Chapter 2

Julian arrived on time the next morning, carrying a paper bag from the bakery.

He frowned at my swollen, red eyes.

"Were you crying last night?"

"No."

He sighed and put the bag in my hands.

"Elise, there's nothing going on between Nora and me. She's your friend and my colleague."

"Are you still upset?"

"No."

He visibly relaxed.

"I knew you'd be reasonable."

Over breakfast, he slid the day's itinerary across the table.

The riverside walk, the used-book market, and the little restaurant I'd had bookmarked forever.

He'd even reserved a table by the window.

"You've wanted to go for ages, right?"

He smiled at me.

"I'm all yours today."

Then his phone rang. Nora had cut her hand in the lab, and a colleague had taken her to the hospital.

On the other end, she was still trying to talk him out of coming.

"Julian, don't come. Elise came all this way. Stay with her."

Julian frowned.

"Don't worry about that. Wait for me."

He picked up his coat.

"Someone's already with her," I said. "Why do you have to go?"

"She just moved here, and she's afraid of blood."

"What about when I had that car accident last year?"

He stopped.

"Elise, don't drag up the past."

"I had twelve stitches in my forehead. You said you couldn't change your plans."

Julian came over and crouched in front of me.

"Didn't I already apologize for that?"

"Clara was with you, and the doctor said your life wasn't in danger."

He held my hand, his voice gentle.

"If I hadn't been worried, would I have stayed up all night?"

"Nora has someone with her now, too."

He was silent for a few seconds.

"We're the only people she really knows here. You have Clara. You have Theo. She doesn't."

I pulled my hand away. So his rules could bend. Just not for me.

His phone lit up with a message from Nora.

"Julian, you really don't have to come. I can manage."

Julian picked up his coat and bent to kiss my forehead.

"Don't overthink it. I'll be right back. I promise I'll spend today with you."

At two that afternoon, he said Nora was fine, that it was only a scrape and he'd be back soon.

At three, another message came. She had a slight fever. We wouldn't make it to the used-book market.

At seven, he canceled the restaurant reservation. Nora was sick and needed company.

His last message read:

"Come on, don't be upset. I'll bring you a chestnut Mont Blanc tonight."

He returned at ten thirty with the dessert.

He pulled me into his arms.

"Tomorrow afternoon. I promise. You'll have me for the whole afternoon."

I caught the smell of disinfectant on him.

"I thought you couldn't just change your plans."

"Once in a while is fine."

"What counts as once in a while?"

Julian's hand went still.

"Elise, Nora's your friend. Who are you trying to compete with here?"

Who?

Last year, twelve stitches hadn't been enough to move his meeting.

Today, a scrape on Nora's hand had wiped out his entire schedule.