Page 35 of My Ex's Best Friend

“Assuming you haven’t visited it yet, of course,” he says, politely, ignoring the fact that I’m now almost coughing up a lung.

I take a few moments to recompose. “How the hell do you remember that?”

He chuckles, and thankfully doesn’t appear to be offended.

“It’s all you could talk about senior year. Remember how you just wanted to take the year off to go off to Paris?”

I find myself staring back at him. His deep blue eyes look so beautiful from the light that is reflected off the passing clouds drenched in the dull light of a setting sun over the horizon.

We had a vision board and everything. We were supposed to go to Disneyland. It was just a silly teenage dream.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “I’m going there now.”

“I’m glad it is with me.” He says this so softly that I almost miss it. “But I did mean what I said. You’re free to use your time as you please when we’re not working on the museum project.”

“I don’t have any plans,” I say. “Although my friends had this crazy idea that I might meet a dreamy Frenchman in the city. Of course, they’ve watched too much Emily in Paris.”

Jake raises a brow. “Is that so?”

Shit. Did I just admit that to him?

“I mean, we were just kidding around,” I say.

“Was that Tammy?” he asks.

“No, Ellie,” I say. “You don’t know her. I met her in college.”

“Oh.”

That single sound fills me with a longing for something I didn’t know I needed until that moment.

We’ve lost out on so many years because we stopped talking, because I decided that we needed to cut each other off our lives completely. He did try, several times. I was the one who made sure the door remained closed.

"So, what made you leave the Boston Art Museum? It's a prestigious institution, and you seemed to be doing well there."

I take a moment to sip my champagne, allowing the bubbles to settle before responding.

The last thing I want is to discuss Derek, of all people, with Jake.

"Sometimes, you hit a point where you feel stagnant, and it's time to explore new horizons."

Jake raises an eyebrow, clearly sensing there's more to the story. "Just a change? I mean, you were heading some major restoration projects there."

I nod, trying to keep my tone casual. "Yeah, but I needed a fresh perspective, new challenges. You know how it is."

"I get that.

Any regrets about leaving?"

I shrug, trying to keep it light. "Regrets? Maybe a few. But overall, I think it was the right move for me.”

He leans back, studying me. "Fair enough. But Boston's loss is our gain, I suppose."

My heart skips a beat when he says that, and I have to duck my head so he doesn’t see the smile on my face.

What’s happening? I’m certainly not supposed to be enjoying Jake’s company.

"So, I guess you don’t have anyone special in your life? Except maybe a Frenchman,” he says.

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