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

blowing, she gave Marie an account of the past six
days—in chronological order.
    Marie puckered
her face. “I don’t like this at all.”
    “Neither do I,
believe me.”
    “OK, let’s
stay positive and give him the benefit of the doubt. What if the waitress was
an old friend of his, and he’s helping her out with something?”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t
know . . .filing an insurance claim? Scrapbooking?”
    Natalie
cackled. “If he told you that, would you believe him?”
    “Hmm . . .”
    Natalie
cradled her head in her hands. “You know what’s worse than his two-timing?”
    “That he’s
doing it with a woman who’s way hotter than you?”
    Natalie
couldn’t stifle her smile. “Marie, dear, with friends like you, who needs
enemies?”
    “I made you
laugh, didn’t I?”
    Natalie’s face
turned serious. “What’s worse is that he told me last week he didn’t want a
baby because of his career.” She shook her head. “Career, my foot.”
    “I don’t get
it. For you, his lying is worse than his cheating?” Marie asked.
    Natalie rubbed
her forehead. “It’s hard to explain. Now I know it’s not his job.” Her voice
cracked. “It’s him.”
    Marie gave
Natalie’s hand a squeeze. “What do you intend to do?”
    “Confront him.
I just don’t have the nerve to do it tonight.”
    “Tonight you
regroup and try to get some sleep.” Marie picked up Natalie’s purse and handed
it to her. “Here. Get your phone and text him so he wouldn’t worry.”
    “Ha. Maybe he
should.”
    “You don’t
want him alerting the police, do you?”
    Natalie sent
Fred a short text.
    I’m at Marie’s. Will sleep over. N.
    “You should
confront the waitress first,” Marie said.
    “Whatever
for?”
    “She’ll tell
you the truth. She has no reason to lie.”
    “I guess
. . .”
    “And then
you’ll confront Fred and compare their statements. It’s called
cross-examination.”
    Natalie
smiled. She appreciated her friend’s attempt to inject some lightness into the
situation. “I don’t think that’s what a cross-examination is, but I get your
drift.”
    She suddenly
felt completely drained.
    Marie picked
up the empty cups. “Come on. You’re ready to drop.”
    Natalie nodded
and trudged to the bedroom.
    If only she
could wake up tomorrow and realize the past week had just been a bad dream.
    ***

ELEVEN
    Natalie ended
up staying at Marie’s most of the next day, in too much of a mess to go to
work. She called in sick, did some staring into the wall, a bit of crying, and
a lot of thinking about her bleak future. In the evening, she went home, took a
sleeping pill, and spent the night in a deep dreamless slumber. Which was
exactly what she needed.
    The next day,
she got to La Bohème a little before
six, determined to confront the waitress and later, Fred. The wig and the
sunglasses were gone—she was done with her little game. She ordered a hot
chocolate and looked around. The blue-haired waitress was nowhere in sight.
    “I like your
new hair,” a familiar voice said.
    She looked
over and saw Adrien standing by her table, still in his rain jacket. He must
have just walked in.
    “Thanks,” she
said.
    “It’s lighter
and . . .longer.” He gave her a puzzled look.
    “ Coiffeurs can do the most extraordinary
things to your hair these days. You should try it.”
    What was it
about this guy that lightened her mood no matter how low she’d been feeling?
    “Um . . .”
His mouth twitched upward. “I’ll take your word for it.”
    He looked at
her for a few seconds, shifting from one foot to the other, and went to sit at
the table next to hers. Natalie couldn’t stifle a small sigh of relief. This
wasn’t too bad. They could chat like two people who found themselves next to
each other by accident while she waited for the waitress. Once she spotted her,
she’d excuse herself and ask to talk to the woman in private.
    “I didn’t see
you here yesterday,” he said.
    She was glad
he