2. Nico
CHAPTER 2
NICO
N ico strolled along the street, taking deep breaths of the fresh spring air. He was on his way home after his last class of the day, and the afternoon stretched in front of him, as wide and empty as a blank sheet of paper. It should have been exciting to have a little time to himself, but if he were being honest, he was at a loose end.
Most of his time was spent at work, where he taught as a French professor at a local college, or with his son, seven-year-old Louis. It had been this way for years and Nico liked his life well enough, even if it didn’t leave a lot of time for himself. Today, though, Louis was at a sleepover at his grandmother’s house, and Nico didn’t know what to do. The closer he got to his house, the more likely it was that he’d spend the afternoon watching TV.
And then he spotted her. Standing in the center of a small crowd was a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman in a yellow sundress and a jean jacket. She appeared to be trying to say something, but the people around her were shaking their heads. As Nico got closer, he heard that the woman was speaking in broken French with an American accent. Even though at least one person in the crowd could probably speak English, no one was helping.
Nico felt a surge of protectiveness for this stranger. He wove through the crowd and stopped in front of her.
“Hey,” he said. “I’m Nico. Could I possibly be of assistance?”
“Oh, thank goodness.” The woman pushed her hair out of her face. Nico smiled at the sweet twang of her American accent. “I’m doing my best, but I guess my French just isn’t what I thought — and my phone died. Sorry. You didn’t ask for so much detail.”
Nico chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. What seems to be the problem?”
“I’m trying to get back to my hotel, Le Rosier.”
“Well, how about I get you pointed in the right direction? What was your name?”
“Oh, sorry again. I’m Lauren. And yes please; I really need some help with directions.” She paused and held out a hand for Nico to shake. He took it in his. His hand dwarfed her smooth, small palm and Nico’s protectiveness grew.
“Le Rosier, you said?”
“Yes.”
“You know, I was going that way anyway. How about I get you back to your hotel? It sounds like it’s been a rough day.” Le Rosier was more or less in the opposite direction of Nico’s house, but it wasn’t like he had some big plans for the evening. And Lauren clearly needed his help.
And, if Nico were being completely honest with himself, the thought of spending a little more time with such a beautiful woman sounded a lot better than returning to his home alone.
“Oh, wow, really?” Lauren stopped short and turned to him, her eyes wide. “That would be great, but I really don’t want you to go out of your way.”
“Please.” Nico waved a hand to dismiss the idea that he was going out of his way. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Well, thank you, then.” Lauren beamed at him and fell into step beside him as he led the way toward the nearest metro station. “Are you from Paris?”
“Yes. I’ve lived here all my life. I grew up in a suburb to the south, where my mother still lives, and I went to college here too. I only left for a few months to go on exchange.”
“Really?” Lauren’s eyes lit up again, and Nico found himself smiling at her enthusiasm. “Where did you go? I went on exchange in college, too.”
“I went to Prague,” Nico told her. “It wasn’t far away, but it still felt pretty different, especially since my Czech was terrible.” Lauren laughed at that, and Nico grinned at her. “Where did you go?”
“Here.” Lauren swept a hand across the streetscape as though this was the very spot she’d come when she was younger. “Paris. I’ve wanted to come back ever since.”
“And now here you are.” They stopped at a red light, and Nico turned to her. “You didn’t seem to be enjoying yourself so much this afternoon, though.”
Lauren sighed. “It’s my own fault. I should have kept up my French better. But here we are, and I just have to work with what I’ve got.”
“Were you sightseeing?”
“No, I was actually looking for an apartment.” Lauren rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t believe the apartments I saw today. One looked more like a nightclub for cockroaches than a human habitation.”
Nico chuckled at her description. “You must have been looking in the wrong part of town. We have a lot of nice apartments here.”
“Oh, I know. I stayed in a gorgeous little apartment in college with a few other students. We had a view into the park across the street and of an eighteenth-century church a few buildings over. I guess I was being silly imagining that I’d find something that nice again.”
“Hey, it’s not silly to want a nice place to live instead of a… what did you call it? A cockroach nightclub.”
