Daddy's Best Friend

63

"Can you believe we're really here?" I said, my voice tinged with a mix of excitement and disbelief.

Henry grinned, his eyes sparkling, "Believe it, Sophia. The City of Love awaits our exploration."

As we approached the iconic landmark, we joined a throng of people snapping selfies and striking poses that ranged from the elegant to the downright outrageous. Henry, never one to shy away from a good time, suggested we do the classic "leaning on the tower" pose.

"Ready for some optical illusion magic?" he quipped, wrapping his arm around me.

We leaned back dramatically, our laughter blending with the delighted chatter of fellow tourists. Passersby grinned at our antics, and we found ourselves greeted with enthusiastic cheers and applause. It was as if we had unwittingly become the entertainment for a spontaneous street performance.

"Quite the crowd-pleasers, aren't we?" I teased, unable to suppress my laughter.

Henry winked, "Just wait until they see our interpretative dance routine at the Louvre."

We strolled through the Champ de Mars, the greenery providing a serene contrast to the towering metal structure behind us. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

"Tell me, Sophia," Henry began, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "what's on your must-do list in Paris?"

I pretended to ponder dramatically, tapping my chin, "Well, a clandestine mission to uncover the secret of the perfect croissant is certainly on the agenda."

Henry chuckled, "Ah, a pastry quest. I should've known."

As we meandered through the city streets, we engaged in a delightful game of "spot the most stylish Parisian." Henry, with his innate charm, managed to convince a local café owner to share the secret to the perfect café au lait. I, on the other hand, was busy practicing my limited French with anyone willing to endure the struggle.

At a bustling street corner, we found ourselves enveloped in the melody of an accordion-playing street musician. Couples danced, and strangers swayed to the music. Henry, ever the romantic, extended his hand.

"Care for a dance, mademoiselle?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

I curtsied dramatically, "Why, kind sir, I thought you'd never ask."

Out of the blue, two ladies, elegantly dressed and seemingly in high spirits, approached us. The older of the two, with a playful twinkle in her eye, said, "Bonjour! Would you care to dance?"

Henry, ever the gentleman, gave a polite smile, "Thank you, but I'm already dancing with my companion
Here."

"No, merci. I'm here with Sophia," he said, his arm protectively around me.

The ladies, seemingly undeterred, giggled as if they were privy to some inside joke. One of them, with a mischievous glint in her eye, remarked, "Oh, we thought she was your daughter!"

The younger of the two chuckled, "Companion? We thought she was your daughter! You don't look old enough to have a companion like her."

I felt a flash of irritation but decided to play along with a teasing grin, "Well, you know what they say, good skincare is the key."

They both laughed, seemingly oblivious to the fact that I wasn't in the mood for their banter.

The older lady raised an eyebrow, "Oh, is that so? Well, we just wanted a dance with this handsome gentleman. No harm intended."

In my best attempt at nonchalance, I replied, "Well, you can keep your dance. I'm sure there are plenty of other partners around."

They exchanged glances, and the older one shrugged, "Fair enough. No need to get all snippy about it. ."

Now, that was a moment. Henry and I exchanged glances, both amused and slightly bewildered. I, however, wasn't about to let this pass without a sassy retort.

"Well, isn't that a novel idea? You might need to check your math on that one," I quipped, my tone laced with sarcasm.

The ladies, taken aback by my not-so-subtle rebuff, exchanged uneasy glances. But I wasn't finished.

"And just for the record, even if I were his daughter, I'd still be a better dance partner," I added, a playful smirk on my face.

Henry, sensing the tension, chuckled, "Ladies, I appreciate the offer, but I'm committed to dancing with this charming lady tonight."

With that, he led me away, leaving the two ladies slightly flustered on the Parisian street. As we distanced ourselves, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Did that really just happen?" I asked, shaking my head in disbelief.

Henry grinned, "Well, we are in Paris. Expect the unexpected."

We found a quieter spot to continue our dance, away from the curious eyes and unsolicited dance partners. The street music played on, and we resumed our romantic twirls, forgetting the brief interruption.

"You handled that with style," Henry said, pulling me closer.

"I've had practice," I replied, "Paris seems to bring out the sass in me."

Henry laughed, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The Parisian night welcomed us back to our cozy room, adorned with a view of the city's twinkling lights. Henry and I, still buzzing with the energy of the day's adventures, collapsed onto the plush sofa.

"That Eiffel Tower is something else, huh?" Henry exclaimed, a boyish grin on his face.

I chuckled, "Well, it's only one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. No big deal."

He pretended to be offended, "No big deal? Come on, Sophia, you can't deny it was pretty spectacular."

I rolled my eyes playfully, "Okay, fine, it was amazing. Happy now?"

Henry leaned back, a satisfied expression on his face, "Ecstatic. So, what was your favorite part of the day?"

I pondered for a moment, "Hmm, tough question. But I think wandering through those charming streets in Montmartre was magical. It felt like we stepped into a movie set."

Henry nodded in agreement, "Absolutely. And that little café where we had lunch, with the accordion player? Classic Parisian charm."

We reminisced about the accordion's melody, the aroma of freshly baked croissants, and the lively chatter of locals. It was as if each moment had left an indelible mark on the canvas of our shared memories.

"So, any plans for tomorrow?" Henry inquired, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I grinned, "Oh, I've got a whole itinerary planned. Louvre, Notre-Dame, and maybe a boat ride on the Seine. We have to make the most of our last day in this romantic city."

He chuckled, "You're turning into quite the tour guide. I like it."

Our laughter filled the room, creating a bubble of joy that seemed to envelop us. It was these simple, carefree moments that made the trip unforgettable.

As we bantered about our plans for the next day, Henry's phone buzzed with a notification. He checked it and chuckled, "Looks like we're getting some attention on social media."

I raised an eyebrow, "Already? What did you post?"

Henry showed me a photo he'd taken of us in front of the Eiffel Tower, and the caption read, "Lost in the magic of Paris with my favorite person."

I couldn't help but smile at the sweet sentiment. "You're going to make people jealous with that caption."

He winked, "Maybe that's the plan."