Secrets and Lies (a Les Twins fanfic)

Chapter 15: Things Happen

“You never know where it’s coming from. You never know who you’re gonna love.” —Love makes things happen (Babyface feat. Pebbles)

Later that evening Gabby took a cab to the address Laurent texted her. It was a modern-looking apartment building near the Champs-Élysées. He was waiting for her outside and they rode a lift up four flights to the penthouse loft.

Inside the décor was artsy and masculine at the same time. Everything was Asian style in black and earth tones. An open stainless steel staircase led up to a bedroom overlooking a large living area.

“Where’s Larry?” Gabby casually asked.

“I dunno. At his place I guess.”

Laurent sauntered toward the kitchen with that walk of his—the one that made every muscle from his broad back all the way down to his trim waist and legs ripple through his clothing.

Gabby was hypnotized for a second then snapped out of it and averted her eyes.

“Wait, so…so you mean Larry doesn’t live here with you?”

She hovered near the front door. It never occurred to her that they would have separate apartments.

Laurent laughed as he took down two wine glasses from the cabinet and answered from the other room.

“Nobody can live with Larry. Larry’s crazy. You move his stuff? Or you spill something? He keel you.”

“Ok, well, maybe we should call him and tell him we’re meeting over here.”

“Why? You skeered to be alone with me?”

“That’s ridiculous. Why would I be scared to be alone with you?”

Gabby parroted his question back to him and ducked into the living room. Laurent spied her through the opening in the breakfast bar and came out of the kitchen empty-handed.

“Then why you running?”

He followed her and grabbed her hands not waiting for an answer.

“Gabby, since you been here we spend so much time together. We talk. You get to know me—not as Lau from Les Twins—but as real person. I don’t bring people to my house, but I bring you because I want to know you more and I thought you feel the same for me. I never meet anyone like you before.”

Laurent’s words overwhelmed her with a rush of emotions from shock to elation, and finally, sadness. She struggled to find a response.

“These past few weeks have been great, Lau. I loved all the time we spent and I feel so close to you. You know I do. But this…this just can’t happen—“.

He cut her off.

“Why? And don’t say it’s my age. I don’t understand why this matters. I’m 24 and you like, what…26? 27? It’s only few years. This means nothing.”

In fact, she had just turned 27 and she did feel that three years was a big difference between women and men. But that wasn’t the most pressing issue. She should’ve stopped right then and explained that she was engaged. Yes, that would’ve been the best thing to do.

Surely Laurent would’ve gone running for the hills if she had said that. But she kept silent and a lie born from omission was birthed and started to take shape.

Gabby didn’t realize she’d been backing up the whole time with Laurent still holding both her hands.

“I know you leaving soon. But we can make the most of the time. S’il vous plait. Please, don’t run from me.”

He was looking at her like no one had ever looked at her before, like she was the only thing in the world, like time was standing still.

She froze in place. He moved closer, his hands on her shoulders, his lips gently brushing her forehead.

“If you want me to stop…I stop.” He whispered then paused, waiting for her to make the next move.

Gabby’s head was spinning. She put her hands up wanting to push him away, but instead she gripped his shirt and buried her face in his chest.

He lowered his face and they nuzzled one other, reaching for and missing each other’s lips until finally they connected.

The first kiss was soft and tender. The second was desperate and hungry. Laurent’s hands were in her hair, pulling her nearer, searching her mouth with his. A small moan escaped her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck, lost in the taste of him.

“Lau, I think—…,” Gabby tried to speak but he covered her words with another kiss. Her voice was barely audible. “…I think we should stop.”

“Je n’ai pas.” (I don’t.)

He moved backwards to the couch pulling her along with him and sat. She dropped her bag on the floor and stood in front of him barely breathing as he pushed her shirt up over her low rise jeans, first kissing her stomach then gripping her hips and drawing her down onto his lap.

She cupped his face in her hands trailing her lips from his eyes down to his nose before meeting his mouth again.

The rattle of her phone vibrating against the hardwood floor bounced and echoed off the loft’s vaulted ceilings spoiling the moment. She leaned back to reach for it and Laurent took the opportunity to push her shirt up further.

She grabbed the phone and sat back up wincing with pleasure as his thumbs brushed her nipples through her lace bra. His lips followed his hands and his voice deepened.

“Ne pas répondez,chéri. Nous sommes occupés.” (Don’t answer it, baby. We’re busy.)

He stared at her intently reading her reaction. “You like that?”

“Mmmmmmm,” she purred, smiling and kissing him once more before glancing at the phone.

The name on the screen read Keith. Gabby had forgotten to call him before she left the hotel.

She scrambled to her feet and pulled down her shirt as the gravity of the situation snatched her back to reality. This was a disaster waiting to happen.

The memory of Larry’s words rang in her head. Stay away from my brother.

“I’m sorry, Lau, but I have to take this. It’s my job. And…uh…I really should get going.” Another lie.

Confusion crossed Laurent’s face, but he didn’t say anything as she gathered her things and rushed out the door.