She couldn’t believe they were touching ground in New York already. It seemed to her that the flight had taken off from Charles de Gaulle a mere two hours ago. Either way, she couldn’t complain. She was happy to be back home. She couldn’t remember the last time that the view of the New York skyline had made her this ecstatic. Yet, as happy as she was to be back home, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.
The truth is Luca had broken her heart in more ways than one. She was trying to forget their last meeting. Fighting to bury it deep within her memories, hoping that it would never resurface to perturb her hard-earned stability. She had always been told, much to her dissatisfaction and disbelief, that she was very stubborn. The last encounter with Luca helped her see that maybe everyone had been right all along. Maybe she really was hardheaded and inflexible.
Things between them had been going downhill for a couple of months, but Luca was much too passive to do anything about it. He always prided himself in being a bon vivant, and as such, could not be bothered with the trivialities of their relationship, or so he would often say, insisting that as long as they were okay, it was all good. However, Nicole was never one to settle for just “ok.” She’d always believed that it when it came to matters of the heart, things needed to feel right. And as much she loved Luca, things didn’t feel as right as they used to. When she finally confronted him about it, it was precisely his indifference and his cold demeanor that upset her the most. She left his apartment without giving him much of a chance to say anything.
It was that same night that her father informed her of the position that had become available at the American embassy in Paris. Unlike her mother, he had always supported her career choices, and knew of her desire to make a name for herself in the diplomatic field. Given his business connections, all he needed to do was to call the Ambassador up and the job was hers. Without thinking it over, she urged her dad to set it up, and the very next day, she was on a plane headed to Paris.
Despite the circumstances, her time in Paris was very satisfying. She was able to brush up on her French, learn a thing or two about the inner workings of an embassy, and enjoy the magnificent “City of Lights.” She would spend her afternoons lost in thoughts at cozy Parisian cafés, enjoying croissants and café au laits. She would stroll down the Champs-Elysees, perusing the quaint little shops. None of it mattered, though. Luca was never far from her thoughts.
* * * * *
“Excuse me. Miss?”
She was buried in her book. She came to this coffee shop every day, at the same time, and ordered the exact same thing: a skinny cinnamon dolce latte. Everyone knew that this table was her spot and her time to get lost in her own little world. Who could possible dare to interrupt her tradition? She looked up at the vile creature that had done such a thing, half expecting to see Freddy Krueger or the Crypt-Keeper. To her surprise, she found a very handsome young man with piercing green eyes.
“Do you mind? I’m kind of in the middle of something…” The words just slipped right out of her mouth. “Oops,” she thought, “Now he’ll think I’m a total bitch. Oh well, suits him right for interrupting me.”
He cut off her inner monologue to say, “Yes, I’m aware of that, but trust me I would not have interrupted you if this were not a life or death situation. You see, I’m running a bit late for a final that I studied arduously for, and in the hustle and bustle, I forgot my wallet. But, I am in desperate need of a double-shot espresso. Could you spare me a couple of bucks? Pleaseeeeee.”
She looked back at him suspiciously, wanting to say, “Great. So not only are you rude, but you’re also a bum. Cute.” However, she replied with, “Yea, don’t worry about it. Just tell the guy up front to put it on my tab. Good luck on your final.”
He said, “Thank you! How can I repay you?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure if I’m ever in your same situation, I’ll find a good Samaritan who’ll help me out. Just get your coffee and go. Aren’t you late already?”
“Right. Well, I’ll come back. Thanks, again!”
She just smiled up at him. “I’m such an idiot! He’ll think I’m a total nerd! I should’ve told him that he could pay me back by taking me out to dinner. Those eyes. That hair. Ugh, I didn’t even ask for his name. Smooth, Nicky. Real, smooth.” She shrugged off her thoughts and picked up her book, “no point in worrying about it now. What are the chances that I'll see him again?”
* * * * *
As expected, her dad had sent their driver to pick her up. In the car, she found a lovely bouquet of pink orchids and purple and white lilies, her favorites. She also found a couple of blueberry scones and a latte from Dean and Deluca, alongside a note that read:
“Sorry we couldn’t be there to greet you, Nicky. Mom’s at the weekly co-op meeting, and I’m working on a very difficult case here at the office. Have Sebastian take you home, shower, rest up, and we’ll have dinner together later on.
Love,
Dad.
PS. Welcome home, kiddo! We missed you!”
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