Sixteen
SIXTEEN
LEORA
T he wedding lunch turned out to be much larger than expected, with Antoine inviting practically half of the French population. Despite feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of guests, I’m thankful that Sophie and Adeline are here, sitting at a nearby table with Antoine. They both look as beautiful as ever, with Sophie in a pink, midi-chiffon dress and Adeline in a green silk dress.
Lucas and I, however, are seated at the sweetheart table, where all attention seems to converge. I can feel curious eyes on us, scrutinizing, wondering who I am, and how I’ve managed to land Lucas. When I walked past one of the women earlier, I caught her whispering, "She must be after his fortune."
If that’s what people think, we’re screwed.
"Can you at least try to look like you want to be here?" Lucas whispers to me through a tight smile, his arm draped casually around my chair. He’s playing his part, thanking everybody for their well-wishes, and his act is almost convincing. Almost . I see right through it though, his smile doesn’t reach his eyes, and there’s a tense edge to him.
He’s really good. The man could be an actor, I’ll give him that.
I catch myself staring at the dimple on his left cheek, a new discovery for me. It makes an appearance every time he graces us with a rare real smile. It’s disarmingly adorable, a tiny feature that adds a dash of boyish charm to his otherwise stoic facade. It's a small detail, yet it gives him an unguarded look that’s inexplicably appealing. It makes my heart beat a tiny bit faster. But I can’t get lost in moments like this, where he seems almost human rather than a walking iceberg. It’s not the time to be distracted by his charming dimple or his attempts at polite conversation. I need to keep up with his act, plaster on a fake smile, and try not to overthink when he’s acting so husbandly.
Suddenly, the sound of a clinking champagne glass fills the room. I lift my gaze to find Adeline tapping her flute, excitement dancing in her eyes. A ripple effect ensues as Sophie mirrors her action before they both stand up.
"Hi everyone, my name is Adeline, and this is Sophie. We have the incredible honor of being the best friends of the stunning bride. When we first met Leora, we never could have imagined that we would be standing here today. But here we are, and we're happier than ever. Leora, you deserve everything the world can offer, and your happiness is all we wish for."
I shoot them both a grateful smile as Adeline continues, her tone warm and sincere. "Together, I hope you can give each other that." She glides her gaze toward Lucas, a silent warning conveyed through a subtle arch of her eyebrow. I chuckle, earning a side-eyed glance from Lucas.
Sophie is the next to speak, and there’s a nostalgic smile painted on her lips. "Back in the day, when the world was a bit simpler, the three of us used to play Powerpuff Girls in Adeline’s backyard. Leora, who is the kindest and sweetest soul I've ever met, played the role of Bubbles. Every day we were saving the world from imaginary villains with our superpowers. As we grew older, we met real-life villains. But Leora learned how to fight them off too. Whenever any of us needed her, we found her by our side. To help us, and to protect us. Wherever we turned, we knew Leora would be by our side. And now, Leora has found a new partner in crime. Lucas, I hope that you will take on the role of the person who protects Leora. To help her fight off supervillains. Just as we once did in our childhood games, may you stand by her side in the face of any challenges, real or imaginary."
The memories she mentions bring tears to my eyes. I’m transported back to those carefree days when everything was simpler. Even though my life wasn’t ideal, I had the two of them and they made me feel loved. They’re the gift that keeps on giving.
"Let's raise our glasses to the lovely couple," Adeline chimes in, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "May your days be filled with laughter, your nights with shared dreams, and your life with . . . well, let's just say, may it be an adventure worth remembering."
The entire room raises their glasses, and so do Lucas and I. But before the glasses hit the table, someone in the back yells, "Kiss her!"
My eyes widen, and they instinctively dart to Adeline, a momentary lapse that proves to be a mistake. Her mischievous smile widens before she too joins the playful chorus, exclaiming, "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" Soon, the entire assembly of guests joins in, creating a lively choir of encouragement.
I feel my cheeks heating up with embarrassment as hundreds of eyes bore into us.
"I'm going to kill you," I silently mouth at Adeline, but she just blows me a kiss in response.
Just then, Lucas leans in, his warm breath brushing against my ear. "Let’s get this over with," he murmurs.
Move aside Shakespeare, there’s a new romantic in town.
"Yes, just give me another little peck and we’ll be done," I murmur in response, not exactly sure why I had to mention the previous kiss.
I turn my head and find him extremely close to me, and I’m momentarily trapped in the intensity of his dark gaze. His eyes challenge me, as if daring me to break character and it takes all of my willpower not to roll my eyes. But his hand on my back grounds me, while his other hand gently grabs the back of my neck. My breath catches at his closeness, the charged air between us igniting a strange feeling I can't explain. Held captive by his magnetic gaze, the world begins to fade away until it's just us in this moment
Then, his lips are on mine.
