Chapter 2
Conrad:
The reception was hell.
Our tension was a slow cooker, like a pot about to boil over.
Every time I glanced in her direction, which was quite often, she was already looking at me, and vice versa. It felt like we were falling back into an old familiar dance, the way our eyes lingered on each other from across the room longer than they should have. It wasn't quite flirting, but it didn't feel entirely innocent either. We were like magnets, drawn to each other, acutely aware of where each other was at all times, yet whenever I mustered the courage to approach her, the groomsmen would pull me in another direction. She was busy too, capturing golden-hour kisses, organizing family portraits, and getting pulled in every direction a wedding photographer could be. We kept missing each other, like two planes circling each other on a map in a never-ending loop, never quite finding a place to land and meet in the middle. As the night slipped away, I told myself maybe it was for the best. After all, she never wrote back. But there's something about weddings that have a way of making you feel nostalgic, making you reflect on love and timing. What were the odds we'd run into each other like this? It had to mean something, right? It felt like fate.
Conrad sits a the table with the rest of the groomsmen, downing his drink, watching Belly from afar, as Reed and Mia dance the first dance.
I Only Have Eyes For You by The Flamingos plays on the speakers overhead:
My love must be a kind of blind love
I can't see anyone but you
Are the stars out tonight?
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you, dear
The moon may be high
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I only have eyes for you
I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here and so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you
It was a classic, the kind of song my mom used to play on repeat at the beach house every summer. The familiar melody brought back memories of warm evenings and salty air. Did Belly remember? Of course she did. I caught her mouthing the words behind the camera, her lips moving in sync with the lyrics, as if she too was transported back to those carefree summer days, and I couldn't stop smiling at her from across the room. In that moment, something clicked for me. I could feel it deep within my chest. I couldn't let tonight pass by without going up to her. When would I get the chance again? How many times had I let her slip through my fingers before? No more.
It wasn't until after we'd sent off the newlyweds and I'd finished my groomsmen duties that I finally found a moment to slip away and look for her. I downed my last drink of the night, using the alcohol as a little liquid courage to steady my nerves. I was a man on a mission, searching every corner of the venue, hoping her face would appear around each turn. For a moment, I thought she might've left with the rest of the crowd until I finally spotted her. She was standing behind the altar where the ceremony had taken place earlier today, with her back to me, camera in hand, capturing the sunset over the water. I let out a breath. I was relieved to find her alone.
I quietly step onto the altar, pausing for a moment, before I make myself known. She was having a moment to herself and I wasn't sure if I should interrupt but I couldn't help it. I couldn't resist her. The orange hues of the sunset matched her dress and her curls were flowing in the breeze, leaving the low-cut back of her satin dress exposed, making me forget everything. Suddenly, she drops something and without even thinking, I step forward to catch it. I offer it to her in the palm of my hand, a friendly gesture. It looked like the cap to her camera lens.
"Oh, thanks." She laughs under her breath, reaching for it, not looking at me at first. But when our hands brush and my fingers instinctively curl around hers, her gaze slowly lifts to meet mine, and her smile fades when she sees that it's me. I ignore the ache it awakens within my chest and heart. She doesn't look mad or upset though which is a start, just surprised, like she had seen a ghost. I guess I was a ghost from her past.
We both stand upright, facing each other, and I wait for her to speak first. Not only because it felt like it was the right thing to do, but because I was so lost in her beauty I couldn't find words. Laurel had shown me a few photos of Belly over the years, and I'd occasionally scrolled through her social media when I was drunk and desperately missing her, but none of that prepared me for the sight of her in person, standing right in front of me. It was the closest we had been all day, the closest we had been in years, and I wasn't prepared for how badly I wanted to reach out, to touch her, to tell her everything. It was like seeing her for the first time all over again. Maybe that second drink of mine hadn't been the best idea.
"It's you." Her voice was soft, almost like she was saying it to herself, a hint of disbelief in her eyes as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
It felt like we were the only two people on earth at that moment, the way our eyes stayed locked on each other.
"It's me." My words land as soft and gentle as ever, like they had no weight at all, matching the lush petals falling from the garden around us.
