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My eyes flick to a line in small print and italics.
“‘The happy couple visited a pharmacy in the eighth arrondissement to buy a pregnancy test. They’re expected to announce the happy news soon.’”
I rip off the cover and tear it into little pieces.
“Alma, who cares?”
“They can spout whatever bullshit they want, but not this!” I rage, on the verge of tears.
“You need to toughen up,” he whispers, taking me in his arms. “Whatever they do, whatever they say, if we ignore them, it won’t affect us.”
56
Alma
“So, I guess, now that you’re a star, we’re not good enough for you anymore?”
After showing up at my place with a bottle in each hand, Niels immediately starts to mock me, followed closely by Clémentine.
“It’s true, you’ve been neglecting us since you started banging a celebrity,” she complains.
They don’t know it, but their affectionate teasing does me a world of good. I tell them I’ve spent the week smiling dementedly at Kate, trying to keep my mouth shut about Felix, hiding from the paparazzi, and avoiding my parents’ calls.
“Yeah, and thanks to me, your brother is staying off your case, right?” my best friend says, with a blissful look on his face.
“Oh, totally. You should have started banging him much sooner.”
“Alma, it’s even better than I dreamed. I’ve never felt this way before!”
He gazes up to the heavens like a man in a trance, while Clem pretends to gag.
“What if we’re moving too fast?” he whispers, doubts suddenly creeping in. “What if he gets sick of me? What if, one day, he can’t stand the sight of my sweaters or my ass anymore?”
“Your ass? That’s unlikely,” Clem says.
“What do you have against my sweaters, huh?”
Clem and I stare at today’s choice, which is covered in the embroidered heads of garden gnomes… and press our lips together tightly.
“Nothing at all,” Clem mutters, fighting back a snigger.
“We adore them,” I say.
He pouts, then starts to give us all the latest raunchy details of his sex life—featuring my brother. So, I try to engage Clémentine in conversation instead.
“Nothing much new on my end,” she informs me flatly.
Niels and I exchange a look that says, “Are you going to get her talking, or should I?” Then, I go on the offensive. In her own time, Clem eventually answers each of our questions, but she seems distracted, as though none of this really concerns her. We learn that, despite their arguments, she refuses to give up on Yann. Her main priority is protecting the twins. And Clarence, meanwhile, is starting to have doubts about the baby.
At this point, she puts down the slice of quiche she’d been wolfing down and addresses us in a more serious tone. “I’m going to get a paternity test done. I don’t have a choice anymore. Will you guys be there to pick up the pieces if the result isn’t what I want it to be?”
“Of course we’ll be there,” I murmur.
“I’ll wear my nicest sweater for you,” Niels assures her, with a smile.
“I can’t wait,” Clem grimaces, diving back into her food. “Alma, isn’t there any dessert? I’m craving something sweet.”
A few moments later, right on cue, Vadim rings my doorbell, his arms laden with goodies. He’s brought candied chestnuts and Ladurée macarons for Clem, Turtle Chips and other Korean snacks for Niels, and a huge Quality Street tin for me—chocolates that always remind me of my other home country.
