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‘A day.’
‘A day? Then of course you did not see everything. Did you get a boat along the Seine? Did you have coffee in Montmartre? Walk through the Jardin des Tuileries?’
I shook my head. ‘It wasn’t that kind of trip.’
We both looked up as a commotion broke out on the steps of the police station, watching as a man was dragged up the steps in handcuffs.
‘What kind of trip was it?’ he asked.
I took my hair out of its band, twisting it over my shoulder.
‘It’s a long story. But let’s just say I’m not the biggest fan of Paris.’
Léo was quiet for a moment or two and then he reached out and put his hands on my shoulders. ‘I would like to show you around my city, Hannah. And prove to you that it is as beautiful as everyone says.’
I shook my head. ‘I need to get back to the station.’
He took his hands away and I immediately wanted him to put them back again. It was because I was exhausted, I told myself, and I felt like a mess and my head was all over the place. Anyone could have reached out to me and I would have felt the same way.
He looked at his watch. ‘It is only 8.40. We have plenty of time.’
I felt myself starting to waver. Once I’d got used to the sensations of it, I’d felt so free on the back of the bike. When was I going to get the chance to do something like that again? What harm could come of taking a little detour on the way back to the station?
‘You will come?’ said Léo. ‘A small ride around Paris?’
I pulled the zip of his jacket up and down a few times, noting where it snagged, where the run was smooth.
‘We’d have to be quick.’
‘No problem. I also have things to do. There is something I must give to a friend.’
I raised my eyebrows at him, twisting my hair up again.
‘Nothing illegal,’ he said, winking at me. He had a dimple in his left cheek that I’d only just noticed.
‘Shall we go?’ he said, holding out the helmet.
I narrowed my eyes at him. ‘Ok.’
‘This must be scary for you, non?’ he said, waiting while I put on the helmet and then fastening the clasp for me again.
‘What must be?’
‘You are out of your comfort zone, Hannah. You are not used to it, I can see.’
I would have disagreed with him if I’d had the energy. He couldn’t read me as well as he thought he could. I’d taken risks all the time, once. Maybe not these days, but once. I slid onto the bike behind him, already regretting agreeing to go.
‘Hold tight,’ he shouted over his shoulder, starting the engine.
