Chapter 18
Maxime
Madame Durand refills my champagne glass and then raises her own. "To Maxime and Aurora," she calls out over the lively atmosphere of the party.
I let my gaze wander over the dimly lit rooftop terrace and land on Aurora, who leans against one of the standing tables with Sky. Her cheeks are flushed, and she grabs her glass, toasting the boss.
Suddenly, she looks directly at me.
Intensely. Passionately.
Heat rises within me, and not just because I can already feel the effect of the champagne. Now, she smiles mischievously. My lips lift on their own, feeling so light, and it feels so right.
"Mesdames et messieurs." Along with the male voice, loud clinking reaches my ears. "S'il vous plaît."
Aurora turns her head, breaking our eye contact. Slowly, the heat drains from my body, and I also direct my attention to where the sound is coming from.
Cyrille stands next to Madame Durand by the terrace railing, raising his eyebrows to get the party guests' attention. "Where are my stars?" he asks in English, then switches back tothe official academy language. "Maxime, Aurora, please come forward."
A speech? For both of us? How lovely.
I do my best to hide how tipsy I am from the alcohol and walk over to him. There, I stand beside Aurora, so close that our arms almost touch.
A delicate tingle spreads across my skin.
"That was an outstanding performance," Cyrille says, launching into a eulogy. For minutes, he talks about what a great achievement our second place is for the academy, and then he exchanges conspiratorial glances with Madame Durand. "Of course, we want to reward your efforts. Therefore, we have decided..."
I feel Aurora searching for my hand and allow her fingers to entwine with mine.
"Both of you will compete in the French Championships in mid-October." He raises his eyebrows expectantly.
"My God," Aurora whispers incredulously, and for a moment, I am not myself either.
What an opportunity! And what trust he and the boss are showing us.
Madame Durand laughs. "Looks like someone is speechless."
I nod absentmindedly, my thoughts focused on Aurora and her big dream. The French Championships are a huge step toward making it come true.
"That's fantastic, thank you so much." Aurora is the first to find her words again. "We won't disappoint you, certainly not."
It's still not even mid-August, and we have over two months until the tournament. Yes, it could work—if we give it our all.
"We'll intensify the training, won't we, Maxime?" She tugs at my hand.
"Absolutely," I reply with a wide grin on my face.
We won't let this opportunity slip away.
Sky, who had been staying in the background, now rushes over with a raised glass. "To Maxime and Aurora!"
The rest of the party guests join in. They applaud, toast with us, pat our shoulders, and nod approvingly.
For me, it's like a dream. Surreal. I enjoy the atmosphere, the champagne, the warm night. And the feeling of standing by Aurora's side.
I have never been so sure as I am today. Together, we can achieve anything.
***
