“You know what I mean, sexy. You look so good in that dress.”

It was true: that dress got two finance bros at the bar afterward to send them an entire bottle of champagne.

“Yeah, maybe. I’ll try on a bunch of stuff later.”

In the back of her mind, there was the relentless, burning thought of Danial and what he would want her to wear, what he would find sexy. This was her last night, her last real chance, and she had to play her cards right.

From down the table, she heard him laugh, the warm, self-assured gravity of it pulling her in like the sun.

5. Marseille, France

5

MARSEILLE, FRANCE

Now

“My girl!” Paul scooped Alex into his arms, twirling her around before setting her down and stepping back to take her in. “How do you look this cute after twenty-four hours of travel?”

“I did my best.” Alex laughed, grateful to have her efforts recognized.

She looked around, delirious, at the scene before her: the old port in the heart of Marseille, hundreds of boats bobbing gently in the water, rolling hills on all sides dotted by old buildings whose lights were just beginning to turn on. The sun always took its time setting during European summers, drawing the daylight out through every shade of orange and pink. She was grateful that even the sky seemed to be collaborating with her on preserving her self-image, at least until she had the time to shower and change. Paul, meanwhile, looked scrubbed to perfection in his pastel boat outfit, holding a flute of champagne and looking like a proud parent.

From behind the black van provided by the charter company to shuttle them to their slip, she heard Danial: “The two of them slept for half the ride down. I would look cute, too, if I just took a four-hour nap.”

He was standing around awkwardly, his attempt at unloading luggage rebuffed by two crew members in polo shirts who had almost everything loaded onto an elegant brass trolley. Just like in college: if he wasn’t able to be helpful, he sort of just milled around like a video game character without a player.

“Thank you for being chauffeur.” Paul smiled, his arm around Alex’s shoulder.

“I need a shower,” Sophie said, stretching her arms behind her head. “I smell like a barn animal.”

“There’s a bathroom in your suite. You can shower after we finish the tour.”

“Paul!” Guy called from the deck of the most impressive yacht in the harbor. “Stop yapping and help them up here!”