But as we were seated there in her kitchen as she baked chocolate chip cookies and we sipped vodka martinis it was better than any thousand-dollar vacation.
"So let me get this straight, you expect me to believe that you and him this entire time have never had sex?" Victoria asked mixing the cookie batter in a bowl and tasting it,
"Yes, exactly that." I clarified,
"Bullshit." She called blowing a strand of loose hair from her face and began to place the cookies on a baking sheet,
"I'm telling you the truth, it just hasn't happened yet and I'm not even his girlfriend," I explained taking one long sip from my glass,
"Do you want it with him?" Tori asked, pausing her actions, was that even a question?
"Of course I do!" I admitted, and she grinned at my enthusiasm, "It just hasn't happened yet."
"On second thought, I'd tell you to just fuck him but I think you should wait until he actually calls you his girlfriend." She explained and I knew she was right, damn it she was always right.
"Yeah, plus we can do other things right..." I mumbled and she laughed,
"Oh?" She gasped, "Do tell little bird, did you let him work his way into your nest?"
“That’s not a very PG13 euphemism.” I reminded her.
“Since when were things between us family-friendly?”
"But I don't kiss and tell." I teased,
"I just pictured that and I don't regret it," Victoria admitted placing the tray into the oven,
"Neither did I," I added and it was clear the alcohol was starting to get to me if I was discussing my very inexperienced sex life.
"He's French and he's a sculptor. Did you really expect anything less than a gift from the gods?" Victoria illuminated, and she was right.
"I think we're just going to take things slow," I concluded,
"Whatever you say, just don't call me up at five in the morning asking where in all of Paris one gets a plan B pill." She joked— I hoped.
Chapter 22
The Gemini Concept
Aweeklater
THE FIRST CLASS I had the next day was Art and I was actually looking forward to the start of something new to work on. I missed painting and drawing. It was my safe space and I hadn't done it in a while because of everything that'd been going on. I wasn't going to deny that I'd been slacking off lately and it wasn't okay. River had been trying to get me to draw my feelings to help combat the ghost of torment I still had looming over my head about my mom.
Actually, he and I hadn't spoken in two days, he kept texting me and telling me that he was busy with school and I understood that because he takes all advanced classes and he'd been working on the painting the school was being commissioned for. I reached into my pocket and looked over our texts from last night.
ME:Hey, wanna hang out tonight?
RIVER:Sorry can’t, working late.
ME:Take a break, you’ve been working so hard all week.
RIVER:No.
ME: :(
RIVER:Sorry.
I shrugged it off and sat next to Victoria as we all waited for Monsieur Ettiene to arrive. River walked in a few minutes later wearing a black and white Givenchy sweater, his hair was tussled and he looked tired like he didn't want to be there. No one else noticed, but I did, I noticed everything. I got up from my seat and made my way over to him and he looked up at me, he gave me a wry smile.
