Page 19 of Sparks Fly
She catches me and tilts her head to the side, kind of giving me a look of pity… or is it sympathy?
“Broken heart,” I say as rushed as I can and she gives a knowing nod.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“It is what it is.” A nervous laugh bubbles out of me, and I throw a shoulder up in a shrug.
“Just wasn’t meant to be.” She sighs, just as the waitress brings over our ice bucket with our champagne and places two glasses down in front of us.
I swipe my phone from the table and take a picture before posting it on my socials. The cork gets popped and the bubbles are spilling into our glasses.
“Merci,” Rue thanks the waitress and she smiles back before disappearing.
I take another picture and Rue raises her brows.
“Sorry, it’s work.” I give an apologetic smile and place my phone down for a moment.
“Work?”
“I’m an influencer.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I mean, this wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I fell into it and I am getting paid for doing something I love so.”
“Makes perfect sense.” She nods and curls her finger around the stem of her champagne flute and brings it to her lips; I mirror her actions.
“How long have you been here for?” I ask her cautiously, her eyes batting around my face.
“Four years now. My parents moved out here and I could have stayed at home back in Kensington, or I could have moved to Monaco… I chose the latter, and I have never looked back.”
“I don’t blame you.” A wistful sigh passes my lips as I look around at the beautiful marina with all the super yachts.
“Have you been here before?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“Well, that’s a shame but I am glad you’re here now.” She holds her champagne flute out in front of me. “To new friends and Monaco.”
I echo her toast, my voice soft as we clink glasses, both smiling as we take a mouthful.
After fightingabout who was going to get lunch, Rue won. Her arm is linked through mine as we take a slow walk back to my apartment to put the now warm and probably a bit mouldy fruit into my fridge.
“Wow, nice place,” she says as we walk into the main lobby, her eyes bouncing around the room.
“It’s a rental,” I say quickly. I don’t want her to think this was my penthouse. I walk forward and press the button for the lift, the doors pinging open almost instantly.
“It’s very quiet.”
“Yeah, it has been.” I nod as we step into the lift and I slip my card into the penthouse slot before the doors close and lift us to the top floor.
“Penthouse.” Her perfectly shaped brow arches.
“Rental,” I remind her, a silly grin on my face.
“Still… penthouse.”
“I didn’t pay.” My cheeks burn, my eyes flitting to the floor.
“Oh, influencer perks.” She nods.
