‘I’m staying,’ I confirmed.
‘This is good news. And do not worry that our training got interrupted. You are ready. I promise.’ Delphine gave me the smallest smile before walking off out of sight.
Felix appeared a few minutes later. He kissed both my cheeks.
‘I have a break now. We should walk,’ he said, and I followed him out of the Brasserie.
‘I spoke to Yves, he would be happy to give you a job here, with me and Delphine, if that is something you would like?’
I threw my arms round him. ‘Oh, Felix, thank you. I’m so happy I’m staying.’ I looked at him when I said it, and he smiled too, but not with the same intensity as me.
‘What if I don’t qualify?’ The thought hit me out of the blue.
‘You can still stay,’ Felix said, like it was obvious. ‘You cantrain with Delphine and Antoine, you can work with me, you can find out who you want to be … in France?’ He cocked his head slightly, and looked unbelievably cute.
‘In France.’ I smiled back at him.
‘Does Antoine know?’
I shook my head. ‘I haven’t seen him since the storm.’
And when Felix had said his name, the feelings were back, the ones that spread like wildfire, before fizzing and exploding like fireworks when I leaned into them. I thought about his dark hair, the blue eyes, him calling mePrincesse. And I ached to hear him call me that again.
‘He will be happy,’ Felix said simply, without any visible hint of jealousy. ‘As I am,’ he added.
‘Me too.’ I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Oh, and my mum was asking if she could have your mum’s phone number? My dad has already phoned Lili’s mum and sorted the room at hers.’ It still felt like a dream.
And he smiled back. ‘Of course.’ Felix took out his phone and I gave him mine to type in his mum’s number.
When I got back to the mobile home I gave Mum the phone number, then sent a message of my own.
ME: I have some news …
PRIYA: Tell me
ME: I’m doing the surf competition
PRIYA: Serious? That’s amazing! But promise me you’ll be careful
ME: And there’s something else
PRIYA: Let me guess. It’s about one of your French boys?
ME: Nope. Even better
PRIYA: You’re coming to swim camp with me?
ME: If swim camp is in France?
PRIYA: Wait, what?
ME: I’m staying in France. I’m doing the qualifier, and then I’ll stay for the competition in September. And even if I don’t qualify … I kind of really like the thought of staying here … working, figuring out what to do next …
PRIYA: … I’m actually speechless
ME: That’ll be a first
PRIYA: This is huge! So you’re actually going to be LIVING in France?
