Sleeping with Paris

by Juliette Sobanet

  “What is it?”

  “Come here for a minute. I just want you to be prepared. Jeff and Brooke are staying in the hotel too . . . I saw them a few hours ago.” She peeked down the hallway to make sure no one was listening.

  My stomach churned. “Why are they staying here when they live in the city?”

  “Same reason as us I guess, so they don’t have to drive home after the reception, and so everyone can party together tonight probably. He is the best man.” She rolled her eyes. “I still can't believe Hannah and Mike left him in the wedding party.”

  Knowing that Jeff and Brooke were in the very same hotel at that moment made me feel sick to my stomach. And the fact that I was standing in the hallway looking like a tired mess after a long flight made me want to get the hell out of there before they happened to walk by. “Thanks for letting me know . . . I’ll be fine though. I better go get ready.”

  Katie didn’t look convinced, and, truthfully, I wasn’t convinced myself. In less than an hour, I was going to see Jeff and the red-headed girl who had made my life a mess. As much as I wanted to kick and scream and tell them that this wasn’t fair, that they’d caused me so much pain and didn’t deserve to be here sharing this special time with me and my friends, I had to accept that this was the situation I’d been dealt with, and there was nothing I could do about it. Acting like a maniac would make Jeff feel like he had made a good choice in cheating on me, and it would make me look like a fool.

  Instead, I wanted him to squirm.

  My plan of attack was simple: I would look strikingly beautiful and would act incredibly calm and sophisticated throughout the entire event. And I would not hide my growing feelings for Luc. I wanted Jeff to see for himself that I'd found a new, wonderful man, and that our old relationship was completely dead to me. I would even be sugary sweet to him and Brooke, showing them both just how much I had moved on. My hope, of course, was that this would drive him completely insane.

  After a quick shower and blow-dry, I put on my makeup, threw on a sexy raspberry-colored dress that I had bought just for this occasion and was ready for action. When I walked out of the bathroom, Luc grabbed me around the waist and kissed me. His desire sent tingles down my spine. I could see that he was ready for action too, and if we weren't in such a time crunch, I would've taken him up on it. Ever since we'd spent his thirtieth birthday night together, we hadn't been able to keep our hands or our lips off of each other.

  Luc settled for a quick make-out session inside our hotel room before whispering a promise for more in my ear and taking off with me toward Katie and Joe's room.

  The four of us rode down to Georgetown University together, then wound our way through the familiar, beautiful campus toward Dahlgren chapel, where the ceremony would be held. As I breathed in the sweet scent of the red and yellow tulips lining the towering statue of John Carroll, I grasped Luc’s hand a little tighter and led him through Healy Hall. We emerged into Dahlgren Quad, my absolute favorite place on campus. With its trees boasting lush, pink blossoms, and a peaceful fountain flowing in the center, this tranquil little spot immediately calmed my nerves.

  But, as we walked around the fountain, an unmistakable voice shattered my peace.

  It was Jeff.

  There he was after all this time, standing with Mike in the middle of the square, laughing his hearty laugh and looking as handsome as ever. Ugh. Katie raised a subtle eyebrow in my direction. I shot her a tense smile in return as I dug my fingernails into the palm of my hand and silently gritted my teeth. My eyes frantically scanned the quad for a red-head with big boobs. No such creature in sight. Hmm . . . hopefully Jeff had caught her sleeping with some other sucker and had broken up with her on the spot. Or better yet, maybe she had dumped him.

  I linked my arm through Luc’s, hoping we could bypass Jeff and Mike and jet straight into the church.

  “Charlotte!” Mike called.

  Damn.

  As Jeff jerked his head around to face us, the look that splashed across his chiseled, clean-cut features was priceless. I couldn’t have hoped for more, really. His perfect blue eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as he looked from me to Luc and back to me as if in disbelief that I had actually brought a date. Did he honestly think I would show up here alone? He clearly had no idea who he was dealing with.

