He sat with his elbows on the table, hands together in front of him, staring at me.
I could feel the stare. “Since we’re on the topic, can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
My eyes lifted to his, surprised he gave the same answer as before, clearly trying to make an effort with me. Maybe to someone else, it wouldn’t seem like much, but I’d meant nothing to Luca when we met, and I could see the stark difference between then and now. Words might be hard to come by with him, but he showed his affection in other ways. “Have you ever been in a relationship?”
“Be more specific. There are lots of different kinds.”
“Well, tell me what kind of relationships you’ve been in.”
He was quiet as he massaged his knuckles like they were sore from punching someone last night. “I’ve been in situationships. I think that’s what kids are calling it these days.”
I smiled.
“I have regulars. Hookups and booty calls. But I’ve never been in a monogamous relationship for any length of time.”
No wonder this was a challenge for him.
“Until you.”
It was hard not to smile, especially when I felt the joy burst in my heart like a firework. “Why me?”
He continued to massage his knuckles as he considered the question, taking one of his signature pauses that lasted a lifetime. “I don’t care about anybody.” His eyes strayed as he searched for words that didn’t readily come to him. “But I care about you.”
They were simple words, but coming from him, they were more profound than a poem by Charles Baudelaire. “I care about you too.” He was more beautiful than the cathedrals and spiresand sculptures of this great city. More beautiful than any piece of artwork displayed in the Louvre. But underneath, he was a catacomb of thoughts and emotions, and that only added to his depth and complexity. I liked the muscle, but I liked everything underneath it too.
We stared at each other for a while until his eyes flicked away to the door behind me. They stayed there, and slowly, the calm he exuded started to fade. His kind eyes suddenly looked irritated.
I almost turned around to see whatever he was looking at, but I thought it was better to stay still.
His eyes followed someone approach our table. His elbows left the table, and he sank back into the cushion of the booth.
At my side appeared a six-foot-something beast of a man with blond hair, blue eyes, and black ink all over his arms and up his neck. He would have been absolutely terrifying if he didn’t smirk at Luca—like they were friends. “What have we got here?”
Luca didn’t reciprocate his warmth.
At his side was a pretty brunette, significantly shorter than the man she was with.
It immediately clicked in my head who he was, based on what Luca had told me. “Bastien, right?”
The blond man turned his gaze to me, smiled like he was the least threatening guy in the world, and extended his hand to shake mine. “Aliénor, right?”
So, Luca had talked about me to his friends. I shook Bastien’s hand. “Yeah. Luca has told me about you. That you’re a brother to him.”
“Did he now?” Bastien turned to look at Luca again, wearing a wide smirk.
Luca didn’t look mad at me, specifically, but he didn’t look thrilled.
Bastien introduced the woman with him. “My wife, my woman, my lady—Fleur.”
“It’s lovely to meet you.” With warmth, she shook my hand and gave me a smile.
“You too,” I said.
“Mind if we join you?” Bastien clapped his big hands together and rubbed his palms.
I looked to Luca so he could answer.
