Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 96: A Walk Through Paris

Chapter 96: A Walk Through Paris

Ava had no idea how long she stayed curled up against Ryan.

For once, there was no rush. No competition looming over them. No sabotages. No forced matchmaking events.

Just them.

Wrapped in warm sheets, tangled limbs, and the slow, steady rhythm of Ryan’s breathing against her hair.

She exhaled softly, shifting slightly, and felt his arm tighten around her waist.

Ryan hummed, his voice still laced with sleep. "Where do you think you’re going?"

Ava smirked. "I didn’t say I was going anywhere."

Ryan cracked one eye open, his usual teasing smirk appearing as he pulled her even closer. "Good. Because I was going to say—you’re legally obligated to stay in bed after last night."

Ava scoffed. "Legally obligated? You’re a divorce lawyer, not a contract writer."

Ryan chuckled, pressing a lazy kiss against her bare shoulder. "Doesn’t matter. It’s binding."

Ava rolled her eyes but didn’t move away.

Instead, she let herself sink into the moment—the warmth of his skin, the soft way he held her, the unspoken certainty that this was exactly where she wanted to be.

And she had fought it for so long.

But now?

She was done fighting it.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Until—

Knock knock knock.

Ava groaned. "Oh, for the love of—"

Ryan sighed, pressing his forehead against hers. "And here I thought Paris was supposed to be romantic."

The knocking continued.

And then—Mei’s voice.

"Are my lovebirds awake?"

Ava froze.

Ryan bit back a laugh.

Ava slapped his arm.

Ryan definitely laughed.

Ava scrambled to grab the sheet, covering herself as if Mei could somehow see through the door. "What does she want?! It’s barely morning!"

Ryan sat up, running a hand through his hair. "I think your grandma is calling a post-matchmaking victory meeting."

"I brought croissants!" Mei announced through the door. "And coffee! And fresh fruit!"

Ava groaned, flopping back against the pillows. "Kill me now."

Ryan grinned. "To be fair, you do love croissants."

"And," Mei continued, "Harold and I have agreed to take a very long, unnecessary walk this morning! No reason at all! Just giving my darling granddaughter and her favorite lawyer some time alone."

Ava gasped in horror.

Ryan snorted.

Ava threw a pillow at him.

"Are you kidding me?!" Ava hissed under her breath. "She knows!"

Ryan, still laughing, leaned against the headboard, completely unbothered. "Of course, she knows. She’s been trying to match us since New York."

Ava groaned, covering her face. "This is so humiliating."

Ryan nudged her playfully. "Humiliating? Or are you just mad that she was right?"

Ava whipped her head toward him. "Don’t you dare—"

Ryan smirked, leaning in dangerously close. "She did say I was your perfect match."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Say it out loud, and I’m pushing you off the bed."

Ryan’s grin widened. "Say what? That Mei won?"

Ava shoved him—but Ryan pulled her down with him, flipping their positions so that she was pinned beneath him, breathless and flustered.

His voice dropped lower. "Admit it, Matchmaker. You were always going to end up here with me."

Ava swallowed, heart hammering.

But this time, she didn’t argue.

Instead, she lifted her chin slightly, smirking just a little. "You were very persistent."

Ryan chuckled, pressing a kiss to her jaw. "Damn right, I was."

Ava hummed, letting him trail soft kisses down her neck.

And then—

"I heard a thump! Are you two okay?"

Ryan let out a groan, resting his forehead against her shoulder. "Your grandma is relentless."

Ava sighed. "Welcome to my life."

Ryan grinned against her skin. "I don’t mind it."

Ava blinked, her heart flipping at the way he said it—soft, certain, and entirely too sincere.

She exhaled.

Then, slowly, smiled.

"Yeah," she murmured. "Me neither."

They stayed there for another moment—wrapped in each other, in warmth, in certainty.

And outside, Mei and Harold waited patiently—pretending not to hear a thing.

Because, after all... Mei had finally won.

And she wasn’t about to ruin her greatest matchmaking success.

Not yet.

---

The morning air was crisp and golden, the soft hum of Paris slowly waking up. The scent of fresh bread and coffee drifted through the air, blending with the distant laughter of early-morning vendors setting up their stalls.

Ava, still wrapped in the oversized shirt she had borrowed from Ryan, sat cross-legged on the bed, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Ryan, ever the smooth talker, had disappeared into the kitchen earlier, claiming he had "urgent business."

The business in question?

He returned moments later, balancing a tray with two cups of coffee, a small dish of fruit, and—of course—flaky, golden croissants.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "What is this?"

Ryan smirked, setting the tray down beside her. "Breakfast in bed."

Ava narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Why?"

Ryan dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "Because I am a devoted and loving boyfriend who wishes to pamper his incredibly talented, brilliant, and occasionally stubborn matchmaker."

Ava snorted. "You’re being suspiciously nice."

Ryan grinned, settling beside her and handing her a steaming cup of coffee. "Can’t a man spoil his woman without an interrogation?"