  “Hey, beautiful!” Mike ran over to me and gave me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Man, what are those French men doing to you over there? You look amazing. Hannah’s going to be so happy you’re here. She’s a little stressed with all of the wedding stuff . . . to say the least.”

  “Weddings tend to have that effect on people,” I said as I smiled coolly in Jeff’s direction. I thought I could see him squirming under his shirt and tie. “Guys, this is my date, Luc,” I said proudly.

  Mike reached out and shook Luc’s hand. “I hope my crazy bride in there doesn’t scare you off from American weddings,” Mike said with a grin. “Glad you could make it.”

  “Thank you,” Luc said before innocently reaching his hand out to Jeff.

  Jeff didn’t seem to notice Luc’s hand though because he was still staring at me with that same flabbergasted look plastered across his face. Almost the same expression he’d had when I’d discovered his online dating profile.

  I grabbed Luc’s dangling hand and smiled back at Mike. “So where is this stressed-out bride-to-be? I’m sure she could use a little help.”

  Mike pointed toward the chapel. “Watch out—she’s in rare form.”

  Jeff shot one more pointed glance at me and Luc before we broke free from the intense awkwardness and headed into the chapel.

  “That went well,” Katie whispered into my ear.

  “Were you worried?” I whispered back.

  “I just didn’t know what was going to happen when you guys saw each other again. You really held it together. And he was definitely uncomfortable. Nice work,” Katie said as she winked at me.

  I glanced over at Luc to find him marveling at the clock tower atop Healy Hall. “I cannot believe you went to college here. This campus is amazing. There is nothing like this in France.”

  Whew. He didn’t seem to have any clue as to who he’d just met.

  I squeezed his hand. “It is gorgeous here. But, don’t forget, nothing this beautiful comes without a heavy price. At least the schools in France don’t bankrupt you.”

  He chuckled as we walked down the main aisle of the chapel and found Hannah running around like a madwoman.

  “Charlotte! Luc! Katie! Joe! You’re here, you’re finally here!” she yelped as she gave us all huge, desperate hugs.

  Sensing Hannah’s frenzy, Katie took charge. “You need to relax, lady. What do you need help with? We’re the bridesmaids, so that’s our job. Give us something to do.”

  “You don’t mind if I steal your dates, do you guys?” Hannah asked Joe and Luc as she took our hands and whirled us away into the land of pre-wedding craziness. She kept us busy right up until the rehearsal started. So much so that I barely noticed Jeff sitting with Mike in the front row, staring me down. Brooke was still nowhere in sight. I knew I would recognize her the minute she arrived. I still had that image of her red hair and her tight, slutty top with her boobs bursting out etched in my mind like a nightmare.

  As Jeff and I took our places at the altar performing our best man and bridesmaid duties, respectively, I caught his eyes glancing over my way more than a few times. Each time his gaze landed on me, I forced myself to look away and to focus on Hannah and Mike, on Luc, on anyone other than Jeff.

  But I couldn’t ignore the overwhelming emotions boiling over inside of me at the sight of my old love, my ex-fiancé, the man who’d broken my heart.

  How was I supposed to face him for two days straight? With Luc as my date no less? And what would happen when the red-headed vixen entered the picture?

  Spotting the wine chalices at the back of the chapel, I wished I could fill one of those babies up and chug it right about
now. But I didn’t think Hannah or the priest would especially appreciate that gesture.

  After the rehearsal, fueled by my intense need for alcohol, I practically dragged Luc over the brick sidewalks of Georgetown down toward the waterfront where the rehearsal dinner was set to be held.

  “Why are you walking so fast?” Luc asked. “Your friends are behind us. Don’t you want to visit with them? It’s been so long since you’ve seen them.”

  I tugged on Luc’s hand to keep up. “We’ll have plenty of time for chatting this weekend. I need a drink.”

  Luc raised an eyebrow, then laughed. “You American women like the alcohol a lot, no?”

  “And French women don’t?” I asked as we headed toward the entrance of Tony and Joe’s.

  Hannah’s voice came loud behind me. “Charlotte, wrong restaurant!”

  I flipped around, confused.