At first, it’s a soft, hesitant touch, and I assume it will end like the chaste peck we shared at the town hall, but Lucas surprises me. His lips don’t leave mine after the first taste. Instead, the soft hand on my neck tightens slightly as he pulls me in closer. His kiss turns firm, confident, and shockingly real. I’m taken aback for a moment, my body going on autopilot. But my initial surprise melts away as the kiss deepens, and I find myself leaning in, my eyes fluttering shut. Every movement of his lips is met with a corresponding one of mine, igniting a series of reactions within me. The warmth of his mouth against my own makes a tingling sensation spread through my body—it emboldens me as I attempt to match his fervor. Our breaths become one, mingling in the small space between us, creating an intimate rhythm.
When the kiss deepens further, my fingers instinctively find their way to his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my touch. My senses heighten, and I’m aware of the warmth radiating from his body, and the taste of champagne on his lips. His hand cradles the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair. Any animosity we had toward one another evaporates in this moment.
The sound of applause breaks our trance. We slowly pull away, both breathless, our eyes locking for a heartbeat. Lucas's hand lingers on my neck for a moment longer, and I can see the hint of a small smile on his face before he licks his lips and turns to face the crowd.
I feel my cheeks flush as reality crashes back in, and I hear the hushed whispers and giggles from the crowd. I look for Adeline and Sophie. When I find them, they appear just as shocked as I feel, their eyes wide and their mouths hanging open.
What. The. Hell. Was. That?
It was a kiss.
A real kiss.
A real, good fake kiss , I remind myself.
The only reason he did it was because we had to show off in front of the audience. If it’s less than believable, they would all see right through us. Both Lucas and I agreed to commit to this, and we’re going to be the sweetest damn couple these people have ever seen. Which means that the kiss didn’t mean anything.
Just because I felt the kiss down to my toes doesn’t mean I want more of it, even though a twinge of electricity still lingers on my lips.
I mean, I wouldn’t be upset if it happened again. After all, we’re doing this for show and I need them all to believe it if I want to secure this new job. A little kissing here and there is necessary to maintain the illusion, but I must admit that I'm relieved he's good at it. But a nagging thought worms its way into my mind: did he think it was a good kiss? Did he think I was a good kisser?
Insecurity creeps up on me at that thought. What if the intensity I felt was one-sided?
Ugh, snap out of it, Leora. It wasn’t real, it was just an act . Stop overthinking it.
Besides, who cares what he thinks?
His touch on my back nudges me gently, his lips brushing tantalizingly close to my ear as he murmurs, "Leora, if you keep acting so surprised every time I kiss you, we might have a problem."
What an asshole.
"I’m not surprised, and you didn’t have to kiss me for so long." I whisper back with a feigned smile, even though a shiver runs through me at the promise in his words.
Every time I kiss you.
A smirk tugs at the corner of his lips as he leans in closer, his face dangerously close. His voice is a low and intimate whisper, intertwined with the soft music playing in the background as he retorts, "Well, wife , I do have a reputation to uphold. I can’t afford to disappoint you now, can I?"
His tone is a playful blend of arrogance and amusement. This time, I actually do roll my eyes, unable to suppress the hint of a smile.
The next few hours are a blur of smiles, and small talk with strangers. We continue to play the part of the happy couple, dancing and mingling with the other guests. Lucas’s eyes meet mine every now and then, and in those brief moments of connection, I sense that he’s as eager as I am for this charade to be over. But every time his fingers brush mine, or he leans in to whisper something in my ear, I feel a flutter of a butterfly deep within.
I know it’s silly, and it makes me feel like that na?ve little girl who always wished for fairy tales to come true. The girl who yearned for love and comfort in a world that felt so cold. Sophie’s words echo in my mind, "Can this turn into something more?"
I try to shake off my irrational thoughts. But the reality is that I had the perfect fairy tale—until I didn't. And that's when I realized fairy tales aren't real.
As the evening starts to wind down, Adeline and Sophie approach me, preparing to say their goodbyes. They have to catch their flight back home, and my heart sinks at the thought of being left alone.
I don’t think I can do this without them.
No, scratch that, I know I can’t do this without them.
"Breathe sweetie. You can do this," Sophie soothes as she brings me in for a hug, and I instantly feel better in her arms.
"I don’t think so," I whisper back, doubt and apprehension evident in my tone.
Untangling from our hug, she grabs my face, her eyes reflecting a mixture of empathy and encouragement. "Yes, you can. Remember, we’re here for you. I have no problem jumping on a plane to come see you if you ever need anything."
Adeline wraps me in a tight hug, her words filled with genuine affection. "I love you."
I smile. "I love you, too."
Adeline then turns her attention to Lucas, her face void of all previous emotions. "Oh, and Lucas," she says, her voice stern, "if you hurt her in any way, I’ll be back to cut off your?—"
"Adeline!" Sophie cuts her off mid-sentence, a look of horror on her face.
