“Bellatrix?” Eric called out. She was heading out to leave, obviously on date with Antoine.
“What?” she snapped, turning around.
“I am sorry about the way I acted,” Eric said. Bellatrix hadn’t talked to him the whole day, and as much as he hated Antoine, he was starting to wish he had been more tactful. “You haven’t talked me the whole day. We are best friends. What is happening to us?”
Bellatrix looked at him silently, before sighing. “I know. We have been fighting a lot lately,” she said. “Antoine was really hurt by what you said, Eric. I know you think that he is wrong, but what if he isn’t? Have you thought of that?”
“Look, Bellatrix,” Eric said. “I was tactless, I admit. I am sorry for it. Won’t you give me another chance?”
“Of course, I will,” Bellatrix said, her expression softening. She walked over and gave him a tight hug. “You are my best friend, Eric. You always will be.”
Eric looked down in her eyes, his heart swelling with a deep and intense yearning to be with her. He wanted to lean in and kiss her on her lips. He wanted to tell her that he loved her. That he wanted nothing more than to be with her.
“Bellatrix,” he said, swallowing nervously. “I wanted to tell you something. I have been-.”
He was cut off by her phone ringing, which she answered. She talked for a minute and then said, “That was Antoine. He is waiting downstairs. I will talk to you later, yea?”
Eric nodded, feeling a stinging pain in his heart. He loved her, and she was slowly and surely slipping away from him. He had been trying to gather proof against the man. He had felt so determined just last night. But right now, he was questioning everything.
What if he was just being paranoid? What if he was deliberately suspecting Antoine because he was jealous? Bellatrix was happy. Shouldn’t that be all that mattered? He was her friend, her best friend. Even if he was in love with her, the fact that she was happy should be enough for him.
Eric sighed and sat down. He didn’t know what he was going to do. He couldn’t give up Bellatrix without a fight. He picked up his phone and called the only person he could think of in such times. His sister.
“Hello, Eric,” his sister said, picking up the phone. “How’s the traveling going? Finally remembered you have a sister?”
“Hi, Ella,” Eric said. “The traveling is great. We are in Paris now. I should be back home for Christmas.”
“Right,” Ella said. “I know that voice. What’s up?”
“Bellatrix has met this guy here in Paris,” Eric said, sighing. “He is tall and handsome and charming. They are dating, and I think that I am losing her, Ella.”
“Eric,” his sister said, softly. “I am sorry. But if that’s who she chooses to be with-.”
“I know, Ella. I know,” Eric replied. “It’s just, how can I just give her up like that? Without fighting?”
“She is not something to win, Eric. She is a human, with her own choices,” Ella said. “I know you are hurting, but if she is meant to be yours, she will come back. If you truly love someone, you need to let them go.”
“I can’t,” Eric said. “I can’t, I love her so much.”
“I know, Eric,” Ella whispered. “I am sorry. I wish I could help.”
Eric didn’t reply but stared ahead quietly for a while. Then he changed the subject and they both talked for another hour before Eric finally said goodbye.
As hard as it was for him to accept, maybe it was time he let Bellatrix go.
Chapter 8
Eric
It had been three weeks since Eric had decided that he would let Bellatrix go. She was clearly very happy with Antoine. She spent the entire day with him, and when she came home, she could not stop talking about him.
It had been pure agony for Eric. The more he tried to stay away from her, the more he missed her. He had spent a major part of his last year with her, and life without her seemed difficult and dull. Eric hadn’t gone on any of his traveling plans, and his blog was suffering. It didn’t matter to him. All the things that ever held importance, suddenly seemed insignificant.
He was starting to consider that maybe it’s about time he and Bellatrix part ways. It was bound to happen eventually, and now she had a reason to stay here in Paris. He had tried to talk about it to Bellatrix a few times, but each time, his courage had failed him. Now, he felt completely lost without her in her life.
She was completely obsessed with Antoine. There were times Eric felt more and more suspicious about Antoine, but he never found good enough proof. He even tried to talk to Bellatrix once more, but she had turned deaf ears. Eventually, he stopped and gave up. The woman he loved was in love with someone else. There was nothing he could do to change that.
Yet, despite it all, he gave one last attempt. He hired a private investigator to get details about Antoine’s past, and it finally came through.
