Page 16 of Oops, My Professor Got Me Pregnant!

It was lovely to meet you, Lauren. I hope Paris is all you wished for.

-Nico

So, that was it. He had just left without a proper goodbye. He didn’t want anything to do with her.

Lauren sank onto her bed, sadness washing over her. It wasn’t as if they’d had a real relationship, but the day and night they’d spent together had meant something to her. Something real. The realization that Nico hadn’t felt the same way hurt more than Lauren wanted to admit. She reread the note that she was still clutching in her hands, hoping for a misunderstanding or a clue in the words, but there was nothing.

She had come on this trip in an attempt to embrace her newfound independence. Losing her grandfather had been a huge blow, but she’d hoped to find a silver lining and a new sense of herself now that she was no longer a carer.

Instead, she’d immediately gotten a huge crush on a French man, spent her whole first day with him when she should have been looking at apartments, and then spent a night with him. Several of Lauren’s friends enjoyed the occasional one-night stand, and she loved hearing their stories of flirtatious meetings and passionate nights, but it had never been Lauren’s style to go to bed with a man she barely knew.

Last night, when she had hoped that they would have a future together, it had felt spontaneous and wonderful and right. Now, it just hurt knowing that Nico hadn’t had any of those same feelings about her. Maybe this was what he did — help out stranded American tourists and take them on a day of Parisian fun before leaving the next morning without warning. The thought that Lauren might not be special at all made her heart constrict again. Perhaps she’d been imagining that intense connection the day before.

As she sat with the note in her hand, Lauren felt her feelings begin to transform from sadness and heartbreak to determination. She’d come to Paris to enjoy herself and to make her grandfather proud. Sitting in her hotel room and mooning over a guy she’d just met who clearly didn’t have feelings for her wasn’t in line with that at all.

Lauren crumpled the note and dropped it into the trash can. She had hoped to find an apartment during her first few days in Paris, and she still could. Even if Nico didn’t care about her, he had left her with the newspaper where he’d circled apartment announcements the day before. Something good could still come of this situation. Lauren didn’t need a man. She needed an adventure and a new start.

Lauren went for a quick run through the shower, pulled her hair back into a French braid, smiled to herself at the symmetry of wearing a French braid in France, and got dressed. Today she opted for a simple pair of black jeans and a mid-sleeved light blue top. Her sundress yesterday had been fun and whimsical, but a little cold in the evening. She would be more prepared today — and not just in terms of her outfit.

After collecting her keycard, the newspaper with the apartment listings, and her newly charged cellphone, Lauren made her way onto the streets of Paris. Today was a Saturday, so the metro was filled with families on outings and tourists taking in the sights. With her experience from yesterday, Lauren expertly scanned her metro card and boarded. She was squeezed between a mother with a toddler and a young couple and spent the ride eavesdropping to try and catch a few snippets of French.

Despite her new, determined outlook, Lauren couldn’t help being reminded of yesterday’s metro ride with Nico. She grinned a little at the thought of him teasing her for riding the metro without scanning her card, then felt her face fall. Paris reminded her of Nico, and thinking of Nico reminded her that he’d ditched her this morning without so much as a goodbye.

She’d better make some new memories in Paris — fast.

She spent the rest of the day looking at apartments and trying out new foods. Each new thing reminded her of Nico, as did speaking French, but Lauren pushed past that. Each time she found herself drifting into melancholy, she reminded herself that she was a strong, independent woman who was finally living her dream of moving to Paris. Nothing was going to stop her from achieving that.

Towards early afternoon, Lauren finished her last bite of a buttery croissant from a local bakery before climbing two flights of stairs to her second-to-last apartment of the day. The first three she’d looked at had been good — adequately sized and reasonably priced — but without the certain charm Lauren still hoped to find. As soon as the young French woman opened the door to the apartment Lauren was looking at next, she knew that was about to change.

“Bonjour.” The woman smiled kindly at Lauren. “Are you Lauren?”

“Yes. Nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

“Amélie.” The woman extended a hand to shake. “I’m handling the rental of this apartment for my grandfather. He’s getting older and is about to move in with my mother, but he wants someone nice to take over his space.”

“It’s kind of you to help.” Lauren stepped inside and carefully removed her shoes, as Amélie was in socks. “Are you close with your grandfather?”

“Very. We spent a lot of time together when I was small.” Amélie had a light French accent but spoke English confidently, which gave Lauren hope of getting through this with minimal difficulty. Plus, the fact that this was a granddaughter helping out her grandfather spoke to Lauren. It felt like serendipity.

The feeling grew when Amélie ushered her into the main room. The apartment was small but light and airy, with huge picture windows on one wall that looked out over a leafy park across the street. The kitchen was equipped with modern appliances and, as Amélie explained, the rent included all the furnishings and even the electric bill. Best of all, there were no signs of cockroaches, mold, or showers in the kitchen.

“I would only ask that my grandfather be allowed to visit now and again, if he wishes to,” Amélie explained. “He and my grandmother spent many wonderful years together here, and it’s hard to move on.”

“I completely understand, and that shouldn’t be a problem.”

Lauren spent a few more minutes looking at each room of the house. The bathroom was clean and newly renovated, according to Amélie, and the bedroom had a gorgeous view over the park next door. Lauren knew right away that she was sold. Everything about this place was perfect.

After a few more minutes of conversation, Lauren signed a contract on the spot. She left feeling much brighter and happier than she had earlier. Things were starting to come together.

The only problem was that her apartment luck was thanks to Nico. Now, she would think of him every time she went back home — and every time she rode the metro, ordered a pastry, or saw the Seine.

Lauren sighed. Moving on might be harder than she’d thought. But she could do this — she’d always been strong and independent. A little heartbreak over a man she’d just met wasn’t going to change that.

CHAPTER 7

LAUREN

Lauren’s phone alarm beeped and began playing a classical melody that was one of her favorites. Since she was already awake, Lauren didn’t hesitate to reach over and shut it off. The warm sunlight spilling through her window had already nudged her into wakefulness a few minutes ago, and Lauren had relished a few extra minutes in bed as she waited for her alarm.

---