Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Amy nodded, her gaze falling to the book on her desk. I narrowed my eyes, seeing the small title on the cover.
Budget.
I sat back, looking at her. “What are you doing, Chippy? I mean, really doing.”
“Just keeping track of wedding expenses, my expenses—” She stopped speaking, shrugging. “Making sure I don’t overextend.”
I realized a conversation needed to happen. We had been so busy planning the future and our lives together, I hadn’t sat with Amy and talked this all out. I was awake now, and it was a good time to clear the air.
I sat back, crossing my ankle over my knee. “I have told you that I’m paying for all the wedding expenses, Amy.”
“That doesn’t seem—”
I cut her off. “As I told your parents, that is my gift to you. To me as well since I’m so damn anxious to marry you.”
“I still need to track—”
Again, I stopped her. “Do what you have to do, but there is no budget, Amy. Whatever you want, I want you to have. No scrimping because lilies are more expensive than carnations. Or if there is an overnight shipping charge on an item. Whatever you want to make it the day of your dreams. I want you to have it. Do you understand?”
“I could break you,” she said. “I have expensive tastes.”
I laughed at her. “No. My ex had expensive taste. You have an eye for lovely things and common sense. That’s a vast difference. You can’t break me, Amy.”
She huffed a sigh. “I know you’re well-off, Simon. But I will be contributing to this household. Once I sublet the apartment, I’ll pay part of the mortgage and the bills…”
“There is no mortgage. I’ll cover the apartment rent until you find a subletter because, once again, you’re moving fast because of my timeline. As for the bills, we’ll figure it out.” I stood and went to her desk, picking up her laptop. I typed on the keyboard, then set it back on her desk. “Look.”
She turned and looked at the screen. Her posture stiffened and she lifted her head as she realized what she was looking at. I leaned over and rested my chin on her shoulder, seeing the financial picture she was staring at.
“I am more than well-off, Amy. You will never want for anything. If you didn’t want to work, you wouldn’t have to. My greatest joy in life is going to be looking after you. I want to give you everything—if you let me.”
“I-I didn’t know,” she whispered, shock making her voice raspy. “I don’t know if I’ve seen that many zeros on a bank statement.”
I chuckled and pressed a kiss to her neck. “What is mine is yours. That’s how marriage works.”
“I should sign a prenup.”
“Nope. I don’t need a prenup with you. I know you, Amy. I trust you more than anyone else in my life. If you decided to leave me, you might as well take it all anyway.”
She turned in her chair and glared up at me. “I am not marrying you for your money. I don’t care about it. I love you. You and your heart. Not your bank account.”
I rested my hands on the arms of her chair, hovering over her. “I know. That’s one reason I love you so much. You love me. Just Simon.”
“I do.”
I grinned. “Keep practicing those words, baby. You’ll be saying them in front of a bunch of people soon.”
Tears glimmered in her eyes, and I wiped them away. “Please don’t worry about the money. A budget for our day. The apartment. Anything. I’ve got you.”
“If what is yours is mine, then what is mine is yours.”
I loved her independence. Her determination to be able to look after herself. And her resolve to be an equal partner. I wanted her to relax once we were married and realize how happy it would make me to look after her. She looked after me as well, but in a different way. Her contribution was far more important, and I hoped one day she would see that. Until then, I would keep reminding her.
“I agree. So, can I have your car?” I teased.
She widened her eyes. “My eight-year-old Kia with the rust on it? No way, you gold digger. Hands off the vehicle.”
I laughed and bent to kiss her. “My evil plan has been foiled.”
She cupped my face. “I love you, Simon.”
“I know. I love you right back.”
“Can you close that screen now? It makes me jittery.”
I logged out and shut the lid. “Come back to bed, and I’ll calm your jitters. I have just the thing.”
She smiled as I held out my hand. She took it and squeezed my fingers. “I bet you do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
SIMON
The day I married Kelsey, my stomach had ached from the repressed anxiety I felt. There was no sense of ultimate happiness, no joy. It was a step in a journey I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on any longer, yet I felt as if I had no choice but to keep going forward.