  “Dinner is next door, at Sequoia. Tony and Joe’s flooded last week, so we had to rebook.”

  I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Sequoia was the infamous restaurant where Jeff had proposed to me, just last year.

  Could this night get any worse?

  Inside the restaurant, I held Luc’s hand and led him over to a beautiful table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows which overlooked the Potomac River, all the while trying to block out the memories of the last time I’d taken in this view . . . with Jeff down on one knee, asking me to be his wife.

  As the waiters served us our salads, and I downed my first glass of Chardonnay like it was water, I peeked down the table and noticed that Brooke still hadn’t arrived. I was beginning to think that she wouldn’t be gracing us with her presence tonight, which would’ve been just fine with me.

  Luc leaned in and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, making me forget about Brooke for the moment.

  “You look beautiful tonight, Charlotte. I cannot take my eyes off you,” he whispered in my ear.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jeff spying on us from a few seats down. He narrowed his eyes at me, then shook his head and turned away.

  Humph. Take that, asshole.

  My cheeks flushed as I returned Luc’s gaze and smiled. He lowered his face to mine and brushed my lips with his before taking my hand and turning back toward Katie and Joe.

  “I am so glad that I was lucky enough to be invited to meet all of you here in DC,” Luc said to them. “You Americans are all so friendly. Much different than the Parisians.”

  Katie grinned. “Well, I’ve been hearing about you for so long now, it’s about time she brought you over here.”

  Luc laughed and continued to chat with them about the differences between France and the States. Katie flashed me a look of approval from across the table. I could tell she was a huge Luc fan.

  We were just finishing our salads when I spotted Jeff standing up and turning around. Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as if a ghost had just entered the room. My stomach started doing somersaults, and as I glanced over Jeff’s shoulder, I knew why.

  There she was. The woman who’d stolen my fiancé. There in the flesh and blood.

  Brooke was actually prettier than I had remembered from the online photo. The picture had screamed slut, whore, what have you, but what I was seeing here was a totally different picture. Silky, strawberry-blonde hair ran the length of her back. Her arctic blue eyes sparkled against a pale complexion, and a stunning diamond necklace cradled her bony little neck. As if that wasn’t enough, a slinky black dress hugged her perfect figure.

  I knew I shouldn't have cared. I should've been over it. But seeing her in person, in the same room where Jeff had proposed to me not long ago, was a whole different story.

  I hated her.

  As Jeff slid his arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheek, I felt the blood rush to my face while every muscle in my body tensed up. I took a huge gulp of water to cool down. Katie shot me a concerned glance, so I arranged a smile on my face and pretended as if I was doing just fine. Having the time of my life.

  It took all my strength not to lunge across that table and yank those diamonds off of Brooke’s neck and pull her hair out. Suddenly Jeff wasn’t the criminal in the situation—it was her. I mean, look at her. What guy wouldn’t go for her? Slut, slut, slut. I chanted it over and over in my head until I started to feel dizzy. I needed to get away from here before I did or said something I would regret.

  “I’m going to use the ladies’ room,” I told Luc and Katie before dashing away from the table as fast as I could.

  I stood in the bathroom splashing cold water onto my steaming hot face and stared at myself in the mirror. I knew rationally that I shouldn't have been so upset by this. I should've been confident and strong enough to handle seeing Jeff and Brooke together. But all the rationale in the world couldn't take away the anger that had resurfaced, the jealousy that even after all this time, ate away at my insides, and the feeling that in the end, I would never be enough for any man. Maybe not even for Luc.

  And even though Luc was so amazing, and I'd actually begun to let my guard down again and trust him, the truth of the matter was that tonight, he was the furthest thing from my mind. How could I focus on my feelings for Luc when Jeff and Brooke were literally sitting across the table from me? At the very same restaurant where Jeff had proposed?

  No wonder my mom had left Ohio the minute she and my dad had separated. How could she have stayed, knowing my dad was living just down the road with his girlfriend? What if she ran into them at the store? Thinking about Jeff and Brooke and my broken family made me feel nauseous all of a sudden. I rushed into one of the stalls and got sick.

