If I want the restaurant, I should say no to the sex and keep things strictly professional.
If I want the relationship, then I have to turn down the money for the restaurant.
Both sound incredibly unfulfilling.
When I glance up from the floor, I find them staring at me as if they’re waiting for my answer.
A wise woman would have one. She’d probably be smart and choose the restaurant, drawing clear boundaries in ourrelationship—no sex, only business. A wise woman would not let Archer’s devilish smile and Julian’s alluring eyes dissuade her from doing what’s right for her future.
Unfortunately, I have never been a wise woman.
“Can I have a few days to think about it?” I ask before tugging my bottom lip between my teeth.
“Take all the time you need, Chef,” Archer replies.
I glance over at Julian, and I swear I see hope in his eyes. For some reason, I think he really wants this. But he’d never let it show, not really.
With a subtle nod, he adds, “Yeah, no rush.”
I still can’t believe this is even an option, but time is going to be the best thing to help me decide. Because when I’m with them, my head is in the clouds and not in any condition to be making life-changing decisions.
“Tell me not to do this,” I say, sprawled out over the surface of my couch. My feet are draped over Amelia’s lap as she flips through the rom-com choices on my TV.
“Remind me whatthisis again,” she replies with diverted attention. “Sleeping with two guys or taking their money to buy a restaurant?”
I let out a groan. “Or both?”
With that, she lets out a little shiver like something disgusting just slithered down her back. “Let’s pretend for a moment that we’renottalking about my brother. For fun and my sanity, let’s call him Henry Cavill. Why can’t you sleep with the hot pilotandHenry Cavill and take their investments in the restaurant?”
She eventually lands on10 Things I Hate About Youand hits Play, keeping the volume low.
“Because,” I reply, turning to my side to face the screen. “This investment is a big commitment and will put me into business with Archer and Jul—er, Henry—for a really long time. Wouldyou want to go into a long-term business relationship with some random guy you slept with once?”
Amelia, in all her adorable naivety, lifts onto her elbow and stares at me from across the couch. “You realize that it doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment, right? Julian could buy a whole arrondissement of restaurants and never feel the dent in his wallet.”
“Gross,” I mutter with a look of disgust. I try not to hold my best friend’s vulgar excess of wealth against her or her family. It’s hard to when they are the nicest goddamn people I’ve ever met.
“I know. It’s not his fault. I’m just saying…you could take the money without feeling like you’re tied to either of them. And for the record, I could also just give you the?—”
I hold up a hand to stop her. Amelia has offered me funds more times than I can count, but I refuse to tarnish our friendship with that. It’s too pure, but I love her for offering.
“I wouldn’t feel right about that, and you know that,” I say, chewing on the inside of my lip.
“You know what would feel right?” she asks, poking me in the side. “Trading orgasms with the hot pilot and Henry Cavill.”
I can’t help it. I laugh. “You realize Henry Cavill is Julian, right?”
“Not in my head, he’s not.”
“And you promise you’re not mad?” I ask with unease. Amelia is my best friend and honestly the only person I really have in Paris. It was hard enough for me to accept that I wasn’t just kind of dating Archer, but it would appear that I’m sort of almost dating her brother too.
“Mad? Not at all. Surprised? Very.”
I expected her to be disgusted or livid, but in typical Amelia fashion, she shrugged it off, questioned my sanity and judgment, and made me promise to leave out all the gory details.
“Just…you know…” she adds hesitantly. “Be careful. Julian puts on a good show, making everyone think he’s so mean and unlikable. But in reality, he’s just a little softy like the rest of us. I love you both, and I’d hate to see either of you get hurt.”
It’s no secret to me that while Amelia ismybest friend, hers is her brother. They have a bond unlike the one I share with my siblings. I’m willing to bet it’s because Amelia is actually the only person who willingly admits that shelikesJulian. And he likes it that way. She is the only person he lets in, so she’s become protective of him for it.
