Second Glance // Benjamin Pavard

XIV

" Excuse moi, quoi?"

" Désolé mademoiselle Salvatore."

" Ben, there has to be a mistake."

He looks at me dumbfounded. " Where is her stuff?"

The receptionist points in the corner at all my bags packed up.

" Are you fucking serious?" I say to no one in particular.

Ben puts his hand on my back. " Is there any way she can pay for a few more nights? S'il vous plaît." He adds.

She shakes her head. " I need the key-card back. "

I slowly hand it over to her and she, too, slowly takes it.

" Ughh," I say and walk over to the corner to pick up my few bags. " I am going to kill him."

" Where are you going to stay?" Ben asks me.

" That's a very good question that I don't know the answer to."

Ben and I share a look and I get an idea.

--------------------

" Kylian Mbappé, the G.O.A.T," I say fakely enthused.

We were standing right outside the hotel and I could see the receptionist eyeing us carefully.

" I need a favor," I say turning away from Ben. " Just for a few days, Please Kylian."

I could feel someone staring and I really hoped it wasn't Ben.

" Could I stay at your house?"

" Oh, no, it's ok. Really, don't worry about it, I'll find somewhere else. Thanks though."

I turn back around and Ben stops leaning against the building an looks up. " No luck," I tell him.

He grimaces. " It'll be fine. You will find a place."

Ben pulls me into a hug, his arms wrapping around my body.

"Can you wait in the car? I have an important call to make." He rubs my arms and smiles at me.

" Sûr."

" Merci."

I go and get in the car and look at Ben while he emphasizes whatever he was talking about. The way he switches his weight from left to right. His jawline clenching everytime something he didn't like what was said. How the prominent veins in his arms shift while he uses them dramatically.

My thoughts venture off, but I get jolted back to reality when the driver door slams shut.

" Your bags are in the back; are you ready?"

" For what?" I ask curiously.

Ben smiles and starts the engine.