Paul & Moi

Chapter 41

I have not yet taken the courage to send him a message or call him. I have spent the last two days thinking. I don't really want to see him again because memories will come to the surface, for sure! I don't know if I would be strong enough not to crack. But if I don't see it again, it will remain an unfinished story.

And then damn it! I grab my phone and call it. It sounds.

"Allo?" He answers.

I hadn't heard his voice for months. I'm losing my words.

"Allo?" He insists

"We have to talk" I manage to answer.

"I was waiting for this call my heart!"

"Don't call me that. See you in 20 minutes at the Comptoir"

"Always as dominant! Which counter?" He asks me.

"You know very well which one. I'll see you later Max"

"We don't change our habits," he said before hanging up.

I prepare quickly enough and I make myself beautiful to show him what he has lost. I then get in my car. Many thoughts cross my mind. It's been months since I saw Max again. Has it changed? He would have become a real bastard, which surprises me about him. When we were together, he had everything of the perfect man. He was attentive, funny and reassuring. I really hope it hasn't changed.

I'm arriving at the small brewery. We loved going to this place before. There is always a good atmosphere and the dishes offered are rather well made. Before I go home, I stand in front of the door. I have no choice, I'm there, I'm not going to go backtrack. I push the door and enter. I examine the room and I see a big brown man sitting at a table at the back smiling at me. It's him! I take a sure step towards the table and I see him shimmering me up and down.

"Always as sexy baby".

I won't fall into his game.

"Shere you" I said to him as I sat down.

"I missed your little character," he said with a smile.

I just have a terrible desire to slap him to take away his smile but I'm going to hold back.

The waiter serves us two glasses.

"I ordered your usual cocktail," says Max.

"Why did you do that to Paul?" I confront him.

"This guy is not clean baby. I don't know what you're doing with a guy like him. You deserve much better."

"Like a guy like you? Where is your blonde by the way?"

I remind you that Max cheated on me with a blonde, I don't know who.

"It was a mistake. I had drunk a little and she turned around me so it was done. But if I could go back, I wouldn't have given up baby, I swear. We were both so good," he said, caressing my arm.

I withdraw my arm to make him understand that I will not fall into the trap.

"It's too late Max. You should have thought about it before. You really hurt me," I insist.

If I want Max to leave Paul alone, I have to soften him and make him feel that he owes me one.

"I'm sorry baby. I would like to have a second chance," he sincerely confides to me.

I lower my head and sigh.

"I can't Max, I'm sorry. I finally managed to turn the page and recover. I can't just go back into it, do you understand me?"

He nods his head. I knew he wasn't as sneaky at the bottom.

"Now I want to be happy and I want you to be too. You want me to be happy, don't you?" I'm trying to get where I have to go.

"Of course Nina! I care about you and I don't hide it..."

"So if you really care about me. Prove it to me! Leave Paul alone. Let him live his life and accept the fact that I fell in love with him."

It may have been a little too direct but I didn't know how to formulate it. I see him hesitating for a long time and then I take his hand. He raises his head and stares in my eyes.

"Okay. If it can please you and if you forgive me for what I was able to do to you?" He offers me.

"I forgive you Max. I know that you are a good guy at the bottom and that you don't want anyone harm."

We spend a few hours discussing what has happened to us since then. I missed it. I missed him, I admit. I managed to dissuade him from stopping his drug trafficking and resuming a normal high school life. As for the money Paul owes him, I decided to send him a check so that he would definitely leave him alone.