We'll Always Have Paris

by 875265

What happens when fun and fast-paced nights in the kitchen of the most famous and acclaimed restaurant in France go awry? When the lights go out and love turns into a recurring nightmare? Brief yet rich vignettes detail the ups and downs of a tempestuous relationship against the backdrop of Goodness me, regardez à Paris.

6. Chapter 6

As I was about to hop into the shower the next night, the door swung open. She came barreling in like a bull out of a chute and scared me half to death. She had forgotten her bottle-cap necklace over here days ago and was not about to leave without it. Her eyes swept over my body and she froze.

The shame and humiliation of being nude-in front of, well in front of anybody-engulfed me and I snatched the towel off the doorknob.

"Did I…" She swallowed. "Did I do that?"

I glanced out the window. Golden light filtered into the room. I could see through the slit in the curtains that it was going to be quite a night in Paris.

The tears fell in no time. She was trembling and, I'm so sorry she kept saying over and over. I wasn't brave enough to ask why. I walked over and put my arms around her. "Shhh, it's okay. I'm okay."

I caught sight of my rat watching from a crevice in the wall. He just gave me this withering look and crawled back inside, shaking his little head.

"Come on." I kissed the top of her head. "It doesn't hurt, I promise," I tried again, my voice sounding thicker and distinctly different. Nothing was working. "I love you." I was begging by this point. "There's no need to… please don't cry… " And then tears flooded my vision. This was getting us nowhere.

So we just kind of stayed like that for a while as all the hot water ran out in the bathroom.