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Plus, the hotel Prue recommended looks really stylish. The bar has a deep-purple carpet, spreading over the floor like thick fur. On each glass table rests a vase with a pink rose, and the comfortable armchairs on which we’re seated have the same purple color as the flooring.
Prue claps her hands in excitement and presses her bright red lips together. “Here comes the fun part. I figured that we should make the most of it. So, I thought of something special that will make this a weekend to remember.” She takes out her phone and holds it up in front of her, gesturing to the others to squeeze closer. “Okay girls, say cheese!” Seemingly pleased with the result, she tucks the phone back in her black handbag.
“I guess I don’t want to see the result of that photo, considering I haven’t even finished my morning coffee yet,” Monika grumbles as she takes a sip from the large mug that dangles in her hand. She savors the taste before swallowing it. “Although it’s too damn weak in comparison to German coffee.” Her silver blonde bob is perfectly coiffed and the dark eyeliner gives her charcoal-colored eyes an almost Cleopatra effect.
“Well, it’s better than nothing,” I counter. “Though the mug’s too big for my taste. But then, the French have the reputation of always complaining, don’t they?”
Emma blinks. “I’m going to go with ano comment, I guess.” They all chuckle. “Since I took the day off yesterday, I'm fresh as a daisy.”
“Good, because you’ll need to be.” Prue holds three envelopes in the air and takes in a deep breath. “Right girls, let’s face it. And I don’t want to start this morning with all this counseling shit, but…we all somehow felt the need to become a member ofInspiration for lifebecause we’re all looking for something, right?” My gaze roams around. It’s silly, but despite all our talks about this, I’m still feeling relieved to find the others nodding. “So, I think we could all use a littleextrato make this weekend even more special. It's not every day you make new friends in your twenties. In fact, I find it more difficult the older we get.”
In my case, making friends has always been a challenge and discovering why that was the case, has been one of the main topics my brain liked to mull over during my teenage years. Even Mother never fails to remind me every now and then that when she was younger, she had lots of friends. Why don’t I have any? I push the thoughts aside.
“All right.” Prue hands me the white envelope. I blink. “What’s this?”
“This, darling, is called an envelope.”
“No kidding,” I reply, grinning. My name’s written in curly letters, complete with a cute accent over the e. “OK ladies, let me explain. It’s time for some challenges. No, let me start again. When I posted that message on Facebook, I had the intention of findingrealfriends. No superficial shit, because frankly,thatI can find anywhere within a one-mile radius. I was looking for people I could have aconnectionwith.” I reach out for the safety of the Holy cross around my neck, because Prue’s words feel like dipping into a warm bath.
“I love the fact that we can actually talk with each other,” Prue continues, a soft gaze in her dark brown eyes. “That we’ve managed to create a safe space in a short time, where we can justbe. I love the fact that I, for once, don’t have to be that person who’s constantly organizing things. You, Monika, created the WhatsApp group, and Emma, you encouraged us all to actuallypicka date to come over to New York. I guess I was already sure that we’d have a good time this weekend. But besides that, I want us to do something we’ll simply never forget. So, I’ve created challenges for all of us, to get out of our comfort zones.”
Emma’s the first one to open her envelope and I watch as she takes out a white sheet of paper. Her eyes scan the words and she covers her mouth with her hand and chuckles.
“Come on, what does yours say?” Monika grunts impatiently.
“Order drinks, dance on the bar,and seduce a hot stranger.”Emma looks up at Prue and giggles. “Okay, uhm…I definitely feel awkward about this one. But hey, I can’t honestly say that I’ve never done that in my entire life, so perhaps it’s about time to go wild. Even if it’s just for once.”
Prue claps her hands, not able to hide her excitement. “That’s the spirit girl!”
“Besides, you’ve got some really cool friends who’ve got your back,” Monika adds and sends a flying kiss.
“What, literally? Will you be joining me on the bar?”
“That depends on the hot stranger you’ll be trying to seduce,” Monika winks. “All rightschätze, my turn. Oh, this one’s interesting.” She seems to let the words land before she looks back up with a surprisingly soft glance in her charcoal eyes. “Shine your light on someone else who could use some strength.You figured out what a competitive bitch I am right away!”
Prue chuckles. “Well, you never kept it a secret, did you?”
“I like it.”
So do I. I’m impressed by the way Prue puts her finger on one of the more sensitive subjects Monika talked about. Being an ambitious and hellishly talented lingerie designer, Monika’s used to constant competition. Add to that a troubled childhood and you’ve got a fierce fighter who doesn’t allow anyone to see her softer side.
I feel strangely proud to take part in these challenges. It means beating fears and insecurities, and allowing us to be guided further down the road. It’s never too late to become a better version of ourselves, yeah?
“So, what have you got?” Emma prompts and gives me a playful nudge. I pick up the envelope and give it another look.
“I really love your handwriting, Prue.” I turn it around and stare at a drawing of the Eiffel Tower. My heart skips a beat as the memory of last night slips through the cracks of my mind again. And the photo in my bag. Will I see him again? No way. This is New York. And he’s nothing more than my dirty secret.
Mine.
A good story, one that will make people laugh for years to come. I take out the white paper and look at my challenge. Oh boy, this weekend’s getting better by the second.
CHAPTERSEVEN
SATURDAY EVENING – ANGÉLIQUE
After a day in which we consume an alarming amount of coffee, Prue takes us to Al Pompiere, the Italian restaurant where she and her family have been going since she was a child. Although a native of New York, she and her family deeply respect their Italian heritage and, even today, they still have strong connections. We spent most of our day on bicycles and somehow managed to bike over fifteen miles, which is hilarious because I’ve never been on one before today. It’s refreshing to be outside of Lyon.
Prue’s throaty voice fills the air as she’s talking loudly to the jovial waiter who’s come out from behind the bar the moment the four of us walked in. I’m surprised to hear her order in fluent Italian, and can even understand some of it through my native French, but when Prue and the waiter start chatting about their families, I excuse myself to check out the old photographs on the walls that had drawn my attention.
