Chapter 28
AVERY
Two weeks later
"Babe, you've already snapped a picture of the Eiffel Tower."
"Make that fifty," Kimberly exclaimed.
I scoffed. "Excuse me. It's the first time I've been here, and I love it."
Sam and Kimberly exchanged a glance and laughed. I couldn't even feel embarrassed. I was too excited. The three of us came to Paris together. I’d insisted Kimberly come with us—she was practically a local, and she knew the best spots and secret gems.
We flew via London because Beatrice wanted to visit her son. I was so happy she'd made amends with Kimberly's dad. I remembered the sadness in her eyes back when I was a teenager whenever she spoke about him, and I was more than happy that their relationship had improved.
Sam, Kimberly, and I even met her gentleman friend. I, for one, really liked him, and so did Kimberly. Sam was still reserving judgment.
"This is even more beautiful than in pictures," I said with wonder.
I was happy to be here, strolling the large boulevards and eating the most delicious sweets.
I must have eaten six éclairs in the time we'd been here, and I was buying chocolate almost every day, as well as a ton of other goodies.
We were here for a week, and it seemed far too short.
"Why did you leave the city?" I asked Kimberly.
She shrugged. "It was just time to come home."
Ah yes, the Maxwells and their home base. I totally knew what she meant. Her whole family was there. Well, except for her dad. Still, knowing the family, I was surprised any of them had moved away at all.
"Sam, what are we doing next?" I asked.
"I actually have to go meet a friend. I think you two will be able to find your way around." Kimberly winked at Sam.
He nodded. "Yes, we will. Thanks for all the tips, cousin."
"Anytime. You can call me if you get lost or something."
"Sure."
"Are you meeting us for dinner?" I asked.
She gave me an enigmatic smile. "We'll see."
Hmm. Okay, maybe she had other plans. I didn't want to interfere. She really did have amazing tips. I wanted to do all sorts of tourist stuff, but she'd also given us plenty of suggestions for things locals liked.
"What are we doing next?" I asked Sam.
"What do you have on that huge list of yours?"
"The entire city, so let's prioritize and see what's around here."
"Great idea."
The Garden of the Eiffel Tower was amazing.
Everywhere I looked there were trees. They were leafless now, but I imagined that in warmer months, it was a sea of green.
There were a lot of tourists, but it was still spacious enough that it didn't feel crowded at all.
We'd already checked some of the stuff off that was on my list. We'd been to the Louvre, spent one day at Versailles, and went up the million steps or so to Sacré Coeur, where the view of the city was absolutely stunning.
We'd also seen the Arc de Triomphe, of course.
My favorites so far were the Champs-élysées and the Eiffel Tower. They were stunning up close, but I preferred a long-distance view to take in all of their majesty. It was also better for photos, which I posted on social media so my mom and sister could follow our trip.
"By the way, you know we're passing the stand Kimberly mentioned makes the best choux à la crème in the city?" Sam asked.
"Oooooh. That's been at the very top of my list."
"I know. You circled it in pink and then in blue."
I smiled sheepishly. "I didn't want to miss it. When you look at the list, it doesn't automatically jump out at you. It’s easy to get distracted by things like the Mona Lisa."
"Interesting that choux à la crème is as important as the Mona Lisa."
"Don't make fun of me. I want to taste everything Paris has to offer so I don't forget it."
"I know you won't, babe. Besides, we can come back any time you want."
"Maybe. The first time is special, you know?"
I was already salivating from the wafts of sugar and vanilla in the air. There was a huge line in front of the stand. My stomach rumbled as we took our spot. We waited for twenty minutes, but it was completely worth it. The treat was the equivalent of cream puffs back home, only these were amazing.
"Oh my God. This is the best thing I've ever eaten," I exclaimed after the first one. We ate directly from the paper plate.
"I'll be damned. They are good," Sam exclaimed.
I ate the next two slowly, and Sam did the same. Then he took my hand in his, kissing it. I loved it when he did that, and I was so glad we were sharing this experience of Paris together.
"Are you done with these sweets?" he asked.
"Yep, not even one left."
"Do you want to get more?"
