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I actually have to look away to catch , I want to say

How did I find soas of all places? I want to ask

But instead, I stay quiet and let hio

"I think I was stood up," he says, and now that I’ve composed myself, I turn back to face him

"That’s terrible They didn’t call or text?"

He shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair, righting it again "It’s probably for the best," he says with a resolute lift of his chin "I don’t think we are that cole myself toward him "Was this supposed to be the first date?"

He shakes his head and opens hiswhen the bartender stops in front of us "Un whisky-soda s’il vous plaît," he says to the in ettonic?" I phrase it as a question and the bartender s stare to the bartender’s back, then clears his throat before continuing "We’ve been together for a while but--" He stops abruptly, shaking his head He leans closer, dropping his voice when he says, "No, ignore that I don’t want to pretend to cheat"

I bite rin Jesus, he’s cute

"What I mean to say is that we had talked on the phone a few ti mine as if this cover story works better "It never felt totally right but I thought if wemy head in sympathy "Sorry she’s not here"

He takes a deep breath before relaxing his shoulders, and his lips push out in an edible pout "What about you? You said you’re notup his hands, he adds, "And I ask that in the least stalkerish way possible Please don’t call security"

I laugh, spinning my phone on the bar in front ofday at work and I needed a drink A friend said this place had the best view around"

"‘A friend’?"

"Just this guy I know," I tease

Ansel s Not sure you could beat the view on top of that," he says,to the Eiffel Tower

The bartender sets our drinks in front of us and I reach for h"

"Ahhh, but yes There’s chane on the top level Served in the finest plastic stemware around Don’t want to miss that while you’re here"