What If It's Love?: A Contemporary Romance Set in Paris (Bistro La Bohème Book 1) by Alix Nichols

talk about it,
but . . .”
    “In spite of my blue hair, piercings, and the occasional tough talk, I
don’t sound like a high school dropout?” Jeanne finished for her.
    Lena nodded with a smile. Jeanne was the least touchy person she’d ever
met. It was so easy to talk to her.
    “I did two years of law in Aix-en-Provence just to prove to my parents
and the rest of my family that I could. But I hated it.”
    “I’m with you on that.”
    “Then I backpacked around the world for a year, which was great. And then
I followed my boyfriend to Paris and got this job. Which I rather enjoy, truth
be told.” Jeanne took a long swig of her chilled Coke. “So I am, indeed, a
dropout, but an extensively traveled and a well-read one.”
    “Mystery solved. And what about your boyfriend? Is it the biker I saw
you. . . talk to here once?”
    Jeanne smirked. “You can say you saw us fight, it’s OK.”
    “So, you’ve been with him for what—two, three years?”
    “Too long. I know he’s bad for me, Lena. I left him. Five times at least.
And every time, I go back when he asks politely.” Jeanne sighed. “I’ll tell you
more later.”
    “I’ll hold you to it.”
    Jeanne finished her Coke. “Is there anything else you’d like to ask me?”
    “Um . . . nothing comes to mind.”
    “Well, then I guess I’ll just tell you like that, without any specific
reason at all, that Rob has taken two weeks off for his final exams. Not that
you were asking or anything.” Jeanne stood up.
    “Oh . . . I did wonder where he’d disappeared to. By the
way, I’ll be going to Geneva for my final exam and defense the day after
tomorrow.”
    “Good luck! When shall we expect you back?”
    “Next Thursday, hopefully with the diploma in my suitcase. I’m so much
looking forward for all this stress to be over.”
    “Hey, I have an idea. Pepe and I made plans to go to Nice for a weekend.
Take a dip in the Mediterranean.”
    “Can you both take the same weekend off?”
    “Pierre hired two temps for the summer, so regular staff can take
vacations and days off more easily. We could wait until you’re back from
Geneva, if you’d like to join.”
    “I’d love to! Thank you so much for inviting me. It would be a great way
to unwind.”
    “Excellent,” Jeanne said, turning to leave. “I’ll check with Rob if he
wants to join in, too.”

Part II
When
the Clock
Strikes Midnight

 
     
    In the dark, the world embarks on a migration:
    Trees uproot and roam the Earth—in levitation,
    Golden grapes go up in foam—becoming wine,
    Stars progress from home to home—to rest in
mine.
    Rivers turn inside their beds—running deep,
    And I’m longing for your chest—to find sleep.
    Marina
Tsvetaeva

SIX
    It was done,
accomplished, stamped, and signed on a thick sheet of letterhead paper. Lena
had passed her last exam, defended her thesis, and received her master’s
degree. Paris was now hers to enjoy, free of guilt. She had a long list of
museums to visit, exhibitions to see, neighborhoods to discover, and shows to
watch. And she was going to do all that without the nagging feeling that she
should be hunched over a textbook instead.
    Lena smiled, pleased about the prospect of an exciting summer, as her cab
approached rue Cadet. She was tired and in need of a relaxing bath, but she
wanted to see Jeanne or Pepe first to find out about the weekend plans. Jeanne
had texted her earlier in the week that they were to meet at the Gare de
Lyon Friday morning at eight. What Jeanne hadn’t told her was whether Rob
was coming along.
    As Lena walked into the bistro, she spotted Rob and his friends Amanda
and Mat having beers at one of the sidewalk tables. She looked around for
Jeanne. Her new friend, busy with a group of patrons, waved hi then splayed her
fingers to sign “five minutes”.
    By now Rob had spotted Lena, too. “Over here! Lena, come join us.” As she
came closer, he offered her a chair. “We’re celebrating our