precious- timothée chalamet

chapter sixteen

THE WEEK WENT BY INCREDIBLY SLOW, Eve working from home and trying to figure out with her team what they wanted to do for their Matisse exhibit, spending time with Vanessa who was home until after New Year's Day, and texting Timothée every day while he was awake, his sleep schedule becoming more regulated and him falling asleep in the mid afternoon for Eve. She hated the fact that she wanted him back in New York so badly, but she missed his presence. The worst part was she missed his birthday too, but she made sure to wish him a happy birthday the minute it turned midnight in Paris. They facetimed that day for a little bit, him showing off his few gifts he got as well as the view from their apartment in Paris. She was thankful for modern technology for letting her see him, but she wished she could hold him.

When the day finally arrived that he was flying home, they had made plans to have dinner together at Timmy's apartment. They both knew while planning that he would be a bit jet-lagged and exhausted, but it was all about seeing each other again. He missed Eve.

Finally, it was about five p.m. and Timmy had gotten home. He had slept the whole flight home and told her that he would be able to stay awake for dinner at least. Eve pulled on a midi dress and cardigan, curling her hair and rushing out the door to see him again.

The walk through Central Park was cold and Eve was grateful she was bundled up enough. She had an enormous puffer jacket on, fuzzy blue ear muffs, and then blue mittens her grandma had knitted her a few years ago for christmas. She tried to look her best after not seeing Timothée for about a week, as well as for the off chance that she meets his sister.

Central Park in the winter was always Eve's favorite, she always liked looking at the snowy trees and crunching of the snow under her boots made her smile to herself. Being in Central Park during the winter reminded Eve of when her mother and her would go walk through Central Park around christmas time, they'd come look at the lit up trees and go ice skating. Eve made a mental note to ask Timmy if he would want to go ice skating sometime.

When she got out of Central Park, she sent off a quick text to Timmy that she was about five minutes away. She reached his apartment, the lobby man knowing her by now and waving at her as she entered the elevator. Eve walked down the hallway to his apartment and didn't even have to knock, he automatically opened the door as if he stood there waiting, his arms open wide. "Eve Granger!"

"Timmy!" She exclaimed, running into his arms and squeezing tightly as he embraced her. "I've missed you so much."

His head rested on her shoulder, sighing, "God, I missed you too."

They let go of each other and Eve pulled her bag down from her shoulder, "I have your gift, by the way."

Timmy grinned, "This is so exciting," He took the packages from her and let her enter the apartment. The only thing that was different about his apartment is she could easily spot Pauline's things around it, some of her shoes, a bag on the coat rack, a few too many cups out for just a bachelor pad. "Pauline's out with friends tonight, but if you stay over you'll probably meet her in the morning."

"I'd like that," Eve said, following him into the living room, where his small christmas tree stood with a few gifts remaining underneath. He sat down on the ground, Eve plopping down beside him, and he handed her three small packages.

"It's not much, but I still wanted to get you something."

"You're so sweet," She whispered, talking the packages carefully from him. "Open your gifts first though."

Timmy ripped off the wrapping paper that had the book about European cars, tearing it apart like an excited child. When he got to the book fully revealed, he gasped excitedly. "Oh my god, you didn't-" He started, grinning wildly. He opened the book, running a finger over the pages. "This is beautiful."