A Dream Coming True

Chapter 4

July 3rd 2022

"Wait !"

She turned and looked at me desperately. What had just happened ? This afternoon, she was luminous, happy. Now she was cold, elusive, a bit anxious. Something happened this afternoon, and it wasn't good.

"Why won't you be with us next week ?"

"Because I have work to do."

"Can I at least have your number ?"

She seemed to fight a battle against herself. She closed her eyes, thinking probably, but when she opened them, she looked like she had seen a ghost.

"Are you okay ?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I be ?"

"Are you sure ?"

"Yes."

"Okay." I said, not sure if she was lying or not. But if I wanted to speak with her a bit longer, I better tried to not make her mad. "So ?"

"So what ?"

"Can I have your number ?"

"Why do you want it ?"

"I'm sorry Mrs Prost, but aren't you supposed to know the purpose of a phone number ?"

"You're hilarious Mr Gasly."

"Thank you, I appreciate it. So it means you don't know how to use it ?"

"Do I have to remind you that I need to know how to use a phone for my job ?"

"How silly of me."

"You are one of a kind Mr Gasly."

"How am I suppose to take that ?"

"I don't know, yet."

"Then I'll take that as a compliment."

"If it makes you feel better."

"How dare you !" I said, falsely offended. She laughed and for the first time of the evening, she was back. The old Lila that I met in the afternoon, the smiling one. And now that she was back, I wasn't going to let her leave.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt your little man ego ?"

"Of course you did !"

"But you deserved it !" she smiled and I did too, because her smile was so contagious.

We looked at each other, and not even two seconds later we were laughing.

"Why don't you stay a bit longer ?" I asked, because I knew that if she left I might never see her again.

"What are you, some kind of stalker ?"

"Then answer my question."

"Because I have a flight tomorrow and I don't want to miss it."

"What time ?"

"Sorry ?"

"When is your flight ?"

"Mr Gasly, if you continue like this I will either believe that you're Inspecteur Gadget or Jeffrey Dahmer."

"So I'm an inspector or a psychopath ?"

"Pretty much, yes."

"Too bad, I was starting to like you Mrs Prost."

"You're not the only one."

"I can't say I'm surprised."

"How dare you !"

"Oh I'm sorry, have I just vexed your little female ago ?"

"You're a monster."

"If it makes you feel better."