Imperfect Hearts

10

It took us a couple of hours to get my car back to its full glory and Coco was dying to let her news out.

"Just say it, Coco."

"Okay, fine. Josiah is going on a trip and asked me if I want to join him."

"Josiah what?" A trip? "Wow."

She played me a voicemail that asked the same, just with a detailed plan.

"Josiah is french?!" I squeaked when he mentioned that first he'd like to go to his hometown, Paris.

"I didn't tell you?" She frowned and I scoffed.

"No, you didn't."

"Sorry, must have slipped my mind. So, yeah...he's french and is asking me if I'm up for a trip."

"A trip might be good for you, I think."

"But his half-sister and a couple of his friends are going with him, I'm going to be a nuisance."

"I don't think he believes that. He's not obliged to ask you, so if he asked you, it might be because he wanted you to go." I shrugged."Believe me, if he didn't want you tagging along with them, he could have gone for the trip without saying anything to you."

And letting Coco deal with Greg on her own might mean more drinks and hangovers. And that's not a good way to cope.

"A trip to Paris is your dream." I said with a smile and she sighed.

"A trip to Paris was my dream, yes. But I wanted to go to the city of love with the love of my life."

"Hey," I nudged her when an unnamed emotion crossed her face. "It's Paris. You don't need a romantic partner to see the city or its beauty. You don't want a husband or a boyfriend to experience the culture or to enjoy the trip. Don't be a pessimistic Coco, be the optimistic Coco you are."

"Wow, what a motivating speech." She deadpanned, biting back a chuckle and I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever."

"No, no. It's true, I get what you're saying. I was already halfway into saying yes and you pushed me further."

Pushed her?

"Don't blame me, I know you're smitten. And hey, maybe you are going to the city of love with the future love of your life! Who knows."

And I actually saw her blush a little. God help her.

"There's nothing like that. I'm over Greg, that doesn't mean I'm looking for someone else."

Sure, sure. "So, are you going or not?"

"I need an hour or two to think."

Hours turned into days. Finally, on the third day, at Tipsy Toes, she decided she was going with him.

"Will you come?"

"Well, if I was unemployed I'd have said yes in a heartbeat. But unfortunately, it's a no."

"I know, but still..."

I was on my fourth martini and Coco on her first, since she was the designated driver.

"Do you think Josiah knew Nate? When they were kids maybe?" I asked and Coco gave me a look.

"Maybe the drinks are starting to do their job because you're making no sense." She poked my head. "Just because they both lived in France doesn't mean they know each other."

"I know that." I scoffed. "And Nate was only there for seven years, so how would he know Josiah?"

"Hey, it's you who asked that, not me. Idiot." She mumbled and I frowned.