Page 78 of A Win-Win Situation
Adorable, as always. I’m never going to get tired of seeing that.
We continue our dinner, chatting and laughing together, and as we finish up, I suggest we walk to the Eiffel Tower, to help digest our dinner.
We stroll through the streets, taking in the city lights and enjoying the cool evening breeze. The Seine River flows beside us, its gentle ripples reflecting the city lights like a liquid mirror. The iconic Eiffel Tower looms ahead, its silhouette outlined against the Parisian night sky. It feels like we have the whole city to ourselves, like nothing else exists beyond the four of us.
The warmth of Leora's hand in mine, combined with the soft chatter and laughter from Thomas and Amélie next to us, creates a sense of contentment and happiness within me.
I glance over at Leora, and she catches my gaze, a small smile playing on her lips.
"What?" I ask
"I can’t believe I’m on my way to see the Eiffel Tower."
I use my other hand to point up. "If you look up, you can see it." Leora tilts her head back, her eyes tracing the iconic structure as she marvels at its sheer size and beauty.
We reach the Eiffel Tower, and it's beautiful as always; its metal structure glittering in the dark night sky.
"Wow."
"It’s beautiful, right?" Amélie asks and all Leora is able to do is nod.
"Come on, let’s take the elevator to the top. The line is almost empty," Thomas suggests. Leora’s head immediately snaps to him. She still hasn’t told me about her fear of elevators, but I’m certain of it now.
"Oh no, we don’t have to go up. You guys have probably already been up there hundreds of times."
"Of course, we must. It's your first time here. Don't worry about us," Thomas insists.
I immediately notice the defeat and stiffness in her shoulders, and I try to come up with a way to get her out of this without putting her on the spot.
"Guys, let’s skip the elevator ride today. I need to get back home to finish some work. I’ll take her to see it another day, I promise."
They all stop, and Amélie looks at me, a bit disappointed.
"Are you sure?" she asks, giving Leora a glance.
I nod, giving Leora’s hand a gentle squeeze.
"Yeah, let’s save it for another time." Leora gives me a grateful smile, and I know I made the right decision.
"Okay then, but at least let me get a cute photo of you two in front of it." Amélie crouches down, lowering the phone, so she’ll get as much of the tower as she can. I stand with my arm around Leora.
"Can you look any stiffer?" Thomas calls out.
Leora leans her head against me in an attempt to look more relaxed, and Amélie immediately snaps a few pictures.
"Do something else. You look awkward," Thomas chimes in again.
"Stop with your commentary, Thomas."
"He’s right though," Amelié says. "Why don’t you turn toward each other and kiss for the camera? That would be really cute to capture."
I clear my throat and look at Amélie. "Uh, I don’t think that’s necessary."
"Come on, bro, kiss your wife," Thomas says with a chuckle.
Leora and I exchange a quick glance.
"Kiss your wife! Kiss your wife! Kiss your wife!" He continues cheering.
