up, he asks, “Distracted?”
“Very much so.”I clear my throat and try to do the same for the dirty thoughts crossing my mind.“I just remembered I forgot to turn off my iron,” I lie.“I should probably call my roommate and make sure the apartment is still there.”I start to stand, so embarrassed, but stop when his warm hand lands on mine.
“Stay.I just ordered for us.”
“You did?”He nods once while his eyes stay directed on me, seeming to see through my lie.I ease down again, relaxing back into the chair again.“I want to see the Eiffel Tower.”
“Ahhh, the elusive Tour Eiffel.”
I laugh.“You’re being sarcastic.”
“Just a wee bit.”
“Don’t mock me.I’ve waited my whole life to be here.I plan to do the touristy thing.I need to see it all.”
“I could show you a few sites.”