Adeline, however, doesn’t back down, raising two fingers to her eyes before pointing them at Lucas in a clear threat. Lucas’s chuckle only seems to offend her further, so she continues, in Arabic this time, "Yel’an?—"
"I guess congratulations are in order," a deep voice interrupts, and we all turn toward the source of the voice.
"I’m disappointed, Lucas. Not even a call to share the happy news?" That same voice is laced with a touch of amusement, yet, there’s an underlying tension.
Lucas’s whole demeanor changes as he visibly tenses beside me and I’m afraid the glass of whiskey in his hand will break. The man standing before us is tall, almost matching Lucas’s height, and his eyes resemble the same dark color as Lucas’s. He's wearing a leather jacket over a white t-shirt that’s paired with dark jeans, and his hair is short, almost like a buzzcut. I look between them, but no one notices as they seem to be in a staring contest.
They kind of look alike.
No, I take it back, they do look alike.
They continue to stare at each other, oblivious to my presence until finally, Lucas speaks up, breaking the tension.
"Liam," Lucas says, his voice rigid.
"Lucas," Liam responds.
The intensity of their stare is tangible, and I feel like an outsider witnessing an intimate moment.
Wait. Liam.
Of course, Liam is his brother.
The air is thick with unresolved issues, and I can't help but wonder why. My hand instinctively slides into Lucas’s and I have to gently coax his hand open from its clenched position. He eventually yields to my touch and intertwines his fingers with mine.
"Hi Liam, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm Leora," I say with a warm smile, hoping to ease the tension in the room. "I've heard so much about you."
Liam's gaze shifts from Lucas to me, and the intensity in his eyes softens.
"Leora, I guess you're my sister-in-law now," he says, taking my free hand and brushing his lips across my knuckles. It's obvious he's a charmer, and he knows it.
I look back at Lucas to find his gaze has narrowed slightly. His fingers tighten around mine as he slightly pulls me back to him.
"I'm happy to meet you too, but I doubt you've heard much about me." The corner of his lips quirks. "At least, not anything good," he adds with a playful wink.
His gaze drifts to Sophie then, lingering a second too long to be just a passing glance. She forces a smile, but I can see the uncertainty in her eyes.
"Well, I'm sure you aren’t that bad," I say with a small smile, trying to diffuse the situation. There's a lot more to the story, but I decide not to press any further. At least not for now. I can feel Lucas’s hand tightening almost painfully, and I instinctively respond by giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, which seems to relax him a bit.
Adeline looks between Sophie and Liam, sizing him up as if he’s some new enigma, before tugging me away from the awkward staring match. "We have to go, but keep us updated." Sophie smiles reassuringly and adds, "Don’t hesitate to call us if you need anything. Okay?"
I nod, trying to keep it together. They give me one last hug before making their way to the airport. Then they’re gone.
"How long are you staying this time?" Lucas asks a bit abruptly, breaking his silence. Liam's gaze flickers back from watching Sophie walk away to his brother and I can see the tightness in Lucas's jaw as he awaits an answer.
"I'm not sure yet," Liam finally answers. "I just got in today and haven't made any plans."
Lucas nods, and I can feel his hand relaxing in mine. I give it another squeeze, trying to provide some comfort.
"Well, you're welcome to stay with us as long as you need," I offer with a smile, not exactly knowing why. I’m hoping Lucas won’t take offense, though I’m not entirely sure there is an "us" to stay with. We haven’t talked about accommodations. If it’s up to me, I’ll just stay here at the hotel—on his dime.
My hopes are smashed when his head jerks in my direction, his eyes flashing with anger. I choose to ignore his reaction, focusing on Liam, who returns my smile with a hint of gratitude in his eyes.
"Thanks, Leora. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll stay here at the hotel. Speaking of which, I’m going to go and say hi to Ammo Antoine. It was nice meeting you, Leora."
As Liam walks off, an awkward silence envelops Lucas and me. I turn to face him, our fingers still intertwined. His jaw is clenched tight, and he takes a swig of his whiskey. His demeanor has changed; the hint of warmth in his smile from a few moments ago has morphed into the pensive curve of his lips.
"Are you alright?"
Lucas grunts in response, his gaze locked on the amber liquid in his glass.
"Are you sure?" I press gently, hoping to break through the wall he's built up. With that question, he lets go of my hand, and I feel a pang of coldness where his warm fingers were.
"I'm fine," he mutters before downing the last of his drink in one swift motion. I try to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest and concentrate on the task at hand: making him relax.
We can do this. I need this to work.
This is my chance to start over, to prove that I can make something of myself. Lucas is the ticket to that future.
I take a deep breath and reach for his hand, hoping to offer him some comfort. But he pulls away, leaving me feeling foolish and rejected. I watch as he retreats further into his own thoughts, pondering whether we’ll ever manage to bridge the gap between us. Or if this is what the next year will look like, two strangers, bound together by a piece of paper and selfish desires, counting down the days until it all comes to an end.