For hours, I had wanted nothing more than to close the distance between us, to get her attention, but now that I had it, I felt paralyzed. I had no idea what to say or do. I'd always wondered if or when this moment would come, but I had never imagined it would be like this. Belly and I had always been linked, tethered by something unspoken, and I knew it was only a matter of time before that invisible thread would pull us together again. But why here? Why now? I could tell she was asking herself the same questions as she studied me, her gaze tracing my features like she was trying to piece me together after all this time.
"Sorry." A breathy laugh escapes her lips. "I just… wasn't expecting you of all people to be here." She shakes her head, completely bewildered. "What-what are you-"
"The groom's one of my good friends from med school." I explain with a nod. "What about you? Last I heard, you were living in Paris?"
Belly stayed in Paris after graduating last year. I'd wanted to go to her graduation, almost did, but when she never responded after I poured my heart out to her in that letter, I took it as a sign I wasn't invited. That she didn't want me in her life at all. It felt like that's what she was trying to tell me by staying in Paris, that she wanted nothing to do with me, that she wanted to be as far away as possible, and I'd granted her wish even if it killed me.
"Oh, I still do." Belly flashes me a nervous smile that nearly undoes me. "I'm just here for the weekend. I've always wanted to see Italy." She looks around us with a quiet sense of wonder, but I don't take my eyes off of her because she was the real treasure of it all. "Whenever I get the chance to travel for work, I never pass it up, even if it means going solo."
She was here alone? Interesting.
"Do you travel alone a lot?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light, but there's a hint of concern I can't quite mask. She meets my gaze, and I feel the pull between us. "I feel like Laurel would freak out if she knew that."
Her laugh fills the space between us, and it's music to my ears. "Good thing she doesn't know, then, right?"
We exchange smiles, two people picking up where they left off, two childhood friends rediscovering each other after years apart. There was so much unsaid between us, and yet, neither of us was speaking. I clear my throat, eager for this conversation not to end, gesturing towards the camera in her hands.
"So, you're a wedding photographer now?" I smile, hoping to ease the tension.
"Oh, no." She laughs, a nervous edge to it. Was I making her nervous? "Well, sort of. I do a little bit of everything. Portraits, products, weddings." She trails off, fidgeting with the camera. "I'm pretty new to the wedding world, so I'm hoping they like what I did." She glances at the camera, lost in thought. "Every couple is different. You just never really know-"
"They will." I nod, offering reassurance. "I mean, I watched you all day. You were great out there. You're a natural, Belly."
The moment the words leave my mouth, I realize how forward I sound. Great, now she probably thinks I'm a stalker too. Nice one, Conrad. But when I see her face light up with a small and genuine laugh, it's enough to make me laugh with her, savoring whatever this moment was between us and for a flickering moment, everything feels how it used to. But then something changes in her eyes when she looks at something behind me, and the moment is gone.
"Speaking of traveling…" She clears her throat, turning away slightly. "I should-I should get going." She nods, not meeting my eyes, as she picks up her bag. "Are you-are you and your girlfriend staying in Italy for long?"
I blink, caught off guard. "Girlfriend?"
Belly looks past me, pressing her lips together, and I turn my head to see some of the bridesmaids talking to the groomsmen outside. The girl I had walked down the aisle earlier was looking at us and the realization hits me: Belly thought the bridesmaid was my girlfriend? Is that why she hadn't come up to me or said a word to me at the reception? I can't help but laugh out loud. How could she have thought that in a room full of women I wouldn't choose her every time? Had my letter not made that clear?
"Oh, no, no." I chuckle, shaking my head, turning back to look at Belly. "She's not-" I pause, trying to recover. "I'm here alone too. Just for the weekend. What about you? When do you head back to Paris?"
Her eyes brighten just a tad at my answer.
"I don't know yet. I'll probably catch the first train tomorrow morning or something." She nods, fiddling with the strap of her bag, then she looks down, then back up at me, unsure how to say goodbye. "I-I guess I'll see you around then?"
We both know that's not true, that this is it for a very long time, and it fucking kills me.
"Yeah." I try to smile, but it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "It was-it was really good to see you, Belly."
