Page 77 of Confusing Cade

She nodded, and her smile spread across her face, as if it could be contained no more. “It's the next step, Cade. Going from my little boutique to Paris fashion week level? I still can’t believe it."

I set down my fork, staring at her in awe. "Bella, that's huge. Holy shit, I'm so proud of you." I pulled her into a hug across the table, nearly knocking over the juice. She giggled as I kissed her cheek. "You've earned this."

We finished breakfast, lingering over the fruit, talking more about the trip. "Paris has this energy," she said, gazing out the window. "It's inspiring my designs already.”

"Can't wait to see them," I said. "And today's plans? Musée d'Orsay is top of the list, right?"

"Absolutely. I want to soak in the Impressionists. Monet, Renoir, van Gogh... I don’t know. It might spark something for the collaboration."

"Sounds good. After that, we can wander the Left Bank, grab lunch at that outdoor café with the crepes."

She nodded, her face radiant. "Perfect. This whole trip feels like a reset. After the grand opening whirlwind, I needed this."

As we cleared the plates, I watched her move around the room, graceful and confident.How did I get this lucky?Bella wasn't just my girlfriend; she was everything. I loved her laugh, the way she bit her lip when concentrating on a design, how she challenged me to be better. The past all seemed so stupid now. So meaningless. But here we were, happier than ever. I loved Bella so deeply it scared me, but in the best way. She made me want to be the man she deserved, every day.

"Bella," I said, my voice a little rough with emotion. She turned, tilting her head. "I just... I love you. More than I can put into words."

She crossed the room, wrapping her arms around my neck. "I love you too, Cade. You're my rock." We kissed, slow and sweet, the kind that lingers and promises more.

After a quick shower—together, because why waste water in Paris—we got dressed. Bella in a flowy sundress and one of her own scarves tied around her neck, me in jeans and a button-down. She grabbed her phone. "Hold on, I need to send Lilly a pic. She's been blowing up my texts, asking for updates."

She snapped a selfie of us by the window, the Eiffel Tower photobombing in the background, both of us grinning like idiots. Caption:Paris mornings with my favorite person. Jealous yet?She tapped Send.

Her phone pinged almost immediately. "Lilly says, 'You two are disgustingly cute. Bring me back chocolate and stories!' With a bunch of heart emojis."

I chuckled. "Tell her we'll do one better... maybe a scarf from your new line."

We headed out, the hotel lobby, a swirl of marble and chandeliers, the doorman tipping his hat. The streets of Paris buzzed with life. Street vendors hawked baguettes and pastries. Couples strolled arm in arm. The scent of espresso lingered everywhere. We walked to the Musée d'Orsay, the air crisp with that early summer edge. Inside, the museum was a treasure trove. We wandered hand in hand, stopping at the Van Gogh self-portrait, Bella murmuring about the bold strokes and how they could translate to silk.

"See the blues here?" she asked, pointing. "Mixed with gold thread, it could be a sunset scarf."

"You're brilliant," I whispered, kissing her temple.

We spent hours there, lost in the art. Lunch followed at a sidewalk bistro: onion soup, escargot, and wine that went straight to our heads. We talked about everything and nothing—the future of her career, maybe expanding scarves and sarongs to online international sales, my own work projects back home. But mostly, we just were. Happy, content, and in love.

As the afternoon faded, we meandered back along the river, stopping for gelato, watching street artists. Back at the hotel, we collapsed on the bed, feet sore but spirits high. Bella curled into me, her head on my chest.

"Thank you for a great day," she sighed.

"You’re welcome. Every day with you is wonderful," I replied, stroking her hair.

Four months post-grand opening, and life was good. No more confusion, just us against the world. Bella's career soaring, our love stronger. Paris was just the beginning. I closed my eyes, holding her close, grateful for every confusing, broken step that led us here.