He lifted his brow.Yes.
Perhaps that kisshadmeant something to him, however superficial. Celine didn’t want to lean into that small hope but she was uncertain about everything else. First the studio, then the gift, then those engraved words, and now this.
Bastien, too, was dwelling on something. He had tipped his head back slightly, eyes searching the sky. They were lined with kohl she noticed, just like hers, and this close, his pupilsappeared the exact colour of starlight. Celine trailed his profile with her gaze, following the straight outline of his nose, then the two little curves of his lips. On the corner, she knew, there was the dimple that only showed up when his smile was bright and genuine. Celine had only seen it a few times but she had memorised the exact spot where it was hiding.
He was beautiful. He was so beautiful and full of life and he was all she wanted.
Bastien turned to her suddenly.
“Do you—” He cleared his throat when he caught her staring. “Doyouregret it?”
Without missing a beat, Celine found herself saying, “No.”
It left her throat so tenderly, a whisper coming directly from her heart. But it was true. She didn’t regret kissing him. She wanted to do it again.
Ever so pensively, Bastien leaned forward and, plucking a floret from the white geraniums, he tucked it behind her ear. His hand was trembling when it grazed her cheek. “Did you think about my offer?”
Celine nudged at the gravel with the tip of her shoe. She didn’t respond until she had dug a considerable little hole. “Your offer…is all I’ve been able to think about. That, and…” Her stare fell on his lips.
A faint smirk touched them.
“Stop that,” she said gravely. “I shouldn’t be thinking about you at all. Jacques is inside, waiting to—toproposeof all things, and all I want is to say no to him. You were right.” Celine heaved a dry chuckle. “I don’t love him.”
Bastien’s lips parted. “Celine…”
Celine rose, drying her hands on her dress, leaving streaks of water across the pleats. Her chest was straining again, rising and falling at an abnormal speed. She tried to gulp down alungful of air, only it wouldn’t go into her lungs. It got stuck in her throat like a pebble inside a cog, choking her.
“I was never in love with him,” she admitted hastily. “That is why I don’t regret kissing you. It is why Ilikedkissing you. Even though we shouldn’t have, because it was wrong, and so messy, and I can’t stop feelingguiltyabout it.”
The guilt—the guilt was eating her alive. She had told Anaïs everything, but she wasn’t the only one who needed to know. Celine had lied and kept lying to everyone she cared about and she knew they wouldn’t be as understanding as Anaïs.
Something wet fell on her cheek.
“Hey.” Bastien got to his feet, his hands immediately cupping her face. Only when he wiped the tears with his thumb did she realise she had started crying. “Celine?”
She wasn’t looking at him. Celine had turned her head sideways, facing the windows and the activity going inside. The guests were still mingling, all happy smiles and slightly inebriated by the cocktails the waiters kept passing around. The pile of presents by the door was already leaning sideways. The cake would be carried out soon.
The thought of returning inside twisted something vital within her.
“Let’s get out of here,” Celine rambled abruptly, shrugging off Bastien’s jacket and shoving it at his chest. She glanced about for her purse, before realising she hadn’t brought it with her when she had come out, and abandoned the task altogether. “Come on!”
Bastien needed a moment to register her words. “What?”
“Yes. Let’s go,” Celine urged. Clasping her fingers around his wrist, she tugged. “I can’t stay here anymore.”
“Celine…” He dropped his hand on her arm, rooting her in place.
Celine made to move, but he held firmly.
Her expression contorted. “Please,” she whispered. Just this once she wanted to flee and not have to deal with any of it. She hated feeling this way, this frustrating, smothering sensation that had no escape. “I ca—I can't go back there again. You were right about that too. I was…I wassuffocatingin that room. I couldn’t—I can’t—”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she wrapped her arms around herself. A sob racked through her, coming out in a tight wail. Her heels disturbed the gravel when she made a step backwards. And was immediately brought forward again, colliding softly with Bastien’s warm chest. His arms curled around her, so tight Celine felt her trembling squeezed into a halt.
“Breathe, okay?” Bastien said with a slight panic stitched in his voice. “I wouldreallyhate having to explain to that entire room of people what I was doing out here, cradling your unconscious body. Justbreathe.”
His words were muffled when they reached her. Celine tried to focus on the vibrations his voice created in his chest and the steady thrum of his heart.
“Just breathe,” he repeated. Sliding one of his hands up her spine, he started tracing random patterns with his thumb. The sensation was soothing. Celine relaxed against him.