"You too." She gives me one last smile, one I hold onto like a lifeline, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It's something she always did when she was nervous. I remember. I remembered everything. "Congratulations to your friends." She nods. "Safe travels."
"You too." I say as she brushes past me, and it takes everything in me not to reach for her hand.
I look down at the spot on the ground where she had been standing then I turn my head to watch her walk away, each step twisting a knife deeper into my chest. The anxiety creeps up beneath my skin. The all-too-familiar feeling of letting her walk away just like this so many times, without saying how I truly felt, without putting myself out there. Maybe the younger Conrad would have let her go. Maybe that was the right and unselfish thing to do, to let her enjoy the trip without any interruptions. But the older Conrad couldn't stand the distance her feet were putting in between us and I hated the thought that this could be it, that we would go another few years without seeing each other, or worse, never see each other again. I was so done with that. I was so done with the distance, the radio silence, not saying how we really feel. Was she?
The words abruptly leave my mouth before I can stop them, "Belly, what're you doing tonight?"
She freezes with her back to me, then slowly turns around.
"Or tomorrow?" I scramble, nervously scratching my neck. She blushes slightly and it gives me just the boost I need to be brave. We were both in uncharted territory here. What did we have to lose? "I mean, if you're free, we could catch up and grab dinner or something, or if you'd rather-"
"Are you asking me out to dinner, Conrad Fisher?" She steps closer with an amused smile on her face, her arms folded against her chest.
I let out a nervous laugh then I meet her gaze like a shy little schoolboy. "And if I am?"
She presses her lips together, thinking it over. I've seen her do this a thousand times over the summers, and every time, I wish I could get inside her head, understand what she's really thinking, what she's holding back. She lets out a breath, finally nodding with a smile that was as bright as the sun.
"Then the answer is yes." She uncrosses her arms, surrendering, with a soft laugh. "I'd love to."
My heart skips a beat. "Really?"
"Why not?" She shrugs casually, her hand moving back to the strap on her shoulder, holding it there. "It's been awhile." She smiles warmly. "We have a lot to catch up on, don't we?"
"We sure do." A genuine smile spreads across my face in return.
We smile at each other, lost in each other's gaze, and just for a moment there's a spark again. The start of something, but before I can say anything else, Jack and Tanner have to ruin it.
"Conrad fucking Fisher!" Jack comes up to me, slapping a hand on my back, no doubt surprised to find me talking to a girl. "I knew you would come to your senses eventually!"
"Jack, let them be!" Tanner steers Jack away and gives Belly an apologetic smile. "Sorry, our friend's a nosy idiot when he's had a lot to drink! Carry on." He winks in my direction. "Don't let us interrupt."
"I'm not an idiot!" Jack laughs as Tanner walks him backwards by the shoulders. "I'm just expressing my appreciation! You're the first girl who got him to take his eyes off, you know who, the mystery girl from the polaroid!"
As soon as he says it, my eyes immediately flicker back to Belly whose eyes immediately land on me.
Shit.
I watch her face as she pieces it together in her mind. She had to have known they were talking about her, that she was the mystery girl from the polaroid.
"Wait." Tanner squints at Belly, finding her familiar, then he stops. He shakes Jack by the shoulders. "Holy shit, Jack!" His eyes widen. "That's her! You're the girl from the polaroid, aren't you?!"
Great, I think to myself, now we have two drunk idiots. This was going to end well.
Jack raises his brows, "So you're the girl who broke his heart, huh?"
Fuck.
Before they can humiliate me more than they already have, I give them a pressed look, "Guys. Do you mind?"
Their eyes flicker between Belly and I then they look at each other with amused expressions. "Sure, sure. You two take your time. We'll be- we'll be over here. Yeah."
They head back the way they came, laughing like I'm the idiot somehow. Maybe I was. I mean, I was a fool to think I could ever let her go. As soon as they're gone, I turn back to her with an apologetic expression, hoping there's a way I can walk out of this with some dignity and pride left intact.
"I take it those are your friends from medical school?" She laughs.
Her face was more relaxed than I had been expecting. She was enjoying this.
"Will you still have dinner with me if the answer is yes?" I can't help but laugh at her.
We laugh together then she just nods. "Of course." She starts to reach inside of her bag. "Here."
