Bravo 🤍

Eight

Nikki follows Lucas to the kitchen, taking a seat between him and his sister. He quickly introduces her to his siblings and his parents before leaning over her to look at his older brother. "François, où est Claudine?"

His older brother tenses across from Lucas before shrugging. "Elle travaille." He glances at Nikki as she offers him a smile and then stares back at his plate.

Lucas nudges Nikki, motioning to two teenagers beside François. "François's kids, Sophie and Davide."

"So are you Lucas's new girlfriend?" Eva asks, her eyes shooting down to Nikki's necklace before smiling at her.

Nikki's eyes widen as she glances at his mother at the other end of the table. "Oh, no. We're just friends."

"Uh huh," Marie giggles beside her, "friends that sleep in the same bed?"

Nikki blushes as there are laughs around the table and she looks up to see François watching her. She shrugs, looking at Lucas. "I was told there were no spare bedrooms."

Lucas grins, raking his lip through his teeth as he shrugs at her. "My mistake."

He squeezes her thigh under the table as she rolls her eyes. "Sure..."

"And why are you alone on Christmas? Lucas insisted he didn't want you to be alone."

Nikki looks back at Eva with a sigh. "Oh... well I obviously don't have any family here in France... My parents died when I was 19 and my sister was 10. I became her guardian, working extra jobs to continue college while also making sure she finished as well. When she finished college, she insisted I chase my own dream of moving to France. So that's what I did. I got a job at the Louvre and moved in next door to Lucas. That's how we met."

"That's cute. American in Paris. Charming Frenchman next door." Marie teases, nudging Nikki gently as she laughs.

"Oh, he thinks he's far more charming than he really is." She smirks at Lucas as he pretends to be hurt by her words. "Anyway..." she looks back at Eva and Daniel, "I appreciate you inviting me into your home for the holidays." She sees them both nod, Eva lingering on her for a moment before the table falls into small conversations. Nikki only listens to the French, eating quietly.

***

"What exactly are your intentions here?" Nikki turns away from the sink as Eva walks up to her in the otherwise empty kitchen. "Don't do the dishes. That is why we have help."

"I don't mind helping to clean up."

"Right." Eva runs her fingers along Nikki's necklace as she repeats her question, "what exactly are your intentions?"

"My intentions doing the dishes?" She fidgets, shifting on her feet as Eva rolls her eyes. "Oh, you mean with Luke? I don't know. We are just friends."

"Friends don't buy friends necklaces that cost almost six thousand euro."

"Maman!" Lucas groans, entering the kitchen as Nikki gasps, looking down at the necklace.

"Lucas!" Nikki storms out of the kitchen, up to the bedroom and slams the door. She just has the necklace off as Lucas enters. "I can't believe you spent so much on this!" She shoves the necklace into his hand as he groans.

"I wanted to buy it for you. I don't care about the money."

"Maybe you don't, but I do! Money means nothing to someone that grew up with it." She paces his bedroom as he wraps the necklace around his wrist. "And your mother obviously cares. Jesus Luke! Six thousand Euro is more than I make in a month."

"I'm sorry!" He begins to mumble to himself in French as she rolls her eyes.

"Anglais, Lucas. S'il vous plaît!"

He laughs as she crosses her arms over her chest. "Désolé." He grins, placing his hands on her arms. "I bought it for you because I knew it would look good on you. That's it."

"You don't buy your neighbor a necklace that costs that much, Luke."

"I know," he whispers, making her uncross her arm as he grabs her hands.

"Luke..."

He doesn't say anything, bringing a hand to her cheek. "Don't say anything." He tilts her chin up, leaning down to press his lips to hers just as his bedroom door opens. "Fuck!"

They both turn to Marie in the doorway with an apologetic look. "Time for presents."

"Yeah, fine. We'll be right there." He hangs his head down as Marie scurries off. "Sorry," he whispers as Nikki chuckles.

"Don't be." She grabs his hand, pulling him back to her, leaning up to kiss him hard.

He moans against her mouth, wrapping his arms around her to pull her body firmly against his. He deepens the kiss, gripping the back of her neck as she runs her hands up to his hair. He pulls away, panting, "we should get back downstairs before they send someone else."

"Give me a minute?" She lets out a long breath, smiling. "My heart is beating so fast."

He chuckles, leaning down to press another kiss to her lips before taking a few steps back. "I'll meet you downstairs."

She grabs his hand just as he turns from her. "Looks better on you." She glances down at her necklace wrapped around his wrist as he laughs.

"Agree to disagree for now. But I'll get it back around your neck." He brings her hand up to his lips, kissing it softly before leaving the bedroom.

She takes a few deep breaths, smoothing her shirt before following after him. She follows the talking and laughing into the living room, finding all seats taken with Lucas sitting on a chair in the corner. She walks to him to sit on the floor, but he grabs her hand.

"Sit." He pats his lap as she blushes, noticing most of his family are distracted by presents.

"Lucas, no..." she whispers, kneeling on the ground beside him as he sighs.

He stands up, pulling her to her feet. "Sit then." He nudges her slightly, forcing her to sit in the chair before he takes the floor in front of her, leaning back against the chair between her legs. She tenses for a moment before bringing her hand up to play with his hair, glancing up to see François watching them from across the room. He quickly looks away when their eyes meet, Sophie pulling his attention to her.