You're the One: a Contemporary Romance Novella Set in Paris (Bistro La Bohème) Read Online Free PDF

said.
    He grinned.
“I’m glad you’re here. You won’t regret having braved the rain.”
    “If you say
so.”
    “Come, let me
introduce you to my friends,” he said, taking her coat and leading her to the
bar.
    She sneezed
twice, and then hugged herself, rubbing her arms.
    “ A tes souhaits. Would you like to put on
my sweater? It’s as warm as it looks,” he said.
    “No thanks.” I may be down but I still have my dignity.
    “Then you need
a drink. Strong or warm?”
    “Strong.
Definitely strong.”
    As they
reached the bar, two young men and a woman climbed down from their barstools to
exchange names and cheek kisses with her.
    “Cyril is the
songwriter,” Adrien said, pointing at the bearded man.
    Cyril bowed
his head. “Did you explain the rules to her?” he asked Adrien.
    “In a moment.”
Adrien turned to Natalie. “Will you let me buy you a drink?”
    She nodded. “A
gin tonic, please.”
    As she took
the first sip, Adrien said, “There’s just one rule, really. Be honest.
Especially when we get together after he’s done singing to debrief.”
    “What if I
forget one of the songs?” Natalie asked.
    “That would
mean it wasn’t memorable enough,” Cyril said.
    The woman who
had introduced herself as Kiki said, “Cyril’s first album was well received, so
the pressure is high for the second one.”
    “I’m sure
Cyril appreciates your reminding him,” the guy named Romain said.
    Thankfully,
Cyril was already halfway to the stage. He sat on a chair in the middle of it,
picked up his guitar, and strummed a few chords. Natalie followed Adrien and
his gang to their seats. The room grew quiet as Cyril started to sing.
    The first song
was an angry political manifesto. The second, a touching and funny piece about
a stray dog. The third one was a plea of a man in love, and Cyril opened it
with a guitar riff that was out of this world.
    He crooned
into the microphone. “Baby, come and sit with me—here in the sun. Baby,
let me ease your pain. Maybe I’m the one.”
    As he went on,
Natalie’s heart started to ache, as if an invisible hand had pierced her chest
and was wringing it ruthlessly. She found herself envying the woman in the song
so much she wanted to cry. Fred no longer wished to be “the one” for her. She
wasn’t even sure he ever had. He didn’t want what she wanted. He didn’t want
her. It was time to accept she had lost him, along with her most precious dream
to have a family. To have a child.
    She hardly
paid attention to the remaining songs. As Cyril finished the last one and
bowed, she turned to Adrien to apologize and slip away before the debriefing.
    Adrien’s gaze
was locked on her face, intense. She wondered how long he’d been looking at her
like this. His stare made her uncomfortable. And yet it drew her in, like the
glow of a campfire on a cold night, a promise of warmth and comfort . . .
    She blinked
and looked away. “I just remembered something. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go.”
    His bright eyes
clouded with something akin to hurt. “Funny you should say that, but then
again, you reap what you sow.”
    She had no idea what he was talking
about, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was getting to Marie’s as soon as
possible, because she doubted she could keep herself together much longer.
    ***

TEN
    Marie opened
the door and gave her a bear hug. “You’re drenched. Come on in.”
    After changing
into Marie’s spare pajamas and pulling on a pair of warm socks, Natalie curled
up on the armchair and tucked her feet under her.
    “A cup of tea
to warm you up?” Marie offered.
    “Thanks, I’d
like that.”
    Marie placed
two steaming cups on the coffee table and sat on the sofa. “Now tell me what’s
wrong.”
    “Fred’s
cheating on me.”
    Marie searched
her eyes. “Tell me the whole story, and in chronological order, please. We may
discover you’re just being paranoid.”
    Natalie drank
her tea. “I doubt it.”
    In between
sips, sobs, and nose