She pulls out a piece of paper from her bag and I thought she was jotting down her number until I step closer to see that she was writing down something else. It looks like an address and it makes me smile. She still trusted me. She wouldn't have given me her hotel address if she didn't. That had to count for something, right? Maybe she didn't hate me after all.
"Meet me at my hotel in, say, maybe an hour?" She hands me the paper and our hands brush. I revel in her familiar, warm touch. "I'm walking back so I just need time to freshen up and change."
Now I'm the one laughing as I read the full address on the piece of paper.
"What?" She gives me a funny look, adjusting the strap on her shoulder.
"I won't have to pick you up." I can't fight my smirk, meeting her gaze. "Because you're staying in the hotel across from mine."
"Oh." A light blush colors her cheeks.
My smirk only grows. This trip just kept getting more and more interesting.
"Alright, well. I'll see you soon then?" She laughs, turning away, but I wasn't ready to let go just yet. Not now, not ever.
I step forward, "How about I walk back with you?"
She turns to look at me, surprised at my offer.
"Oh, that's okay. You should stay with your friends." She nods, gesturing towards the groups of people lingering outside. "I'll be fine-"
"They won't even notice I'm gone, Belly. It's really not a big deal." I chuckle. "I've spent the past few days with them. Besides, it's getting dark. It's the least I can do."
"It's not that long of a walk, you know." She tilts her head, teasing me. "I can manage."
"I know you can." My eyes trace over her face, wanting to spend every second I had ever lost with her that I could. "But I want to."
She studies for a minute, chewing on her lip, considering it.
"Are you sure?" She asks me one last time, her eyes softening.
When it comes to you, darling girl, I've never been more sure about anything in my entire life.
"Oh, I'm sure. Jack and Tanner owe me after whatever the hell that was." I joke, joining her at her side, and she just laughs then I reach over to help her with her things. "Here, let me help you with those."
"Thanks." She blushes, tucking another strand of hair behind her ear, and we make our way out of the garden, talking and picking up right where we'd left off.
"So, what got you into photography in the first place?" I ask her as we cross a bridge.
"I don't know." She sighs, looking up at the night sky above us, her eyes shining bright under the stars. "Paris is just a whole other world. There's something interesting around every corner, so many stories waiting to be told. I guess I just love that photography can tell stories through a picture. It can freeze moments in time. I've always loved the idea of that, you know?"
I just smile, watching her face light up as she talks about her passions, re-learning my favorite person all over again.
"What?" She catches me mid-stare, self-conscious, giving me a funny look. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing." I look back down at my feet with a chuckle.
"Tell me." She laughs, nudging me with her elbow, and I look back at her with a shrug.
"I just think you have a lot more of Laurel in you than you realize." I smirk, our elbows brushing. "I mean, look at you. You travel solo now. You have all of these adventures under your belt. You talk about stories around every corner. You've made all of these international friends…" I trail off. She hadn't mentioned anything about a boyfriend yet and she didn't seem like she was dancing around the question which gave me some hope.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." She laughs in agreement then she looks at me with earnest eyes. "So, what about you?"
"What about me?" I look at her, uninterested in hearing my own voice.
I wasn't done hearing all about her new life or all of her adventures. I wanted to know more and more. I could listen to my girl talk for hours and it wouldn't be enough.
"Oh, come on." She laughs. "Don't be so modest. Tell me everything. What has Conrad Fisher been up to these days?"
"Ah, not much to say there." I shrug. "Medical school is pretty boring compared to your adventures."
"What?" She shakes her head, laughing at me like I'm crazy, and I look at her. "Conrad, you are in medical school studying to become a doctor! Of course you have stories to tell. I'm sure your days are far more interesting than you even realize." She smiles. "Tell me."
I blow out a gust of air, looking up at the sky.
"I mean, not much has changed, I guess. When I'm not studying or in a lecture, I'm at the gym or surfing or hanging out with my friends or sometimes reading-"
Anything that dulls the constant ache of missing you.
"Reading?" A teasing laugh escapes her lips. "You're right. You haven't changed one bit, Conrad Fisher!" She pokes at my chest. "You're still a big nerd!"