“And the cockroach nightclub wasn’t even the worst one. In the first apartment, the owner kept telling me that I’d be a great fit for the place because I’m so small. At first I thought she meant because I would walk quietly or something, I don’t know, but then she showed me the bed, and it was in a miniature room that was so small I’d have had to army-crawl up the mattress from the end to get into bed.”
Nico laughed again at that. Lauren had a wonderful way of telling a story that was somehow both thoughtful and self-deprecating. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. That doesn’t sound like a nice living situation at all.”
“Oh, don’t worry. The third apartment was even worse. There was a shower right in the middle of the kitchen. A shower with clear glass walls.”
“Okay, but you have to admit that would be convenient if you were trying to keep an eye on a soufflé and take a shower at the same time,” Nico pointed out. This time, it was Lauren who laughed, a light tinkling sound that warmed Nico’s heart.
“I don’t think that’s a problem I’m likely to face,” Lauren admitted. “Although perhaps I would enjoy the convenience of being able to reach my sink, my toaster, and my wardrobe all from bed.”
“Americans. All about convenience.” Nico winked to show that he was joking, and Lauren grinned.
“That’s me. All about convenience. That’s why I’ve apparently moved to a foreign country without a plan or enough language skills.”
“I’m sure your French isn’t that bad. We can just be snobs about our language.”
“Maybe. But I also need to study more, for sure.”
Nico came to a stop, and Lauren followed suit with a slightly confused expression.
“This is the metro station,” he told her. “We’ll need to catch the train in” — he consulted his phone — “five or thirteen minutes to get to your hotel.”
“Okay.” Lauren headed for the stairs, but Nico hesitated for a moment.
“Or…”
She turned back to him. “Or?”
“If you aren’t in a rush, I happen to know a lovely little café near here. It seems like you could use a nice afternoon after your difficult, cockroach-nightclub morning.”
Lauren tilted her head to the side, then a smile lifted the corners of her pink lips. “I think I have a little time.”
The wave of happiness Nico felt was probably too much for the situation. He was having coffee with a pretty woman, after all, not winning the lottery. But he couldn’t deny that it felt nice to have Lauren accept his offer of an afternoon together. You need to get out more, Nico, he chastised himself.
“Wonderful. Follow me.”
They walked a few more blocks to the café Nico had in mind. All the while, they traded funny apartment anecdotes back and forth. Nico shared the story of his first apartment, which he’d rented with two other college students and which had ended up being a breeding ground for black mold. Lauren told him about an apartment she’d lived in back in Nebraska, where she was from, that had been a converted barn.
Nico had to laugh at that story. “You’re really validating my American stereotypes right now,” he told her.
Lauren shrugged. “It was a nice barn. And I only lived there for a year or so when I was maybe four or five.”
They arrived at the café a few moments later and, after checking with Lauren, Nico asked for a table outside since the spring weather was so gorgeous. They sat kitty-corner to each other and, after a bit of discussion, ordered two coffees and a pastry each.
“If you’re looking for apartments, it sounds like you’re planning to stay in Paris for a while,” Nico said as the waiter walked away with their order.
“I hope so, but I’m not really sure yet.” Lauren shrugged. “I’ve always wanted to live here again, but I’ll have to see how things go.”
“Won’t you miss your family back home?” Nico asked.
A shadow crossed Lauren’s face, but then she shrugged. “I’ll definitely miss my friends. They’re already asking for pictures of Paris landmarks, and I keep having to tell them that the whole city isn’t Eiffel Towers and the Seine.”
Nico chuckled. “When I visited the United States, my friends kept asking me for pictures of the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. No one seemed to notice that I was in Chicago the whole time.”
Lauren laughed. “How long ago did you go to the States?”
“Hmm, it must have been about… five years now. I haven’t had as much time for travel recently.”
“Why not?”
“You know, work and life become busier as you get older.” Nico answered so instinctively that he barely noticed that he was lying through his teeth. It was true that work and life were both busy, but the real reason Nico hadn’t traveled much was Louis. Being a single father to a rambunctious young boy didn’t leave much time for jaunts to the US. Back when Louis’s mother had been alive and Louis had spent half his time with her, the story had been different.
Nico wasn’t sure why he’d lied now. He should have just told Lauren that he had a son. But something held him back. Perhaps it was the fact that this was the first time Nico had felt even a spark of romance in many years. Perhaps he was worried that Lauren wouldn’t take the news well and that their nice afternoon would end in awkwardness or, worse, judgment.
