in bed. Then my face flushed with heat as the memories of the last night rushed in.
“You up?” Zeph poked his head around the screen, the longer hair on top of his head tousled in a most adorable way.
“Morning.” I couldn’t hold back a smile at the sight of his wide grin.
“Breakfast?” He placed a tray in my lap, plopping in bed beside me. “I went to two bakeries nearby, they each had a different kind of cinnamon rolls.” He pointed at the plate with two pastries—one like a twisty knot with no icing and the other one round, sprinkled with coarse sugar crystals on top. “Which one looks like those you have in Canada?”
Cinnamon rolls?
I recalled the brief conversation we had just before I fell asleep. The one where I said I had cinnamon buns for breakfast on special occasions.
Well, Zeph was my special occasion.
“Neither.” I took a bite of the one closer to me. “But that’s not why one would come to Paris from Canada, right? I didn’t come to France to eat Canadian cinnamon buns.” I laughed, taking another bite. “Besides, it’s not about the appearance, at all. This one tastes amazing.”
“Let me see.” He grabbed the wrist of my hand that held the pastry then bit off a huge piece of the roll. “Hmmm,” he hummed, chewing. “You’re right, it is pretty good.”
“Want some more?” I giggled.
Sunshine warmed my face, seeping into my chest.
“Nope, thanks, I already ate.”
Only now had it registered with me that Zeph was fully dressed—a crisp white shirt and black dress pants. Even his shoes were on already.
“What time is it?”
“A little past one in the afternoon.”
“What?” I moved to jump out of bed, but he placed his hand on my arm.
“Do you need to be anywhere right now?”
“No, but...” I couldn’t believe I’d slept past noon. I hadn’t done that since I was a teenager.
“Then there is no rush, Ivy. Have your breakfast. Call your friend if you have to. Take a shower if you want to. Relax.”
“Don’t you need to be somewhere?” I glanced at the polished dress shoes on his feet that he crossed in front of him while reclining in bed with me.
“Just Le Loup Solitaire.” He shrugged. “Normally, I go there early in the afternoon to help set everything up. But I’ve already called Lero and told him I’d be late today. Take your time.”
Despite his reassurances, I finished the breakfast promptly. Taking my things to the bathroom, I got dressed just as quickly, washed my face and brushed my hair, then put on some lipstick and mascara I had with me.
Zeph offered to get me a taxi, but I declined. Taking metro to Fleur’s apartment would be just as fast if not faster, and much cheaper.
He insisted on walking me to the station. Holding his hand all the way there, I forced myself to let go when we reached the entrance and he had to leave.
“Thank you,” I said softly when he turned to face me. “For everything. It was a fun adventure.”
The best in my entire life.
Zeph was my one and only one-night-stand. I had no clue what people normally said in such situations.
How do you say goodbye to someone you really, really do not feel like parting with? The prospect of never seeing him again crushed me.
“Ivy.” He came closer, until his chest nearly touched mine, then lifted his hand to cup my face. I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes.
What did I have to lose at this point?
Just my pride if he said no.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I blurted out in one breath. Keeping my eyes closed, I waited for his answer.
“I want to see you again.” He stroked my cheekbone with his thumb.
“You do?” I opened my eyes wide, needing to see his expression.
“Would you like to spend the entire day with me tomorrow?” He smiled warmly, his eyes full of sunshine.
Yes.
My heart skipped and sang at that.
“Are you off tomorrow?” I asked.
“I will make sure I am. I’ll talk to Lero tonight.” He wrapped his arms around me, and I linked my hands behind his neck. “I’ll meet you at that café over there, at ten.” He gestured at the row of bright red awnings over the round tables on the sidewalk. “Then I can show you a few more, non-touristy places I think you’d like.”
Everything inside me lifted. Another date didn’t necessarily mean just one more day. I loved spending time with him, and he obviously enjoyed that,