"And neither have you." I tease her back. "In all the ways that matter of course."
"I have too!" She rolls her eyes, laughing.
"Really?" I smirk. "Then explain the polka dot bandaid on your ankle then."
"Hey!" She laughs, nudging me again, and we laugh as we continue to walk side by side.
"So how are you-" She struggles to word it, her tone turning serious. "How are things with Jere? How's Adam?"
They were heavy and unexpected questions but they were bound to come up eventually and for some reason I felt like I could be honest with her. What was the point in lying?
"Jere and I don't talk much." I admit with a nod. "But then again, we never really did. It doesn't mean we don't have love for each other. We're just busy. And as for Adam." I sigh, pausing. "I hear from him every now and then on birthdays and stuff, but that's it. He spends most of his time in London now with his new girlfriend."
"That must be hard." She doesn't look at me when she says it. "Feeling like you're all alone in the world sometimes."
"It's not so lonely if you're around the right people" is all I say back, leaving it up to interpretation, knowing damn well I meant her and only her.
She nods, quietly.
"Can I ask you something?" I look at her, my mind wandering.
She looks at me, "Yeah."
"Why don't you talk to your mom more?" I ask her, searching her eyes. "She misses you when you don't answer her calls."
She looks at me, caught off guard, and I immediately regret the words when I see the trace of sadness in her eyes.
"I'm sorry." I shake my head. "I'm overstepping. I shouldn't have-"
"No, you're not-" She lets out a breath. "It's not that. I just-"
I give her time to collect her thoughts as she looks down at her feet as we walk.
"I guess I can relate to feeling alone in the world too." She says softly, her voice tinged with a quiet sadness. "After I called off the wedding, things were... weird for a while. Not just with Jere, but with my family as well. They weren't angry. They just didn't know what to say or how to act around me. It was something I had to mourn alone and I guess I just got tired of feeling like the family disappointment, so I left." She pauses, her gaze drifting away for a moment, lost in thought. "I came to Paris to study abroad, hoping the distance would help clear my head. But unfortunately, it didn't really help my relationship with my mom. It's not like we had a huge falling out or anything. I guess I just feel a part of her will always be secretly ashamed of me and the worst part is it's my own fault. I can't blame her. I hate myself for that summer too. I made such a mess of things that I thought it would be best for everyone if I just stayed away." Her voice drops slightly. "I think part of the reason I've stayed in Paris for so long is because I don't feel like I have a home to go back to anymore. I don't think anyone would want to see me if I went back, except for Steven and Taylor, so I just... never went back."
Her words hit me like a gut punch. All this time, I had thought she stayed away because of me but to hear it was the opposite shook me up inside. She thought we didn't want her around? How could she think that? How could she think her own mother wouldn't want to see her? That I wouldn't want to see her? Had my letter not convinced her?
"Belly." I stop in my tracks and she does too, her eyes searching mine. "You couldn't be more wrong about that, you know."
She looks at me, her defenses rising as she starts to wave off my words, "Conrad, it's okay. You don't need to-"
"—Every time I talk to Laurel, she tells me something new about you." I cut her off, my voice firm. "How proud she is of you, especially after you graduated with honors last year. I promise you this is all in your head, Belly. If you called her right now, she would pick up without hesitation. She's your mother. She loves you. No one is ashamed of you, Belly. If anything, we all admire you for doing what was right, even when it was hard."
She exhales deeply, processing the weight of my words. She nods to herself, slowly, like she's trying to convince herself of the truth.
"I think you'd be surprised by how much everyone misses you back home, Belly. Not just Laurel, but all of us." I make sure she hears me, looking into her eyes, willing her to understand. "We all do."
We exchange a moment where we're just looking at each other and it's the first time we've spoken this candidly in ages.
"I have to say." She looks at me with a newfound sparkle in her eyes under the glow of the street lamp. "You're different than I thought you would be, Conrad Fisher."
"So are you." My eyes crinkle at the corners. "In a good way."
She just smiles at me in the way she used to and it melts me. We start to walk side by side again.
