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Three

Nikki sits beside Théo as Lucas takes the seat across from him, ordering wine right away. He lifts his brows at Nikki as she scowls back at him, glancing at Alba as she scrolls on her phone.

"So, Théo, what is it that you do?"

"I'm an art curator at the Louvre. I work with Nikki actually." He smiles at Lucas as the waitress brings a bottle of wine to the table. He grabs it before Lucas and pours a glass for everyone, stopping at Alba. "I'm sorry, you're old enough to drink, right?"

Nikki giggles as Alba scoffs and Lucas groans. "Of course, I am. I'm twenty-four. How old are you, old man?" She yanks the bottle out of his hand and pours her own glass.

"Um... thirty-five. I know Lucas is an actor, what about you?"

"I'm an actress." She preens, sitting up straighter as Théo offers her a smile.

"Anything I would have seen?"

"She's in that nun show on Netflix. A Buffy remake. But without Sarah Michelle and Kristy Swanson."

Lucas laughs as Alba scoffs again. "Ahhh... Paul Reubens definitely made that movie."

Nikki giggles as Théo looks between them. "You've never seen the movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" He shrugs as she sighs. "Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland. It's a classic. I loved it as a kid, and then the show. I grew up on Buffy."

"Well, Warrior Nun is far better than that outdated show." She glances at Lucas as he continues to watch Nikki. She hits Lucas on the arm. "Lucas!"

He blushes slightly, leaning back in his chair. "I actually haven't watched it, I'm sorry."

"Lucas!" She squeals, annoyingly as Nikki lifts her wine glass, taking a large gulp as Lucas groans. "How can you not have watched my show?"

He shrugs, taking his own drink of wine, setting his glass back on the table with a sigh. "It's just not really my thing."

She goes back to scrolling on her phone as they are all served their first course. They eat in an awkward silence. Théo stands up and offers Nikki his hand once they finish. "We're gonna walk around while we wait for the next course."

Nikki follows him to the far end of the boat, leaning against the rail as she smiles up at him. "Thanks. I'm really sorry about them commandeering our date."

"It's okay, though I'm not really sure why."

"I'm not really sure either," she chuckles, looking out over the water. She leans back against Théo presses his chest against her back, caging her in as he rests his hands on the rail on either side of her. "It's so pretty here. I don't think I'll ever get used to living in Paris. Even after being here for almost a year."

Théo moans softly, "tres jolie, indeed." He dips down, kissing her neck as she moves her head to the side. He nips up to her earlobe before she turns to face him, bringing his lips to hers. He pulls her into a heated kiss, pressing his hand on the small of her back as his cock begins to harden in his pants just before they hear a throat clear behind him.

Nikki pulls away as they both turn to see Lucas standing there. "Luke..."

"Dinner has arrived," he offers quietly as he smiles at Théo. "Can I have a second with Nik?"

"Sure." Théo hesitates before walking away, leaving Lucas alone with Nikki.

"You're completely cock blocking me, Luke!" She hisses at him as he offers her his arm which she begrudgingly accepts.

"Sorry," he laughs. "I'm sorry for intruding. You're right, this probably wasn't a good idea."

"No shit." She stops before they reach the table, just out of earshot. "What are you doing with this girl, Luke? She's an idiot and a brat."

"Don't make me choose between my friend and my girlfriend, Nik." He pulls away from her abruptly, leaving her to sit back down at the table. She scoffs and follows him to take her place back beside Théo just as Alba squeals at her phone.

"Oh my god, look! Captain America followed me!"

"Followed you?" Nikki asks, finishing the rest of her wine.

Lucas rolls his eyes with a sigh. "She means on Instagram." He waves his hand dismissively at her before beginning to eat. Alba scoffs, looking back at her phone.

"So what are everyone's plans for Christmas?" Nikki quickly changes the subject as she feels Théo squeeze her thigh under the table.

"I'll take a train down to Nice for a few days. Alone?" He glances at Alba as she looks up from her phone.

"I'll be in Portugal. I don't know about New Year's yet... I might go skiing with my friends."

"Nikki?" Théo asks, nudging her shoulder as she glances away from a disappointed Lucas. "Um... I don't really have any family to return to the states for. I only have my younger sister, Michelle. I may fly her out here for New Year's. I assume you'll be spending Christmas with your family, Théo?"

"Yeah. Of course. I have and older brother and a younger brother and so many nieces and nephews." He chuckles as Nikki sighs, looking back at Lucas who avoids her gaze.

***

Nikki leads Théo into her apartment, closing the door behind them. "I'm sorry about our ruined date."

He shrugs slightly, removing his jacket, hanging it on the hook next to the door as she approaches him. He puts his hand up before she can wrap her arms around his neck. "We should talk about something before this goes any further."

"What's the matter?" She scoffs, tossing her jacket on her couch before kicking off her shoes.

"What's going on between you and Lucas?"

"What do you mean?" Nikki laughs brushing past him to pour herself another glass of wine.

"I mean... the way he looks at you. The way you're so invested in his girlfriend."

"Oh please, she's an idiot. I wouldn't want any of my friends to date an obvious clout chaser who can't even pretend to be interested in him."

"Have you slept with him?"

Nikki spits out her wine, covering the counter in front of her as she curses under her breath. "No. Of course I haven't. Come on, Théo. I don't want to talk about my neighbor." She rests her hands up his chest, moving toward him to wrap her arms around his neck. "Please," she pants against his mouth just before he crushes his mouth to hers, leading her back toward her bedroom.