Ten minutes later, we’re inside my apartment. Noah is busily scanning the living room, admiring the place with an impressive nod as he walks through.
“Some place you’ve got,” Noah compliments before moving toward the balcony. “I can understand why you don’t want to leave. It’s incredibly beautiful here and some view, huh?”
“It is…” I say, removing my wedges.
I tell him I’ll be back, hopping into the shower quickly, then changing into my white sundress. With my hair loose, just sitting past my shoulders, and changing my wedges for my strappy tanned heels, I grab another purse before entering the living room.
“Beautiful,” he breathes as the corner of his lips turn up. “As always.”
“You’re sucking up to me. Did you break a vase while out here?”
“Let’s go.” He chuckles. “Show me Paris at night.”
We walk the streets and watch the city evolve into nightlife. Stopping at a quaint restaurant, we talk about life and work. It’s not hard to see that Noah loves his kids, showing me pictures of Jessa and talking about her milestones. Since Nash is only a few weeks old, he doesn’t have as much to say about him.
“Being a father suits you,” I profess to him, fondly. “I can tell you adore them.”
“They’re every reason to be alive,” he claims, staring at his phone. “It’s really hard, you know, being apart from Jessa and this co-parenting business. Morgan can be quite difficult. As for Nash, it still feels new. I don’t feel like I’ve quite bonded with him just yet.”
“Jessa looks exactly like you.” I smile, noting the similarities. “Has your eyes.”
“I think she looks like her mother.”
“Noah.” I rest my hand on his, trying to understand again how this all went pear-shaped on him, but my phone vibrates, and the name Dominic appears on my screen. I should open it, but the second that I do, I know that my focus will shift to a man who doesn’t deserve my attention right now.
“You want to answer that?” Noah retracts his hand, motioning for my phone.
“No,” I tell him firmly. “I’m here with you.”
Noah looks less than amused, unable to make eye contact with me. I don’t bother to ask him his problem when I know he can read between the lines.
We finish our dinner, then walk the streets to the Eiffel Tower. Tourists surround us, admiring the light show with endless pictures to save the memories of visiting Paris.
After not talking for almost ten minutes, Noah turns to face me. “I’m sorry, Kate. For how I ended things between us. I don’t know why I felt I had to choose between you and Morgan.”
“You were in love…” I murmur with my eyes fixed on the sight before us.
“Kate, it wasn’t just that.”
“Noah, please, let’s just enjoy this rather than dwell on the past. It’s done.”
We watch the rest of the show until a cool breeze causes me to shiver. I probably should’ve brought something to wear on top of my dress, not expecting the temperature to drop so drastically. Noah places his arms around my waist and pulls me into his side as if no time has passed between us.
“I missed you, and us, and more importantly, just being me,” he admits quietly. “I feel like I’ve lost so much of myself.”
I should push him away because with his arms around me, my feelings begin to shift to this unwanted place. Yes, it’s nice to have the comfort of a man, but that’s it.
He’s just a friend. Always remember that.
“This is nice,” I whisper, leaning my head on his shoulder until my phone begins to vibrate again. I pull it out of my pocket and see the same name pop up on my screen at the same time Noah purposely looks.
“Why don’t you answer him, Kate? Tell him it’s over.”
“Over?” I pull away, not liking Noah’s tone. “Dominic and I are nothing, so there’s nothing to be over.”
“C’mon, it’s me. If this friendship is to work, we need honesty.”
“Do you still love Morgan?” I blurt out as his arm falls beneath me. “If she stood in front of you right now and wanted to reconcile, would you take her back?”