"Don't get me wrong, you were an amazing person before." She laughs, almost nervous again. "But somehow, you got even more amazing and you did it all on your own. You got into medical school, moved across the country, made all of these new friends. And now look at you! You're almost a real doctor." She shakes her head, looking at me. "You should be very proud of that, for everything you've accomplished on your own. I know Susannah would be."
Her words touch me and I can't help but return the compliment.
"Funny." I lean into her, winking playfully. "I could say the exact same thing about you, Isabel."
When we reach the front of her hotel, we face each other, exchanging smiles. It felt like we were back to square one, unsure how to part ways again.
"You know, I didn't expect this at all when I woke up today, but I'm really glad it happened." She nods, her smile sincere. "I really am. This has been a nice surprise seeing you."
"The feeling is mutual." I match her smile.
She hesitates for a second, then adds, "I'll be honest, I'm pretty drained from today and I need to get started on editing these pictures." There's a hint of unease in her voice. "Not to mention, these heels are killing my feet." She laughs, and we share a chuckle. "Would you mind if we moved dinner to tomorrow instead?"
"Of course." I nod. "Whatever you need, Belly."
"Okay." She flashes a grin and I hand her the things I had been carrying for her. "Thanks."
We stand there for a moment, simply looking at each other, then she surprises me when she sets down her things down on the ground. Hesitantly, she steps forward and glances up at me before slowly wrapping her arms around me. She was hugging me and I inhale sharply, momentarily stunned, only having dreamt about this for years. Then slowly I wrap my arms around her in return, closing my eyes, and letting myself melt into the warmth of her embrace. We don't say anything for a long time. We don't need to. The hug says it all. We could've been hugging on that cobblestone street for hours or minutes but it felt like mere seconds after so many years apart. I turn my head, memorizing the smell of her perfume and hair, savoring every detail I had lived without. How could she ever think anyone wouldn't want her around when hugging her felt like the closest thing I'd ever been to heaven?
"I've missed you." She says in a hushed whisper, pulling me out of my thoughts, her face shifting against my shoulder. "I've missed you, Conrad Fisher."
Her words completely disarm me, poking holes through all the doubts and fears I'd carried for the last two years, the belief that she hadn't missed me, that she hated me, that she wanted nothing to do with me. My shoulders relax, and I stand there, towering over her, holding her close as if I could never let go.
"I've missed you, Belly." I whisper into her hair, my heart full in a way I hadn't thought possible.
I've missed you more than you could ever know.
She pulls away first, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and she does her best to hide them.
"Okay." She says quickly, nodding as she picks up her things and tries to compose herself. "Goodnight."
She walks up the stairs, turning to give me one last wave before disappearing inside, leaving me alone on the street, blissfully unaware that she had just brought my heart back to life.
"Goodnight, Belly." I whisper long after she's gone, wearing the smile she gave me.
Belly:
As soon as I step into my hotel room, I kick off my heels and order room service then I text Taylor saying it's an emergency.
She FaceTimes me within minutes of receiving my text, lucky for me, since it's only late afternoon for her.
"Oh my god!" Taylor's jaw drops after I tell her everything. "He walked you back to the hotel? There's still something there, I'm telling you!"
"Our hotels are across the street from each other." I laugh, popping a fry into my mouth. "It's not like that, Tay. It's not like it was out of his way or anything."
"Oh, it's like that!" She snorts. "It's always like that when it comes to you two!"
"Taylor!" I launch a french fry at the screen and she just laughs.
"You do realize he didn't walk you back just to be a gentleman, right?" She looks at me. "He wanted extra time with you, Belly. He asked you all of these questions about your life. He even asked you to dinner for Christ sakes! I mean, this is nuts. Are you going? Have you even thought about what you're going to wear or what any of this means?"
"Honestly?" I fall back onto the bed, popping another fry into my mouth. "I don't know what to do or what to make of it. It's just kind of crazy that out of all places, we ran into each other like this. It sort of feels like-"
"Like the twilight zone?" Taylor finishes the sentence for me. "Like fate?"
"Maybe." I laugh then I sit up against the headboard, holding my phone. "What would you do?" I sigh "If this was Steven and it had been years since you two have talked or seen each other, would you go to dinner with him, even after… everything?"
Taylor takes a moment to respond.
