Page 142 of Be My First

My eyes meet his. “They really are.”

Chapter Fifty-One

Juno

Felix sits beside meon a blanket in the Jardin du Luxembourg. We’re nibbling on some pastries we made this week in class and people watching. He’s asked me out a few times – really informal things like this. I’m trying to take it slow. After Seth – and frankly Justin in Italy, I’m wary to trust again. He seems content just to be in my company, and I enjoy his as well. I’ve been debating whether I want to take things further with him. He’s nice. I think he’s genuinely a good guy.

I’ve had a tendency to miss things in the past, but I feel like I’m reading him right. I asked the Secret Service to look into him as well. I really don’t want to be taken advantage of, and I trust their opinion. So far no red flags.

I sigh loudly.

He looks over at me worried. “What is it?”

“Oh, nothing,” I say quickly. I didn’t mean to do that out loud. I was just wondering if this would be my whole life – questioning everyone’s motives. Struggling to trust.

I stand up and reach out my hand. “Let’s walk.”

We stroll along the park and then make our way back to my place. As we’re standing at the front of my building, he says, “I had a nice time today.”

I smile up at him. “Me too.”

He leans in. I think he’s about to kiss me, but he presses his lips to my cheek and pulls back. “I’ll see you in class.”

I wrap my arms around him and pull him in for a hug. When we pull back, I’m startled by someone standing in front of us. It takes my brain a moment to process what I’m seeing.

“Bode?”

He takes a step back, looking around embarrassed.

I’m so confused. We’ve hardly communicated since Quebec. I thought we were clear on where we left things. “What are you doing here?”

He holds up his hands and takes a few more steps back. “Sorry. I was in town for work. Thought I’d swing by. Should have texted first.”

Felix looks from Bode to me and back again.

“Felix, meet my friend, Bode,” I say, quickly. “Bode, this is Felix. We’re in pastry school together.”

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