The article was dated from yesterday, but, as I already knew, the wedding had happened two weeks ago. Joni had been sending me updates since I left for France.
“He looks miserable in this one too,” I observed.
“Yeah, but then I saw this on social media.”
Another message pinged, and I opened a photo Joni had sent of Lucas walking down the street behind the wedding party.
“Your man looks like hell, Mimi.”
“He’s not my man,” I said even as I hovered a finger over that chiseled face.
He did, however, look awful. Transformed back to the old Lucas, cold and untouchable, but with frown lines carved into his brow and dark circles hollowing his eyes.
It wasn’t the look of a proud brother and best man.
It was misery echoed in my soul.
“There was also this interview,” Joni continued. “Some reporter asked him about a mystery woman he was supposedly with in Paris. One with short hair and green eyes. Any guess who she is?”
“No, Joni, I don’t want to?—”
But she had already sent it through via an Instagram reel titled “Watch this CEO go feral protecting his staff member!”
Lucas appeared on my screen, cornered by a reporter from New York One outside what looked like the Plaza. Even a Lyons quickie wedding demanded a reception at the city’s premier venue.
“Mr. Lyons!” the reporter called as Lucas strode up the steps of the famous hotel two at a time. “There are rumors that you were recently involved with someone in Paris. Can you comment on the relationship?”
On the steps, Lucas froze. Then he jogged to the reporter with those familiar storm-clouds brewing in his expression.
“Oh, shit,” I murmured. I’d seen that glare before.
I watched as he grabbed the microphone from the reporter and spoke clearly into it.
“There is no woman, and my private life is of no concern to you or anyone else. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leavethis woman alone and focus on my brother’s nuptials and not our staff.”
Our staff. Even in protecting my privacy, he’d reduced me to an employee.
It shouldn’t have stung as much as it did.
I exited the screen to return to Joni’s sympathetic features. “It’s nothing. And honestly, Jo, I don’t want to think about the Lyons family anymore.”
“Even if you’re going to give birth to one of them?”
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Tears pricked my eyes, reminding me that my heartbreak was still relatively recent, and also that I was a ball of hormones.
Joni looked like she wanted to jump through the screen and give me a hug, and for the first time, I wondered if leaving New York to pursue my dream really had been the right thing to do.
“You’re so close to having everything you want, Mimi,” she said softly. “So, listen, have the baby if it’s whatyouwant to do. Or don’t, and that’s okay too. But if Lucas is also what you want, in any way…” She shook her head. “Well, I reserve the right to throat punch the guy the first time I see him. But maybe you need to tell him what’s going on and give him a chance to make it right. Maybe he wasn’t only telling lies. Maybe he does love you a little.”
I couldn’t help the tear that streaked down my cheek, though I did cough and take a sip of espresso to keep others from following it.
“Thanks for being here for me, Jo.” I meant it completely.
Joni smiled, kind and true and more grown up than I’d ever seen her. “Always, Mimi. I just want to see my big sister happy.”
After we said goodbye, I left money on the table and bid Sandrine farewell, but not before she invited me back tomorrow for a chat. Although it was only four o’clock, fatigue washed overmy body in waves, signaling that I needed a nap more than I needed to continue exploring the town.
I walked down the hill and out of the main part of the villageonto the smaller country road that led to the cottage I was renting. I took my time, enjoying everything about the walk: a walnut orchard on one side with a creek that ran through it, a vineyard on another that had just finished its fall harvest. In several directions, medieval castles loomed in the distance, sentinels over the land as the slowly setting sun gilded the valley and the nearby river.
