Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
But when she did, a light flickered on. I hadn’t given the location much thought recently. I hadn’t invested energy in it. I’d lost interest in it because I want other things now.
As I pass the courtyard at The Escape, I glance at the fountain in the cobblestone courtyard, then beyond to where Elodie and I had our first kiss, a kiss that changed who I thought I was—a guy who believed things didn’t work out. That’s not me anymore. Thanks to her.
I turn the corner. The Lyft app tells me that she’s now in the car. She’ll be here in ten minutes. I’m almost at the restaurant where we had our first date nearly two months ago. Where I hope we can recreate it tonight.
I reach the Mediterranean-fusion café, then pace in front of the restaurant till the Lyft arrives and the woman of my dreams steps out.
My heart stutters. My breath catches. I’ve won the lottery for all time.
This is what I want.
Her. Us. Our future together as a family.
I head over to her, take her hand, and then drink her in. With her hair curled at the ends, her shoes clicking, and a little faux fur jacket over her shoulders, she is a vision in retro pin-up.
She’s always been beautiful. Her face captivated me the night I met her. But as I’ve come to know her, I’ve learned her heart is her most beautiful feature.
I’m about to tell her I can’t breathe without her but she speaks first.
“Tell me everything,” she says eagerly with avid eyes, squeezing my hand. “How did it go? Did Celeste love your suggestions? Did she say yes?”
“Nope.”
Elodie blinks, irked for me. “What? How could she say no?”
I wave a dismissive hand, not for Elodie, but for the location I no longer want. “She said Special Edition was worlds better,” I explain quickly. “And it’s all good.”
There is no more waiting. There is only now.
Letting go of her hand, I cup her cheek. Hold her face. “I promised myself I’d wait until the new year. Until we’d finished working together. But I just can’t wait any longer. I can’t hold this in. I am out of my mind in love with you. I love you so much,” I say, and her eyes sparkle, more blue, more bright than I’ve ever seen. Now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. “I love you madly. I’m so in love with you, all these feelings drive me wild every single day. I couldn’t wait a second longer to tell you that you are the love of my life.”
A shudder seems to slide down her body.
Her lush red lips part slowly, full of wonder, like she can’t believe what I’ve said. She’s the one shell-shocked now, and I wish I had a camera to capture this moment, but I also know I will never forget it for my whole life.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I continue since I didn’t tell her to hear it in return. “You don’t have to say it back. I just couldn’t take another breath on this earth without telling you how I feel. I don’t want you to feel like you have to be impulsive. I just—”
She covers my mouth with hers and shuts me up with a kiss that makes my heart soar. That melts me. I feel this kiss deep in the center of my soul. It’s a kiss that says, I love you too. I can feel it in the way her lips coast over mine, in the way her fingers play with the back of my hair. When she breaks the kiss, her gaze is vulnerable, full of the same raw hope I feel. “I’m so in love with you.”
I breathe the biggest sigh of relief in the world. And joy too. Unmitigated joy. “Thank god,” I say with a little bit of a laugh.
“I love you. I love you so much,” she repeats, then laughs too. “It’s so good to say it. To feel it.”
“Yeah?” I can’t quite believe it. It’s almost too good.
“Yes, I love you so much. You’re the most romantic person I’ve ever known, and it’s all real. You’re romantic because you listen to me and you care and you love and you give and you protect and you make me feel incredible.” She grabs the collar of the shirt I’m wearing, as she fiercely says, “I’m not letting you go.”
I press my forehead to hers, feeling calm, feeling peace. And seeing the true future. Not the one that I’d thought was lined with financial security. But the one that offers the possibility of soul-deep love.
I breathe in her perfume.
Slowly, she pulls back, meets my gaze. “How do we do this?” She sounds hopeful but nervous too.
There’s so much to figure out. Our marriage. Special Edition. The girls. The house. The details are a little overwhelming. But if there’s one thing I know about my woman, it’s that every now and then, she likes it when I take control.