"No, I'm good."
"How are you feeling?"
"The happiest I've ever been."
He grinned. "Good. It increases my odds."
"Your odds?" I asked, confused.
The next thing I knew, he'd lowered himself to the ground. Wait, he wasn't bending or crouching. He was getting down on one knee.
"Oh, Sam," I exclaimed, realizing what was happening. My face exploded in a smile before I even saw him reach into his pocket. He took out a very small sachet.
"I wanted a box, but you would've seen it in my pocket and gotten suspicious."
"I would," I admitted.
He took the ring from the sachet, holding it so I could see it.
I gasped. “Sam! I remember this ring.”
“I know. So do I.”
A lifetime ago, I’d told him that if I ever got engaged—yeah, I wasn't very subtle in high school—I would love to get the Tiffany Setting ring.
It was absolutely beautiful. The diamond was round, set in a platinum band.
"Avery, I love you with my whole heart, with everything I have.
I am so happy our paths crossed again." His voice sounded raspy.
"I was lucky to have met you in high school, and I can't believe I've been lucky enough to meet you again.
I love you, and I want to love you every day for the rest of our lives.
To wake up and know you're mine. I promise to make you happy to the best of my abilities every single day. "
"Oh, Sam." I bounced up and down from my toes to my heels. "I love you. And you do. You already make me so happy. I mean, you just waited in line for twenty minutes even though you didn’t want sweets. That’s proof that you’re the perfect man for me."
He winked. “As I said, I knew it would increase my odds.”
“You waited for a sugar rush. Clever. As if I was going to say no.”
“Wasn't going to take any chances with you.”
I couldn't believe it. He'd timed all this. Not only had he brought me to Paris, but he'd waited until the end of the tour to see which of my places was the favorite to propose. Of course, the sweets were the cherry on the top.
"I'm going to make you so happy," I promised him.
"Avery, will you be my wife for better or worse, for our whole lives?"
"Yes, I will," I said.
As if from a distance, I heard several people cheer and realized we had an audience of sorts. Some were taking pictures of us. Sam laughed as we looked around.
Rising to his feet, he put on my ring, which fit perfectly, and then lifted me slightly in his arms. I put my hands on his shoulders, leaning in for a kiss. It was chaste, but from the press of his lips against mine, I knew he could barely wait for us to be alone.
"We got great pictures of you," someone said in an American accent.
Sam and I smiled at the same time before pulling apart.
"Thank you. That's great. We’ll always have this memory.” I didn't have the heart to tell this well-meaning stranger that she interrupted our magnificent moment. But I could let it slide because, as Sam predicted, I was over the moon.
I'm going to be Mrs. Sam Maxwell.
While the lady and Sam exchanged numbers, I couldn't help but admire my ring. Afterward, the crowd that had formed around us dispersed, and Sam burst out laughing.
"Well, we'll certainly remember that. Look, she sent me the pictures already."
"It was worth being interrupted because otherwise we wouldn't have gotten them," I said. “Once we get back home, I’ll tell my mom and sister and send them the pictures. They’ll be thrilled to see how romantic you are.”
He nodded. "True. That's one thing I didn't plan for. I'm half impressed Kimberly didn't jump out from behind the bush or something."
"She planned this moment with you?”
"No. She said to play it by ear and take my cues from what seemed to bring you the most joy."
"I love Kimberly to bits," I exclaimed.
"Yeah, it was a great idea," he murmured, turning around to face me, touching my cheek. "Except for one thing."
"What?"
"We're not anywhere close to our hotel."
I felt my cheeks turn hot. "Hey, we still have some things on the list."
His eyes darkened. "I see. So your list ranks above sex with me?"
I cleared my throat. "I wouldn't say that. But we are in Paris, you know? We should take advantage. And I can take advantage of you all you like once we’re back home."
“Nothing against Paris, but I can’t wait to go back home,” he said a little glumly.
I laughed, taking his hand and pulling him toward the Eiffel Tower. “Come on, sexy fiancé. The quicker we get through my list, the quicker we’ll get back to the room.”
He grinned. “That’s more like it.”