"You and I both know I can't tell you what to do, Belly." Taylor sighs. "If you think you can do a dinner and walk away as friends, then I say go for it. Enough time has passed for you to be in each other's lives again if that's what you want." She pauses, choosing her words carefully. "But if you don't think you can be just friends, maybe it's best to keep your distance. It took you a really long time to get over him, Belly, so this time, you've got to look after your own heart. You have to ask yourself if you can handle one dinner and be okay with it not turning into something more?"
"Yeah." I blow out a gust of air, looking up at the ceiling. "I mean, I feel like we can be friends now. The conversation just flowed so naturally between us. It felt like no time had passed in some ways."
"That's a good sign." Taylor nods. "Maybe it'll be like how it is with you and Jere where you don't speak every day but you are friends and things aren't so weird anymore, you know?"
"Yeah, maybe."
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening distracts Taylor. It was Steven getting home, at last.
"One sec." Taylor giggles, setting down the phone on the counter. She crosses the room to greet him with a big hug.
"Where have you been?" Taylor kisses him. "I've missed you."
"I've been driving around the block." Steven hugs her. "You'll never guess who just called me."
"Who?" Taylor draws back to look up at him.
"Conrad." Steven purses his lips. "Apparently, he's in Italy for a wedding and he ran into Belly there. They're going out to dinner tomorrow night."
"Oh." Taylor bites back a smile, trying to play it cool. "So what did he say?"
"Well, for starters, he spent the first half of the call talking about how he never thought he'd see her again and how he couldn't take his eyes off her. But he's nervous as hell about the dinner, really nervous, because he doesn't want to lose her again. So I told him to just go into it with no expectations and to just see what happens-"
"Hey, babe, can you hold on for just like one sec?" Taylor interrupts him, screaming internally.
"Uh, sure." Steven laughs as Taylor runs to grab her phone from the counter.
"Well, Cinderbelly." Taylor holds up the phone with a laugh. "I think you have your answer."
"Belly?" Steven's eyes grow wide but it was too late. I had already heard what I needed to hear.
Taylor was right. I did have my answer and I couldn't fight the grin that was forming on my face even if I wanted to.
Conrad was nervous too? Why did that make me feel better? Why did that make my heart skip a beat?
Maybe there was still something there between us.
Conrad:
I follow my nose to the closest coffee shop the next morning.
I order the lemon cornetto like Laurel had told me to do with my usual cappuccino. I wasn't a sweets first-thing-in-the-morning type of guy but I was trying new things lately and I was blown away by the taste. It was phenomenal. I snap a quick picture of my breakfast to send to Laurel. I knew it would make her day. For a moment, I considering mentioning how I had run into Belly here but I hold off, at least for now.
Conrad:
Good morning from Capri. You weren't kidding about these cornettos. Do you think I could get away with smuggling a few into my suitcase? Thinking of you.
Laurel hearts my text and her reply comes in shortly after that.
Laurel:
Ha! Love it. Can't wait to hear all about this trip. You deserve the break, kid!
I'm smiling at her text when I look up and there she was. Belly, standing in line, to order a coffee for herself. I guess it wasn't a total surprise considering this was the closest coffee shop in proximity to our hotels but it felt like we just kept running into each other. She was dressed for the day in denim shorts and a white flowy tank top that showed off her tan. Her hair was still curled from yesterday but more relaxed, not pinned back anymore. I watch her order her coffee and breakfast then she takes them to a table outside. She was alone. And after my phone call with Steven last night, I was feeling more confident. More bold. He told me to get out of my head and to follow my heart, to just see where the weekend takes us, so I follow my heart. I follow it to where my girl is sitting alone with her camera and laptop at a table outside. It looked like she was editing pictures.
"Hey, stranger." I smirk, squinting from the sun, walking up to her table. "Mind if I join?"
Her face breaks out into a smile when she sees that it's me, shutting her laptop, "So, you're stalking me now, huh?"
We both laugh. I had genuinely missed our banter. It came so naturally to us.
"Hey, I was here first." I set down my breakfast, sitting cross from her with a wink. "So technically, you're stalking me."
She bites back a smile before pointing at my cornetto. "What's that?"