  After that ghastly experience, I popped in a stick of gum, touched up my makeup and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

  Get it together, Charlotte. Get it together.

  I couldn’t let Jeff and Brooke see how they were making me feel.

  Determined to keep my shit together for the rest of the night, I turned to leave the bathroom. But just as I was walking out the door, I crashed right into Jeff.

  “Oh, sorry,” I stammered as I pushed past him.

  “Charlotte, wait,” he called as he followed me down the hallway. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”

  Probably because the sight of you with your online girlfriend literally just made me get sick.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Are you okay?” I asked, noticing that Jeff was flustered and out of breath.

  “Yeah, I just . . .” he paused and looked into my eyes. “I can’t believe they chose this restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. And, well, it’s just so good to see you again. You look beautiful, Charlotte. Really, you're stunning.”

  “What about that girlfriend of yours? She’s quite the looker, Jeff. Well done,” I said curtly as I rounded him to flee the scene.

  Jeff grabbed my shoulders and turned me around to face him. “Wait, I just want to talk to you for a minute. We haven’t talked in months.”

  “What is there to talk about?” I asked, wanting to smack him across the face so badly I could’ve screamed.

  “You just look so . . . so happy. Are you really happy with that guy? That French guy?”

  “That French guy has a name, and it’s Luc. And yes, I am happy. He’s amazing. And you . . . you seem happy with, what’s her name again?” Like I could ever forget.

  “Brooke,” he replied as he gazed shamefully at the floor.

  “Oh yes, Brooke, that’s right. I almost forgot. You two are lovely together, I’m so glad you found each other.”

  He lifted an eyebrow, clearly not buying my fake sincerity.

  “I’m over us Jeff, totally and completely over us. So you can stop feeling bad and trying to see if I’m okay. I’m fine. Luc and I are really happy together. It all worked out for the best.” The words flew out of my mouth just as I had practiced them, and I was hoping they were believable.

  “Oh . . . well . . . that’s great,” Jeff stammered as he glanced down at his f
eet. “I’m glad you’re doing so well. I mean, you seem so happy . . . you really do.”

  “Thanks, I am,” I said as I turned to walk away.

  Jeff grabbed my hand one last time and pulled me back toward him. “Charlotte, one more thing . . . Did I make you that happy?”

  I hesitated, knowing that before I'd found out that Jeff was cheating on me, I'd never felt happier. I'd never fallen in love so hard, so fast, as I had with Jeff. But he'd broken that love. He'd broken my heart. And I couldn't stand here and look into his big blue eyes for another second. “I’m sure Brooke is wondering where you are. You better get back.” And with that, I pulled away from his grip and walked back through the restaurant, leaving him alone to question his decisions.

  Luc was walking toward me as I approached the table. “I was just coming to find you. You are okay? You were gone for a while.”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Thanks for checking though,” I said as I kissed him on the cheek.

  My entire body ached after my run-in with Jeff and my purge in the bathroom. I did my best to act happy. Happy to be with Luc, happy to be with my friends again, and happy for Hannah and Mike. But, with Jeff and Brooke just a few seats down, happiness was not on tonight’s menu. I averted my eyes away from the dreaded couple throughout the remainder of the meal, but I could feel Jeff’s eyes on me all night, burning a hole through my heart.

  Twenty

  samedi, le 2 avril

  Nothing good can come from mixing alcohol with a wedding, an ex-fiancé,

  and a big-busted red-head.

  The hotel alarm clock roared loudly in my ears before the sun had even risen the next morning. I rolled out of bed half-awake and climbed into the shower. Dread gripped my stomach as I thought about spending one more full day in the same room as Jeff and Brooke. I had to keep it together though. This was Hannah's day, not mine. Plus, things were going so well with Luc. He really cared about me. And even though I was still hesitant to commit to someone for a lifetime per se, I cared deeply for him too. It wasn't fair to him for me to be focused on Jeff and Brooke's antics all weekend.