Ava took a careful sip, eyeing him over the rim of the cup. "You’re up to something."

Ryan broke off a piece of his croissant. "Nope. Just a guy appreciating his girlfriend."

Ava hummed in disbelief but didn’t argue.

Instead, she let herself enjoy the moment.

Because, truth be told, she hadn’t had many mornings like this—slow, intimate, completely at ease.

She glanced at Ryan as he casually stretched out beside her, taking lazy bites of his breakfast. The sunlight filtering through the window cast a warm glow over his features, making him look softer than usual.

Not the cocky lawyer. Not the sarcastic charmer.

Just Ryan.

Hers.

Ava exhaled, setting her coffee down. "Okay. This is nice."

Ryan chuckled. "You sound surprised."

"I am." She smirked. "You’re usually causing trouble by now."

Ryan leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against her cheek. "Give me time, Matchmaker."

Ava swallowed the warmth rising in her throat.

Instead of responding, she grabbed a croissant from the tray and took a slow, deliberate bite.

Ryan arched a brow. "Are you trying to seduce me with pastry?"

Ava chewed, maintaining eye contact.

Ryan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Unfair."

Ava smirked.

They fell into a comfortable silence, eating breakfast side by side, the city murmuring softly outside.

And for the first time in a long time... there was no rush.

No competition. No pressure.

Just them.

And yet, there was something lingering in Ryan’s gaze.

Something unspoken.

---

A Walk Through Paris

Later that morning, with no immediate chaos pulling them away, Ryan tugged Ava out of their cozy apartment for a walk through the city.

"You didn’t argue," Ryan noted as they strolled along the cobblestone streets, hand in hand.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Ryan smirked. "Usually, you fight me on romantic outings."

Ava exhaled. "Well... I guess I’ve learned to pick my battles."

Ryan squeezed her hand, chuckling. "Growth."

Ava rolled her eyes, but the truth was—this was nice.

Paris, with all its magic, was even more beautiful now that she could simply enjoy it.

No matchmaking stress. No Julian.

Just Ryan.

And them.

They walked past a flower market, where Ava paused to admire the rows of delicate peonies and lavender.

Ryan, ever the observer, watched her with a small smile. "You always stop for flowers."

Ava shrugged. "They make things prettier."

Ryan smirked. "You know, you’ve always been surrounded by love—matchmaking, romance, all of it." He paused. "But have you ever let yourself just... have it?"

Ava hesitated.

Ryan took a slow step closer, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Because I think you deserve to."

Ava felt her heart flip.

Ryan wasn’t teasing. He wasn’t being smug.

This was him.

Completely serious.

Completely hers.

A lump formed in her throat.

"Ryan—"

Ryan stepped back suddenly, clearing his throat. "Come on."

Ava blinked. "What?"

Ryan grinned. "We have one more stop."

Ava frowned but let him drag her toward the Seine, where the famous Pont des Arts Bridge stretched over the water.

Ava’s stomach dropped.

Oh no.

She knew what people did here.

Her eyes flickered to the thousands of locks attached to the bridge, symbolizing unbreakable love.

She turned to Ryan. "You did not."

Ryan pulled something from his pocket.

Ava gasped.

He had a lock.

A customized lock.

Her name was engraved on one side. His on the other.

Ava stared.

Ryan smirked. "What? Thought I wasn’t sentimental?"

Ava gaped. "You—this is—"

Ryan grinned. "Lost for words, Matchmaker?"

Ava smacked his arm.

Ryan laughed, but then his expression softened.

His thumb brushed against her cheek as he murmured, "I meant it, you know. I’m all in."

Ava’s breath hitched.

Ryan exhaled, suddenly looking... nervous.

And then—he pulled out something else.

Ava froze.

A ring.

Her heart stopped.

Ryan, ever the smooth talker, gave her a slow, lazy grin.

"It’s not a prenup, don’t worry."

Ava let out a shaky laugh.

Ryan exhaled, his gaze steady. "I wasn’t sure when I’d do this. Or how. But standing here with you... this feels right."

Ava swallowed.

Ryan took her hand, rubbing slow circles against her palm.

"I love you, Ava." His voice was softer than ever. "And I know we’ve been fighting it for a long time. But you—you’re it for me."

Ava’s chest tightened.

Ryan took a breath.

"So, will you marry me? Or do I need to bribe you with more croissants?"

Ava laughed.

Then, without hesitation—

She grabbed his face and kissed him.

It was not gentle.

It was not hesitant.

It was everything.

Ryan let out a low chuckle against her lips, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her flush against him.

Ava pulled back just enough to whisper, "Yes."

Ryan froze.

His eyes widened.

Then—he grinned.

"Really?"

Ava smirked. "As long as you don’t make me sign a prenup."

Ryan laughed, leaning in again. "No prenup."

Ava smiled. "Then yes. Absolutely, yes."

Ryan kissed her again.

The lock clicked onto the bridge.

Paris held its breath.

And with it—Ava and Ryan stepped forward, together.

This time, forever.