10. Challenge accepted

The rays of the summer sun streamed into the bedroom through the open window blinds. Jo woke up just before 6.00 am as she felt some warm light on her face. It was an amazing feeling to wake up without the after-effects of a great night with alcohol: a pounding headache, but most importantly, no burning sensation or stomach discomfort and nausea. She felt refreshed. "No more parties! No more alcohol! No more madness!" She decided.

She could already hear some noise in the apartment which, she was certain, was coming from the kitchen. She heard the clinking of cutlery and dishes; she could feel the delicate aroma of freshly brewed coffee tingling her nose. 

Matthew didn't drink it in the morning so probably Mike was already here. She didn't want to see him. That wasn't a secret. So why was he here so early in the morning?

Jo didn't feel sorry for him regarding what had happened years ago. She didn't blame him or herself. Why would she? They were not perfect human beings. They were immature and irresponsible, and they hurt each other. Both were, then, too young to make important life decisions...

Her biggest dream at the moment was very simple - to forget about all this. First, forget about Mike and everything that was connected to him. Forget about the past. She was very tenacious and rarely ever went back on her words once she had already made a decision. 

But… in this particular case, she did not trust herself. She was afraid that in his presence, she would not be able to control her emotions and did not want to have any regrets.

When she could no longer hear any sounds from behind the door, she decided to quietly enter the bathroom. However, even after delicately opening her bedroom door, she bumped into something hard. 

Another bruise for sure. Damn luck! She thought. This time on her forehead. 

How was she supposed to show her face at work in such a condition? It was the middle of summer. How would she cover herself from neck to toe in such hot and sweaty weather?

"Ouu.." A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.

When she raised her head, she was speechless upon seeing  Mike standing in front of her. His unshaven face added a couple of years to his age, but she couldn’t deny the added charm it brought about. He looked like a very mature, good-looking man. 

Jo gazed at the water droplets dripping down from his dark brown hair, trailing along the side of  his magnificent neck and a chiseled chest, ultimately disappearing beneath his white bath towel that was wrapped loosely around his slim but firm waist… A perfectly sculpted silhouette that could be used for learning human anatomy. 

‘Too perfect!’ She thought. ‘I saw nothing! Damn!... I saw nothing’ She was repeating in her mind.

Mike noticed her embarrassment. When he was sure that she was looking at him, he bit his bottom lip and chuckled. Then he rubbed his neck with a second towel which he was holding in his left hand while his right hand slowly ran through his wet hair. 

As he gradually brushed his long fringe back, she saw the gleam in his big, brown eyes. He was looking at her. ‘Damn! Mike, how dare you act like this in front of me?’ She was screaming inside.

"Good morning, Beauty!" Sweetly greeting her, Matthew appeared in the corridor behind Mike. "The mop is in the closet, on the right by the entrance door. If you don't want to spend the Saturday cleaning my apartment, I advise you to wipe the floor immediately, Bro!" He said sharply to Mike, who looked at him in confusion.

It looked like Matthew was ready for work. He was wearing a very elegant grey suit with a light pink shirt inside and grey tie to complete his outfit. She smelled the familiar scent of perfume… Aqua Di Gio Armani.

She just realized that when she saw them both, at their meeting two days ago, that she had completely missed how much these two had changed. First of all, they were no longer boys. They had grown up. Now, these two were extremely handsome men.

What was wrong with her? Since when did she become interested in the body of her best friend and ex? Not that she hadn’t admired them years ago, but today she felt awkward about it. It must be the fault of the excess alcohol. ‘Her tolerance to high-percentage of alcoholic drink has definitely decreased. No more drinking!’ She mused inwardly.

"Good morning guys! Have to go..." She said while already running to the bathroom. ‘I saw nothing! Nothing! Enough is enough! Damn!... I am capable of dealing with one of them, but not both at the same time. How am I going to survive almost a week?’ She thought of her contingency plan…

"Are you alright, Jo?" A sudden voice interrupted her contemplation. "Your favorite le petit déjeuner is ready!" Matthew said in a gentle tone.

Of course, her most favorite breakfast was ready. Even here, in the bathroom, she could take in the aroma of freshly baked croissants. The magical fragrance reminded her of her beloved France, which she had not had time to visit recently.

Her present reality lacked the specific climate of Paris, the scent of Provencal vegetation, the Mediterranean breeze, and the breathtaking Alpine landscapes. She missed the Cote d'Azur and the south of France with its wonderful flora, a unique blend of herbal, lavender, oleander, and citrus aromas.

For the past few months, she had dreamt of "un café noir un croissant" at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots on Boulevard Saint Germain in the heart of Paris. She really loved these two places: full of magnetism and the grandeur of 19th and 20th-century history, not only literature but also painting and philosophy. 

She would not mind a long walk alongside Saint Germain. That was the "real heart" of the intellectual and cultural place of Parisian life. Philosophers, writers, and musicians filled the nightclubs and brasseries surrounding the boulevard.

"Are you sure you are fine?" A concerned Matthew asked her once again.

"Don't worry about me. I am fine. Just two more minutes…"

Jo looked again in the big bathroom mirror. Even with all her bruises, she looked stunning even though she was clad in just a white bath towel, which contrasted with her delicate suntan. Wet, long, blonde hair fell loosely down her shoulders. With her height of 180 cm and a very slim but athletic figure, she looked no worse than many models from the covers of fashion magazines.

She felt that these two guys played with her yesterday. She knew perfectly well that they were testing her endurance. As usual, they wanted to check if she still treated them only as friends and if she ever saw them as men. They have always joked that she was immune to their beauty and charm... After all, she had known them for so long.

‘Do you really want to play with my emotions?’ She thought. ‘Fine! I don't mind. Challenge accepted.’