"A lemon cornetto," I reply, holding it up. "Want to try it? Laurel says it's the best flavor."
She raises an eyebrow at the mention of Laurel. Was she surprised I still kept in touch with her?
"Sure." She breaks off a piece and takes a bite. "Oh my god." She closes her eyes for a moment, savoring the taste. "That's amazing! I should've ordered one."
"You can have the rest." I push the plate toward her. "I'm not really a sweets-in-the-morning kind of guy."
"Ah, yes." She teases, taking the plate from me. "You wouldn't want to end up with diabetes by the time you're 30, now would you, Dr. Fisher?"
"Careful." I smirk, sipping my cappuccino. "I might just order you a Fasting Blood Glucose Test and we'll see who has the last laugh."
"Wow, that was bad." She laughs mid-bite, covering her mouth. "You'd think with how much they charge for tuition, your doctor jokes would be better."
We enjoy breakfast together under the hot sun, playfully laughing and teasing each other back and forth. She opens her laptop and shows me a few of the pictures she had edited late into last night. Her work was amazing. Reed and Mia would love it. I was surprised to see the shots she had gotten of me. There was quite a few of them but I would never point that out out loud. Everything felt easier and brighter between us this morning. The easy flow of today's conversation feels like a breath of fresh air compared to yesterday. We were already off to a better start. I could feel the tension lifting, and it gives me the confidence I need to bring up my little plan I had mulled over late last night as we head back to our hotels.
After taking a sip of my cappuccino, I turn to her, my mind racing with what I'm about to say, "I have a proposition for you."
"Okay." She smiles, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Hit me with it."
"What if you didn't go back to Paris until Monday?" I don't look at her when I say it but I can feel her eyes on me.
"What do you mean?" She slows her walk as we look at each other.
"Laurel gave me this list of things to do and see while I'm here." I begin, pressing my lips together, wondering if it's too forward, but I push the doubts aside. "I was thinking it'd be more fun if I had some company. If you don't have plans for the rest of the weekend, what if you just stayed here and crossed off the list with me?"
Her eyes narrow thoughtfully, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee cup, "You mean just the two of us like a little adventure?"
"Exactly." I reply, feeling a surge of hope. "It's only a few days, but I think it could be a lot of fun and it would give us more time to catch up as opposed to a dinner." I let out a breath, meeting her gaze. "So what do you say?"
A smile tugs at her lips as she studies me. She was considering it and it made my heart race.
"Well, first you have to tell me what's on this so-called bucket list?" She teases, eyeing me with curiosity.
I pause on the street, pulling out my phone, and I pull up my notes app to show her the little itinerary Laurel had sent me. She laughs, reading through it.
"Wait but what about your friends?" She thinks out loud. "Don't you have plans with them?"
"I've spent the past few days with them, Belly, and I go to school with most of them so I could use the break." I tease. "And honestly? I'd rather spend the time with you."
We hold eye contact for what feels like the longest second of my life and her face softens.
"You know what?" She laughs, wiping any doubts from her mind. "Why not? I could use a little adventure myself."
I feel a rush of relief and excitement, the smirk spreading across my face before I can stop it.
"Great." I reply, unable to hide my enthusiasm. "So, when do you want to start? We can carve out time for you to edit and everything-"
"Oh, I can always do that on the train ride back home." She nods and it seems like she is genuinely excited which makes me even more excited. "But I should probably swap out these sandals for something more practical for all those excursions." She laughs at her feet then back up at me. "How about we meet in like twenty minutes?"
"I'm in." I step forward. "But there's one more rule to this proposition."
She raises an eyebrow, intrigued, "And what's that?"
"We have to take a picture at every stop. It doesn't have to have our faces in it, but we have to document each adventure, in Laurel's words." I wink.
She just laughs, shaking her head, clearly amused.
"Deal. I'll bring my camera." She clinks her coffee cup against mine, her smile widening. "You're on, Fisher."
What she didn't know was that Laurel had never asked me to do that. It was my own little rule I had made up on the spot, a selfish way of making sure I had something to remember her by, something to hold onto come Monday. If this weekend was truly all we had left, I was going to make damn sure I captured every second of it.