Page 58 of A Sinner's Saint

“Okay, I’ll come,” I say, despite my better judgment. I already know it’s going to be torture being around her so much and not being able to touch her.

Chapter Twenty-Six

January – Paris

Icannot believe I’m actually here. I’m standing in front of the Eiffel Tower with Vin. Who has been acting a little off since we landed in Paris yesterday. And when I say Vin De Bellis is acting off, I mean worse than normal.

I don’t know what’s wrong with him. Every time I’ve asked him about it, he’s says he’s fine or the jetlag is getting to him. I don’t buy it. Vin runs on very limited sleep. I don’t see him being all that bothered by the time zone change.

I was so excited when we landed yesterday I could barely sleep last night. Well, that and the fact that Vin was across the hall. He rented a two-bedroom apartment for us. And insisted on us sleeping in separate beds.

It hurts, knowing he’s so close and not being able to touch him. To not be able to sleep curled up next to him. It hurts more knowing how much he’s fighting to keep us in the friend zone. I’m not going to push myself on him, though. Whatever demons he’s fighting have already caused me more pain than I ever thought possible.

I’ll wait. I have faith that he will beat those demons. I’m just not sure how much of my heart will actually be leftover when he finally does.

“Vin, hold my hand,” I tell him, and I can hear the excitement in my own voice. “We’re at the Eiffel Tower. I can’t believe we’re here.” Thankfully, Vin does take hold of my hand. I look over to him and he’s staring at me. “Are you not impressed? It’s stunning.” I lift our joined palms while gesturing to the structure in front of us.

“It is,” he agrees with a smile. “You look really happy.”

“I’m at the most iconic, romantic place in the world with my favourite personin the world. What’s not to be happy about, Vin?” I ask him.

“Favourite person, huh?”

I roll my eyes and tug on his hand. “Don’t play stupid. It’s not a good look on you. Now, come on. I want to get closer.”

As soon as we’re practically under the tower—which took ages, mind you—I turn to Vin and take a deep breath.

“I want you to kiss me like they do in the movies. Pretend you’ve just proposed, and I said yes,” I tell him.

Vin doesn’t disappoint. “She said yes!” he calls out loudly, and as onlookers cheer and clap, he wraps his arms around my waist and lifts my feet off the ground. His lips slam down on mine and he spins us around in a circle.

Just like they do in the movies…

Everything fades away, the noises, the crowd. It vanishes and all I’m left with is Vin. His arms around me and his tongue dancing with mine. This is what dreams are made of.

By the time he sets me back on my feet, I’m dizzy. My arms don’t want to unwrap themselves from around his neck. “I don’t want to let go, because I know when I do, we go back to… not this. Not us,” I whisper. And a tear escapes, running down my cheek.

“As much as I don’t want to, we have to, Cammi,” Vin says.

I drop my arms and take a step back, forcing a smile on my face because I’m not going to let my own sadness bring this trip down. “I think champagne and cheese sounds really good right now. Let’s find somewhere to eat.”

“You okay?” Vin asks, falling into step next to me.

“Mhmm, I’m good. I’m in Paris. Nothing is going to ruin this opportunity,” I tell him.

“Okay, food and then the Louvre?”

“Sounds like a great plan.”

We find the cutest little café that overlooks one of the main streets. It’s a great place to people watch. I really do love this city.

“I think I could live here,” I tell Vin after biting into a chunk of cheese that makes my mouth water. “The food here is amazing.”

“It is,” he agrees. “You could easily get into a school here if you wanted to.”

“I think I’ll see how Sydney works out. I like living with my aunt. And I’m getting used to the city,” I tell him.

“Would you ever move back to Melbourne?” Vin asks.

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