Double Twenty

Chapter 17 - Money Don't Matter 2 Night (Prince)

"Some encounters take your breath away, while others simply make breathing easier." — Leo Christopher

"I'll be right back," says Victoria, adjusting her hair as she heads to the bathroom. Matthieu remains on the couch for a few more seconds, using this moment alone to ensure that everything is real. It's his first day in 1997, and he is already living one of his dreams. He truly appreciates her, and the mental block that had kept her from his thoughts for so many years has lifted. He finally recalls a few moments of shared complicity. None like this one, of course. It's all about vibes, moments, seizing opportunities, something he could never have done back then.

He is also quite proud of his mixtape and enjoys hearing Prince sing "Money Don't Matter 2 Night." The atmosphere is even more conducive to confidences and physical contact. He still needs to feel her skin, her hair, her neck, to be caressed by her delicate and so soft hands. He takes the salmon tartare plates out of the fridge and places them on the cleaned and cleared countertop. "A real homemaker, I see!" She bursts out laughing, a laugh that tingles from his toes to the top of his head. "Don't get used to it. It was just to impress you tonight!" She approaches him to take him in her arms. He kisses her tenderly, "Don't you want to have dinner first?" She kisses his neck, tenderly caresses his arm, his back with a bit more firmness. Her breathing becomes more labored, but she gently pulls away. If he insists, she will gladly give in, but she wants to drive him crazy about her. "I'm hungry! Let's see if the taste matches the presentation."

She grabs the plates and places them side by side on the large rectangular dining table adjacent to the kitchen. She runs into the living room to flip the cassette, and Sinead O'Connor's voice sets the rhythm of their fork strokes punctuated by bursts of laughter. They savor their meal, exchanging anecdotes and complicit smiles. Every bite is a discovery, a rediscovery of sensations and flavors. Their hands often brush, their gazes meet and linger, creating an atmosphere charged with intimacy.

Matthieu feels alive, fully, for the first time in a long while. The evening continues, marked by moments of tenderness and sharing, each savoring the present moment without worrying about tomorrow.