Lost in madness

24

The Parisian sun crept through the gaps in the heavy curtains, painting golden streaks across our tangled limbs. I stirred, my eyes fluttering open to find Andrew's arm draped over my waist, his breath warm against my neck. For a moment, I let myself bask in the perfection of it all – the crisp hotel sheets, the faint aroma of fresh croissants wafting up from the street below, and the man I loved holding me close.

"Morning," Andrew murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

I turned to face him, drinking in his scent and the hint of stubble along his jaw. "Morning. Sleep well?"

He nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Best night's sleep I've had in ages. Though I'm not sure how much actual sleeping we did."

I laughed, swatting his chest playfully. "Shush, you. We should probably get moving if we want to make the most of our day."

Andrew groaned dramatically, burying his face in the pillow. "Do we have to? Can't we just stay here forever?"

"As tempting as that sounds," I said, sitting up and stretching, "I didn't come all the way to spend the entire time in bed. No matter how tempting it might be."

He propped himself up on one elbow, watching me with undisguised affection. "Fair point. Shower?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Together? How eco-friendly of you."

"What can I say?" Andrew grinned, already heading for the bathroom. "I'm all about conservation."

The shower was a delightful tangle of soap-slicked skin and stolen kisses, the hot water washing away the last vestiges of sleep. As we dried off, I couldn't help but marvel at how easy this all felt – like we'd been doing it for years instead of stolen moments snatched between his work trips and family obligations.

"What're you thinking about?" Andrew asked, catching me staring.

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "Nothing. Just... happy to get more time with you."

He pulled me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Me too, Dabe. More than you know."

We dressed quickly, the rumbling of our stomachs spurring us into action. The hotel's breakfast room was a charming affair, all white tablecloths and delicate china. We loaded our plates with flaky pastries, ripe fruit, and steaming cups of rich coffee.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" I asked between bites of the most exquisite pain au chocolat I'd ever tasted.

Andrew's expression clouded slightly. "About that... I have to duck out for a few hours this morning. There's a last-minute meeting I need to attend." I knew it had to do with Sally.

I tried to hide my disappointment. "Oh. Well, that's okay. I can entertain myself for a bit."

"I'm really sorry, Dabe," he said, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. "I promise I'll make it up to you later."

I nodded, forcing a bright smile. "Don't worry about it. I'll do some exploring, and take lots of pictures. You know, be a proper tourist."

Andrew chuckled. "Just don't get lost, okay? I'd hate to have to scour all of Paris looking for you."

"Please," I scoffed. "I have an excellent sense of direction. It's you who'd get lost without me."

He chuckled and then kissed my knuckles.

We finished our breakfast, and Andrew headed off to his 'meeting' with a quick kiss and a promise to text me when he was done. Left to my own devices, I set out to conquer Paris.

The city was a feast for the senses. I wandered through charming neighborhoods, my camera working overtime to capture every picturesque corner and elegant facade. The Eiffel Tower loomed large on the horizon, a constant reminder of where I was and how surreal it all felt.

I popped into quaint boutiques, tried on ridiculously overpriced sunglasses, and people-watched from sidewalk cafes. All the while, my phone buzzed periodically with messages from Andrew – little check-ins and silly observations that made me smile despite the distance between us.

As the afternoon wore on, I found myself in front of the Louvre, marveling at its grand architecture. My phone chimed with a new message:

"Meeting finally over. Where are you? I'll come find you."

I grinned, quickly typing back: "Louvre. Come rescue this damsel from the overwhelming amount of culture."

Twenty minutes later, I spotted Andrew weaving through the crowd, looking devastatingly handsome in his tailored suit. He swept me into a hug, planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Miss me?" he asked, a teasing lilt to his voice.

"Terribly," I replied, linking my arm through his. "How was the meeting?"

Andrew shrugged. "Boring, mostly. But productive. How about you? Conquer Paris yet?"

I laughed, showing him my camera roll full of snapshots. "Getting there. Still so much to see, though."

We strolled arm in arm, eventually finding ourselves at a nearby shopping center. The air conditioning was a welcome respite from the afternoon heat.

"Want to catch a movie?" Andrew suggested, nodding towards the cinema on the top floor. "We could use a break from all this walking."

I agreed, and soon we were settled into plush seats, a large bucket of popcorn between us. The film was some flashy action flick, but I barely paid attention, too distracted by Andrew's hand on my knee and the warmth of his body next to mine.

As we left the theater, blinking in the late afternoon sunlight, Andrew pulled me close for a selfie. "Come on," he grinned. "We need photographic evidence of our Parisian adventure."

We spent the next hour taking silly pictures – making faces in front of fountains, pretending to hold up statues, and generally being ridiculous tourists. I carefully curated a selection to post online, making sure Andrew's face was obscured or cut out entirely.

No sooner had I hit 'post' than my phone lit up with notifications. A like and a heart emoji from Sally. I felt a twinge of guilt, quickly pushed aside as Andrew's arm slipped around my waist.

"Everything okay?" he asked, noticing my momentary distraction.

I nodded, pocketing my phone. "Yeah, just... nothing important."

As night fell, we made our way back to the hotel, the streets of Paris bathed in a soft, romantic glow. Andrew's lips found my temple, pressing a gentle kiss there as we walked.

"Thank you," he murmured. "For being here with me."

I leaned into him, savoring his warmth and the intoxicating scent of his cologne. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

The Eiffel Tower sparkled in the distance, a dazzling backdrop to our clandestine romance. For now, at this moment, everything felt perfect. I pushed away thoughts of the future, of the complications waiting for us back home. Here, under the Parisian moonlight, it was just Andrew and me – and that was enough.