Haven (Paul Lahote Fanfiction)

Thunder

This week had been terribly hectic. I was on my way back from Los Angeles, waiting for the flight to board. My phone rang.

"Coucou!" I sang.

"Hey." He sang back. God, it had been a while since I heard his voice.

"Tu me manques tellement." I told him I missed him so much. Valentin and I almost always spoke in French.

"I miss you too." He replied, a sad tone in his voice.

"How is college?" I asked.

"It's going good, studies have gotten harder." He let out a chuckle. "Had to reduce my gym time."

"Look at you working so hard." I joked.

"Anyways..." He paused. "Are you excited?"

"What for? " I asked.

"Are you kidding? " He sounded hurt.

"No. Seriously, Val, tell me what is it?" I was now worried. Hopefully I had not forgotten anything important.

"It's your fucking birthday in almost two weeks!" He said in English, his tone accusing, like I had committed a crime.

"Oh." Was all that left my mouth.

"What's wrong?" He asked. I sighed; I couldn't hide anything from him.

"I just have a lot going on right now."

"Do you want to talk?"

"Yeah, but I can't. Not right now at least. I have a flight to board."

"What? Where are you right now?" He asked.

"At the L.A. airport, heading back to LaPush."

"Oh, Alright. Bye, I guess."

"Yeah. Bye." I spoke sadly.

"Love you." He said and that lightened my mood.

"Love you more."

I wished I could just take a moment to close my eyes and inhale. First Paul, then this trip which I very stupidly decided to take and then the meetings this week and last but not least, my birthday. I wanted to be excited but I could not.

There was no time to think, I had to board my flight.

I reached back home, literally strew my suitcase and office bag on the floor, threw my coat on the couch and gorged on food. I was honestly so tired. Tired of the U.S. Tired of missing Paul so much and tired of being vegetarian! I was giving up. Tomorrow, I would make croissants and macaroons and eclairs and whatnot!

I went to sleep feeling a little better about myself.

The next day passed in the same swift blur. I woke up and called the cleaners, paid a quick visit to the grocery store and prepared the documents for my meeting today with William and Mr. James.

While the cleaners straightened the house up, I baked my favourite French deserts. Oh, the satisfaction I received when I cracked an egg!

Soon I was on my way to meet William at a hotel in Port Angeles. The new route that had been created reduced my drive time by an hour. We decided to meet for coffee, since his father had another meeting after that.

He and his father were already there when I arrived.

When I saw William smile at me from the distance, something in my stomach fluttered and my heart beat rapidly. He looked dashing. His dark grey suit clung to his toned body; the navy tie looked great against the sharp white shirt. He got up and came to greet me, taking my hand and brushing his soft lips against my knuckles. A shiver went up my spine, though not from the cold. "Hi." I spoke.