He felt a wave of guilt at not mentioning his beloved son, but he pushed it away. He was spending the afternoon with Lauren, not arranging a marriage. There was no need to be completely honest with her about every part of his life. And technically, it was true that his work and life were both busy.
“Sure, I get that.” Lauren smiled. “Work and life can be quite a lot to deal with indeed.” The waiter returned with their order, and both were distracted for a few moments by the hot beverages and pastries.
“So,” Nico said after they’d both enjoyed a few sips, “do you have time for sightseeing this afternoon as well, or do you have more appointments planned with terrible apartments?”
“I have some time. But when I was here before, I saw all the major touristy sights and I don’t really feel like I need to see them again. I might just wander a little.”
“If you’d like, I could show you a few of my favorite spots,” Nico suggested. “No tourist traps, I promise.”
“We’ll see.” Lauren winked. “If I see even one souvenir Eiffel Tower keychain, I’ll be out of there.”
“It’s a deal.”
“Also, this pain au chocolat is to die for.” Lauren pointed to her pastry and gave an approving nod. “I’ve been wanting one all day, but the woman at the bakery couldn’t seem to understand me.”
“Well, that’s silly. I completely understood what you were saying.”
“Am I pronouncing it wrong or something?”
“Not really. You might just want to pronounce pain with a slightly more nasal ‘ n .’ Pain .”
“ Pain ,” Lauren repeated.
“Perfect. Now you sound like a real Parisian.”
“You’re just flattering me.” But Lauren was smiling, which made Nico smile too. This was something he loved about his job teaching French — the moment when someone gained a new confidence in a foreign language. Nico also taught French literature to French speakers, which he loved for other reasons, but there was nothing more satisfying than watching someone discover a whole new world of linguistic expression.
“I’m not,” he assured her. “It really was almost perfect.”
“You’re very kind.” Lauren was blushing a little now. “Thank you.”
“It doesn’t hurt to be kind.”
Lauren laughed. “That’s cheesy.”
“Why, thank you.” Nico was cheesy — it was all part of being a dad. He had another momentary pang of guilt that he hadn’t mentioned Louis. But at the same time, it was nice to step out of his usual personality of dad and professor and just be Nico for a while.
They finished their drinks and pastries, then Nico flagged down the waiter to pay.
“Let me get this,” Lauren said as she pulled out her wallet.
“No, no. Like I said, you needed a pick-me-up after your hard morning. And I want to remind you of the nicer side of Paris.”
“Thank you again.”
They smiled at each other, then got to their feet. Nico led the way towards the Seine, which was just a few blocks away now. Clearly Lauren didn’t know that, because when they emerged around a corner and saw the river sprawling before them, she gave a little gasp of wonder.
“It looks just like I remember it,” she breathed.
Even Nico had to smile at the sight of the river. On the bank nearest them was a broad walking path with a few pedestrians and cyclists making their way slowly along. The walkway stretched right up to the edge of the blue-green water, which seemed to flow by slowly, taking its time. On the far bank were a series of wooden stalls selling books, paintings, and small selections of cheese and chocolate. Behind them was a park filled with tall leafy trees.
“Okay,” Nico said as they descended a stairway onto the path, “I know there are a few people selling souvenirs here, so please look away if you see any Eiffel Tower keychains.”
“I will.” Lauren tilted her head back toward the sun. “I’m having way too much fun to go home because of a keychain.”
“Just checking. Shall we go left or right? Left will take us toward the city center.”
“Then let’s go right for a little while. Unless you have someplace you have to be?”
“I have time.”
They fell into step beside each other and walked in amiable silence for a while. Nico listened to the sound of the water and the rustling of a faint breeze through the trees. Even though he lived in Paris, he didn’t often walk along the Seine. Every once in a while, he’d bring Louis here for an afternoon, but the both of them had lived here so long that even Paris’s most awe-inspiring sights no longer took their breath away.
It was refreshing to be with Lauren, because her enthusiasm made Nico remember what he liked about his own city. She seemed to revel in every detail, from the dog with a beret she gleefully pointed out, to the serenity of a watery oasis in the center of the metropolis.
