“Don’t. I already feel bad enough.”
“You’re hardly three times her age though. And she’s not some frail wallflower. I get the impression if Ade didn’t want to keep company with you, you’d already know about it.”
Sylvie frowned. Was she comparing Gaultier’s apples with her pears? Nothing had actually happened between them.
“I’m more intrigued than ever though.” Isa tilted her head, glowing with curiosity. “I didn’t see this little friendship blossoming between you.”
“It’s not like that at all. She’s a colleague who doesn’t know anyone in town.” The urge to defend Ade’s personality rose as hard as the heat to Sylvie’s cheeks. “And she’s pretty talkative, when she’s relaxed.”
Isa laughed. “So you’ve spent some time together then? Other than the sleepover?”
“You’re making fun of me.” Sylvie slapped her lightly on the arm. “We’ve had a couple of drinks, that’s all. We don’t live that far apart, so we’ve bumped into each other. Plus, I have to see her for supervision and things.”
“Ah, yeah. Because you’re her ‘supervisor.’” Isa chuckled. “Is that why you’ve been acting like you’ve got ants crawling in your pants since I mentioned Gaultier’s investigation?”
Sylvie looked at her shoes. “Maybe. I’m overthinking it.”
“You sure are. For someone who has simply been welcomingan international colleague. There are no rules around socializing with colleagues. Look at us: we’ve become the best of friends this past year.”
“I know. I guess I’m worried that someone might look at our circumstances and jump to conclusions.”
“Not if there aren’t any conclusions to jump to.” Isa raised her eyebrow. “Unless you’ve been jumping in her panties.”
“You’re terrible.” Sylvie stood. “Aren’t you late for a date?”
“This is much more fun.”
“I doubt that.” Sylvie closed the door behind her, shutting out Isa’s cackling laughter. She smiled, despite the uneasiness about the situation. Maybe she needed to give Ade some space for a few days. Their paths wouldn’t cross unless she made an effort to see her. And why would she do that if they were just colleagues? Because that’s all they were. That’s all they’d ever be.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“AmI glad to see your face.” Steph jumped from the train and pulled her oversized backpack onto her shoulders.
“We have the same face. You see it every morning,” Ade said and smiled.
“Not the same thing, honey. Yours comes with that biting sense of humor that I’ve missed so much.” She landed two sloppy kisses on Ade’s cheeks. “Miss me?”
“Not really. But I’m glad you’re here.” Ade looked behind Steph, then turned on her heel. “Where’s your friend? What was her name?”
“Emeline? We parted ways in Barcelona.” Steph wrinkled her nose. “It’s for the best. She was clingy. It became awkward, you know? Plus, you reminded me that the sleeping arrangements would be less than ideal. Best to cut and run while I could.”
“You broke up with her because you didn’t want to pay for a hotel?”
“When you put it like that, it sounds more like something you would do.” Steph swiped playfully at Ade’s head. “It wasn’t a long-term thing, and we were both well aware of that. I knew you wouldn’t really be that cool with an extra house guest.”
They strolled up the main street toward the city’s Place de la Comédie.
“Let’s stop for a coffee here and watch people come and go for a while.” Steph set her bag down with a groan. “I’ve been desperate for a good coffee since dawn.”
Ade navigated to her favorite spot on the square away from the bustle of the crowds but with a view of the opera house and thestatue of the three angels. She shielded the sun from her eyes, as its rays bounced off the gleaming white marble slab. She caught the waiter making his rounds, ordered for the both of them, and rested her back against the wicker chair.
“Good spot, Ady-baby.” Steph observed from behind her oversized sunglasses. “You seem all settled in here. Is it starting to feel like home?”
Why would somewhere she’d been for a mere eight weeks feel like the house in which she’d lived since birth? “Not at all.”
“I mean. Do you feel happy here?”
“Yes, of course,” Ade said.
