“Oh,” Meredith says, understanding. “Seriously?”
Lola looks at me, and we explode into helpless laughter. Neither of us has any idea what’s happening. We’re panting, out of shape and out of breath.
“Stop!” Josh says.
We tumble to a halt behind him. We’re on the edge of the square facing the massive cathedral. “I assume we didn’t run all the way here to see a structure that hasn’t left this spot in hundreds of years?” Lola readjusts her pink hair, and I realize it’s a wig. “What am I looking at?”
But then I see them.
Several yards away – closer to the cathedral’s legendary carved doorways – Anna and St. Clair are standing on top of Point Zéro. It’s been hand-brushed clear of its dusting of snow. Point Zéro is the bronze marker, a star, which designates the official centre of France. There are at least two superstitions about it. One is that anyone who stands on the star will return to France. The other is that you can use it to make a wish.
“Wait for it,” Josh says.
Lola stands straighter, excited. “No!”
“Yes,” Cricket says.
I’m the last one in the dark, until – suddenly – it happens. St. Clair removes something from his pocket. And then he gets down on one knee.
Anna’s entire body lights with shock and joy and love. She nods a vigorous yes. St. Clair places the ring on her finger. He stands, she throws her arms around him, and they kiss. He spins her in a circle. They kiss again. Deep, hungry, long. And then he turns to us and waves – with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen – clearly aware that we’ve been standing here the whole time.
Chapter thirty-one
I’ve never witnessed a moment like this. I didn’t even know that I was old enough for a moment like this. Friends – are they friends? They feel like they might be friends to have included me here tonight – getting engaged to be married. At nineteen!
Anna shows off her ring. It’s small and simple and lovely. Her eyes suddenly shine, and she wheels around to face St. Clair. “So this is why you got a job.”
He grins. “I wasn’t about to buy you a ring with my father’s money.”
Josh bear-hugs St. Clair. “I’m only sorry you’re off the market.”
“Don’t tell Anna, but I bought one for you, too,” St. Clair says.
Lola throws her arms around Cricket. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this was gonna happen.”
“I wanted to,” he says. “But sometimes you think about things…out loud.”
“I do not!”
“You do,” Anna and St. Clair say together.
Lola grumbles, but she’s smiling.
“Attention, attention,” St. Clair says. “My fiancée and I—”
Everyone laughs at how strange and foreign the word sounds. It’s like discovering a new language or being a part of a new culture. The culture of adults. And we don’t yet know how it works, but it feels good so far.
St. Clair clears his throat. “My fiancée and I are headed out for a celebratory dessert. I’d ask you all to join us, but I don’t want you there.”
We laugh. Everyone hugs one another goodbye again, and this time, Anna and Meredith have the longest hug. Meredith whispers something to her, and Anna looks moved. She hugs Meredith again. And then Anna and St. Clair are bouncing off into the distance, weaving a path through the accumulating snow. He loudly hums a happy tune.
Lola glances at the full moon. “You know…it’s not that late.”
Cricket extends his arm. “Shall we stroll?”
She slips her arm through it and hugs him closer against her body. “I can’t believe we’re in Paris. Together.”
“It was nice meeting you,” Cricket says to me, and I feel sad that everyone is leaving. “See you in the morning?” he asks Josh.
Josh nods.
Lola and Cricket stroll away, a splash of brilliant colour in a white night. And now there are three. Josh’s expression turns solemn. He places an arm around Meredith, and the gesture makes me recall that, once upon a time, she was in love with St. Clair.
“You okay, Mer?” he asks.
“I am,” she says. “But thank you for asking.”
Another hug, a long one filled with memories. She pulls away first. “Sorry,” she says. “You’ll have to forgive me. My day started early, and I’m beat. I’m gonna head back to the hostel.” But Meredith is definitely not beat. She’s bowing out to let us talk. She’s choosing to be alone – on a night that might be bittersweet for her – to give us a chance at…I’m not sure what.
“It was nice seeing you again,” I say. And I mean it. I’m grateful for this sacrifice.
“Don’t get too sad. I’m sure we’ll see each other again someday.” And she winks before leaving. “See you tomorrow, Josh,” she shouts.
Josh’s hands are in his pockets, and his shoulders are up to his ears. “She’s not my most subtle friend. Which is saying something. Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. She’s really nice.”
“She is.”
“All of your friends are nice.”
He looks at me. “I’m glad you think so.”
We’re quiet. The snow falls softly against his dark hair.
“So,” I say.
“So.” He glances at his feet. “Can I walk you home?”
My body flushes. “Yes. Please. Thank you.” I look away, embarrassed.
Without needing to say it aloud, we choose a route towards the dorm that will have fewer people. We walk in silence. The flakes are getting fatter. The hush should feel peaceful, but the nervousness inside of me only grows.
He looks so beautiful in the lamplight. I think I was wrong about him. I hope I was wrong about him. I know I was wrong about myself. We don’t say a word until we reach the dormitory. The first time we walked here together, it was ours. Now it’s only mine. He’s brave for coming back here again, and I can be brave, too.
“Would you…” I say.
Josh watches me. He waits for me to finish the question. He wants me to say it.
“Do you wanna come inside?” I ask. “And talk?”
It looks as if what he’s about to say might kill him. “I wish that I could, but I don’t think I’d be welcome in there.”