“It’s just such a beautiful day,” Lauren said, as if to prove Nico’s point.
“Are you feeling better about your decision to come to Paris?”
“Oh, yes. Definitely. Thank you, Nico.”
“Don’t thank me yet. The day isn’t over.”
“What else do you have in mind?”
“Well, as a start, I happen to know of a really nice gelato stand just a few blocks away…”
Lauren’s face lit up, and Nico led the way to the stand. He’d come here with Louis the last time they’d walked along the Seine, which had been… almost two years ago now. Nico couldn’t believe so much time had passed. He needed to come back with his son soon.
Lauren stepped up to the counter and ordered a small chocolate scoop. Her French was a little wobbly but very understandable, and Nico felt a rush of annoyance with all the people who hadn’t been able to understand her today. His protectiveness surged again. As competent as Lauren clearly was, especially given the time she’d spent in Paris already, Nico wanted to make sure she was comfortable here.
“I think it’s your turn.”
Nico startled at Lauren’s quiet prompt, then realized that he’d been looking at the ice cream and letting his mind wander for longer than he’d meant to.
“Sorry.” He stepped up to the counter and ordered a scoop of pistachio and a scoop of chocolate. As soon as the shop employee handed over the cup, with a small plastic spoon stuck in the top, Lauren handed over a ten-euro bill to pay for both their treats.
“You got the coffee,” she reminded him as Nico began to protest.
“Fair enough.”
Lauren gathered her change and they continued their stroll along the river. As evening came on, the banks were filling with families and couples and people out with their dogs. The sight of running and shouting children gave Nico that strange feeling he always had when his son wasn’t around — he missed Louis, but felt embarrassingly grateful to have a little time to himself, too.
Nico glanced over at Lauren, who was eating her chocolate cone in small, dainty bites. She smiled at him, and he noticed a spot of chocolate ice cream at the very tip of her nose.
“You’ve got something there.” He pointed to the same place on his own face.
Lauren blushed. “Oops. How embarrassing.” She dabbed at her nose with the cheap paper napkin the shop had provided, but succeeded only in smearing the spot up toward the bridge of her nose. “Did I get it?”
“Not quite.”
She tried again with equally meager success, then gave a little sigh of frustration when Nico shook his head again.
“Here.” He stepped forward and lifted his own napkin, which was still pristinely clean — his cup left much less opportunity for drips than Lauren’s cone did. He lifted the napkin to her nose and carefully wiped away the last bit of chocolate ice cream.
“Thank you.” Lauren’s voice sounded a little strange. Nico lifted his gaze from her upturned nose and met Lauren’s eyes. They were a bright, light blue, like the sky in the early morning, and they were fixed directly on him.
Nico realized then that, in helping Lauren with the ice cream, he’d come closer to her. Much closer. Those morning-sky eyes were right there, as was the soft pink curve of her mouth. From this distance, Nico spotted a smattering of freckles across Lauren’s flushed cheeks and couldn’t help but notice the way that yellow sundress hugged her curves as if it had been made just for her. If he reached out a hand, he could rest it on the curve of her waist. If he dipped his head, they would be kissing.
In that moment, Nico recognized this afternoon for what it was. It wasn’t just an opportunity to help a lost American or occupy his time while his son was away. It was the first time in a long time that Nico had been completely caught up in the thought of a woman. It was the first time in a long time that he had felt his heart race like this or felt the magnetic pull to be closer to someone. And it was the first time in a long time that Nico had looked at a woman and never wanted to look away.
Maybe there was even a chance for something to happen between them. After all, Lauren was a pretty tourist looking for a Parisian adventure, and Nico was, for all she knew, an unencumbered bachelor. Maybe, if he closed the distance between them and pressed a kiss to Lauren’s mouth, she’d lean into him with a sigh and kiss him back.
But Nico wasn’t going to lean forward. He still didn’t know how Lauren felt about him — and even though he felt a deep attraction to her, something in him rebelled at the thought of kissing a woman who was nearly a stranger on the banks of the Seine. He wanted to know more about her first. That would make a kiss, if it did happen, all the sweeter.
None of that meant that he wanted to step away from Lauren or look away from her beautiful, upturned face right now, though.