Page 18 of The Paris Chapter

9

The front door burst open at 7p.m., excited voices shattering the peace of the apartment. I looked up from where I sat on the sofa with my laptop as Ethan walked in followed by a woman and a man.

‘Hi, Tessa,’ Ethan said as they noticed me and abruptly stopped talking. ‘Are you writing?’

‘Uh, no, just watchingEmily in Paris,’ I said, nervous that his friends might not be impressed by that.

‘Love her outfits,’ the woman said brightly, her French accent strong and beautiful. ‘And your t-shirt. I adore that brand.’

Some of my nerves slid away with relief that she had complimented me. I smiled, pleased she liked it. ‘Thank you,’ I said, taking her in. She was beautiful and immaculately styled in a black dress and cropped jacket, her blonde bob sharp and straight and her lips a bright red.

‘This is Juliette, and this is Oscar,’ Ethan said. ‘This is Tessa. Tessa is a romance author here on a research trip.’

‘And I used to be Ethan’s… how do you say it – bossy?’ Juliette said as I got up and she walked over to give me a kiss on both cheeks.

‘I couldn’t have put it better myself,’ Ethan said with a laugh.

‘You mean boss,’ Oscar told her, also kissing me. He was tall and lean with dark curls and a well-trimmed bread.

Juliette waved her hand dismissively. ‘Whatever. Tessa, you are gorgeous. I love your hair, and what is that perfume? I must have it.’

Smiling, I thanked her and told her it was La Vie Est Belle. ‘I couldn’t bring anything else to Paris, could I?’

Juliette laughed. She had a loud, husky laugh. ‘The British humour. I’m so happy you’re coming out with us.’

‘Thank you for inviting me,’ I replied. Juliette was instantly putting me at ease. Relief washed over me that this wasn’t as awkward as I had been fearing since earlier.

‘I have to show you my restaurant and then Oscar’s bar. You will love them, and we need to practise our English; Ethan always wants to talk in French,’ she said, throwing him an adoring look. I wondered again if they had dated or not. She was stunning.

‘You have to try my new cocktail,’ Oscar added, throwing an arm around Ethan’s shoulders. ‘Tell her, Ethan.’

‘I don’t think you have any choice,’ Ethan said, laughing at his friends.

His good humour was infectious. ‘It sounds great. I’ll just get my jacket.’ I went into the bedroom and pulled on my leather jacket and trainers and then slung my grey bag across my body. I fluffed up my curls and touched up my lip gloss before returning to them.

When we headed out of the apartment together, the night was cool but dry and the lights of Paris glowed around us.

Juliette slipped an arm through mine and Ethan and Oscartrailed after us. I was taken aback by their warmth and couldn’t help but contrast the feeling to how I’d felt walking into that London bar with Joe to meet his friends for the first time. I’d felt like an outsider that night. Awkward and uncomfortable. But not tonight. Juliette didn’t give me a chance to feel that way. I wondered how Ethan was friends with such different groups of people. They didn’t seem to connect in any way.

‘You need to teach me all the ways you chat up men in London for when I come over in the summer,’ Juliette said as we walked through the Paris streets.

‘I never chat up anyone,’ I told her, loving how the British phrase sounded in her accent. ‘That sounds hideous. And I have to warn you, men in London are generally twats.’

She laughed heartily at that then looked back at Ethan. ‘She’s hilarious, pretending she doesn’t attract all the men to her; I bet they are all over her! How do you say it? Honey pot and bees?’

‘Like honey to bees,’ Ethan told her.

I raised an eyebrow. Was he joking or not? ‘I can assure you that is not the case,’ I said. ‘My ex told me once that if we’d met in a bar, he would never have approached me as I wouldn’t have been wearing heels and a dress, and that’s what men like.’

Juliette made a choking sound. ‘Putain!’

I didn’t know what it meant exactly but I recognised it was a swear word. I couldn’t help but glance at Ethan. He was quiet, looking at the ground. I felt bad for slagging off his mate again. But I wasn’t saying anything that wasn’t true.

I shrugged. ‘Soyouneed to teachme.’

‘French men will love you,’ Juliette declared. ‘Right, Oscar?’

‘If I wasn’t in love with Louis…’ Oscar said, throwing me a wink.

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