Chapter 74: A Parisian Stroll
The morning light streamed through the tall windows of the apartment, filtering through the sheer curtains and casting a warm glow across the room. Ava stirred first, blinking groggily as she registered the soft sounds of the city waking up—birds chirping, the faint hum of a Vespa in the distance, and the occasional laughter of pedestrians below. She stretched lazily, momentarily forgetting where she was until the scent of freshly baked bread wafted into the room.
Paris. Right.
The realization hit her just as Ryan let out a soft groan beside her. Ava turned her head slightly, biting back a smile as she took in the sight of him sprawled across the bed, one arm thrown over his head and the other dangerously close to her side. For all his teasing, Ryan looked endearingly boyish in his sleep, his hair slightly mussed and his expression completely at ease.
As if sensing her gaze, Ryan’s eyes fluttered open, and he blinked a few times before focusing on her. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
"Morning," Ava replied, her tone light as she pushed herself up onto her elbows. "Do you always take up this much space, or is it just when you’re sharing a bed?"
Ryan smirked, his voice warming with teasing. "I was giving you space, Matchmaker. If anything, you’re the one who hogged the covers."
Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the small laugh that bubbled up. "Let’s call it even. Now, come on. Mei will probably have some over-the-top itinerary planned, and I’d like to get coffee before she ropes us into her next ’adventure.’"
Ryan groaned dramatically but followed her lead, throwing back the covers and stretching as he stood. "Fine, but if there’s a mime involved today, I’m blaming you."
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After a quick breakfast of croissants and coffee from the bakery down the street, Ava and Ryan found themselves wandering through the cobblestone streets of Paris. Mei had left a note claiming she and Harold were off "scouting" potential competitors, which Ava suspected was code for an extravagant shopping spree.
"It’s kind of nice," Ryan said, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets as they walked side by side. "Having some quiet time before the chaos kicks in."