Chapter 27:Luc
Cody and I travel to his house by tram—with a paid ticket this time. I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that happened, and the journey offers me a welcome chance to reflect. We’re sitting side by side in the moving vehicle, watching the city pass by through the window. This way of traveling is much faster than walking back, especially carrying heavy luggage. Given the amount of stuff I have, it’s a miracle Maxime managed to get everything into just two bags. They must be really good at efficiently packing things.
So much has happened today. As things are now, I’m unsure where Cody and I stand. He may have said yes to my proposal because he felt he had to, but he never took it back. He even said we’ll get married in France eventually. Does that mean we’re engaged now? I don’t know for sure.
I think back to our visit to the cake shop and everything that’s happened since. Cody told me he’s been searching for me since we parted in the alleyway. He said he went by my house but couldn’t find me there. As I replay our conversation in my head, a question occurs to me, and I turn my head to look at him.
“How did you know where I live? You didn’t have my address.”
He nods. “After I couldn’t find you, I returned to the cake shop and confessed to your dad that I responded poorly to your proposal. I told him I love you, that I wanted to take the leap with you, and needed his help to find you. He eventually gave me the address, and I rushed over there, but you weren’t home. I was lucky to find you at the station. I’m so glad I did.”
My eyes widen. “You told my dad you want to marry me?”
“More or less. I called myself your fiancé.” He gives me a slight smile. “I hadn’t planned to get married, but I want to bewith you, and I don’t care where. We’ll move to France if that’s what you need. We’ll figure the rest out together.”
“But you think I used you.”
“Baby, no...” He putshis arm around me and pulls me close, giving me a squeeze, not caring who sees it. “I love you, truly. But there’s so much about you I don’t know. Like how badly you want to return to France, for instance.”
I think about it for a long moment. Eventually, as I stare at him, something inside me loosens. The ache in my chest doesn’t vanish, but it eases. I lean in. “Do you mean it? You want to be my fiancé?”
“I do. So let’s go home, baby. We can talk it over.”
I nod and smile, my worry fading. Strangely, being here with him, in his arms, feels like I am already home.
***
Unlocking the door to his house with him looking at me feels a little strange…but also nice. It’s definitely something I could get used to. I’ve pictured the scenario of staying with him here before, not having to leave. And now it really happening.
Once we're inside, Cody and I plant ourselves on the couch, sitting close together with our legs touching and holding hands. As we discuss our plans to move, my excitement grows, but I also realize there are some complications about going to France, like Cody’s job and the fact that he doesn’t speak French. That won’t make this easier. Still, we want to work it out. One thing we can both agree on is that we’re okay as long as we have each other. That’s what matters most.
And so, I decide to take another step in trusting him.
“I may act like I know what I’m doing and sometimes pretend I don’t need you, but I absolutely do need you, Cody.”
Cody’s face lits up as he meets my gaze. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
He chuckles. “You're so much more than the snippy French boy I met at the cake shop, aren't you?” He squeezes my hand. “But I guess I already knew that.”
“But I fooled you, didn't I? You didn’t believe I was a virgin, for one thing.”
“Yes, you put up a good act.” He gives me a sympathetic smile. “I must say, those are some big walls you put up around yourself.”
I feel like there's no denying it–not around him anyway. “Yes.”
“Why is that?”
“Why?” I repeat, frowning. He nods. I blink slowly, thinking about the answer. “Can’t it just be because I’m French?”
“It can be,” he replies. “But is it really only that?”
I shrug. “I’ve always been like this. The confidence, the distance, it’s a French thing.” I pause, then sigh. “But . . . you’re right. There’s more to it than that.”
“Tell me.”
I can’t help but look away, rubbing the back of my neck. Cody already knows more of my secrets than anyone else, but that doesn’t make opening up any easier. “You know I’ve been hurt before by the first person I loved. And that being torn away from my home left me with pain, and trust issues.”
