Chapter Sixty-One
Rylee
I should stop running.
L una and Sophie take pictures of me holding my big bouquet, which of course smells like vanilla.
“I want to be like you when I grow up!” Luna shouts, laughing.
“What do you mean?” I ask, grinning at her.
“I want to marry a French billionaire who’s obsessed with me!” she says, and we all laugh as we walk back into the house. I send some of the pictures to my group chat.
Sarah: Jealous. *heart emojis* You snatched a man who not only adores you, but spoils you.
Mia and Sarah met the summer she stayed at the cabin. Sarah and Jake are childhood best friends. They hit off, and now we’re all friends.
Mia: OMG, girl. I’m so happy for you! You deserve this *teary eyes emojis*
Me: I love you all. Merry Christmas.
Sarah: I love you too. Merry Christmas.
Mia: Me three. Merry Christmas.
The warm, delicious smell of bacon and French toast fills the house as we head to the living room, where gifts are piled neatly under the tree. Sophie and Luna sit cross legged on the floor as they open their presents. Luxury bags, jewelry; everything looks so expensive. He must have spent a fortune.
I carefully open one box and find a beautiful gold necklace inside with a pink ballet shoes pendant.
“This is beautiful,” Luna says, her eyes wide with awe. When I glance up, I find both of them staring at me.
“Do you dance?” Sophie asks.
“Yeah,” I reply with a small smile.
“I used to dance, too,” Sophie says.
“Used to?” I ask, tilting my head.
“Yeah, when I was five,” she explains. “But I outgrew it by the time I was six.”
“Really? What about the ballet studios?” I ask, looking at Sophie with surprise.
“Ballet studios?” Sophie repeats, her eyes widening.
“Luc said he had ballet studios built in all his homes because of you. I’m pretty sure there’s one in this house, too.” I frown slightly.
Sophie shakes her head. “If he has ballet studios, they’re not for me.”
“Then who are they for?” I look between Luna and Sophie.
They exchange a glance then look back at me. The realization slowly dawns, and my heart skips a beat.
“Wait, you think he put them in for me?”
Their silence is answer enough. My breath catches as I look down at the necklace, tracing the delicate engraving of my initials along the tiny pendant. I curl up on the couch, still holding the pendant between my fingers. I can’t stop staring at it.
“You still have more presents. Come on, open them!” Luna places a pink-and-gold box on my lap.
I reach for the bow, pulling it carefully.
“Just rip it.” Luna snorts.
I roll my eyes as I open the lid and find an envelope, and inside there’s cardstock with gold lettering. A lifetime ballet class membership. It grants exclusive access to elite studios around the world, including private lessons with some of the best instructors in Paris, New York, and London.
Inside the box, there’s another card that says Rylee’s Collection. I trace my fingers over my name before setting the card aside, my hands moving on their own as I lift the soft tissue paper covering what lies underneath. Carefully folded inside is a set of ballet attire. A leotard, a wrap skirt, tights, and ballet shoes. Not the standard pale pink, but a shade that matches my exact skin tone.
He designed this for me.
Sophie leans over. “My brother went all out, didn’t he?”
“Do you believe he’s obsessed with you now?” Luna grins. “If my future husband doesn’t treat me like this, I don’t want him.”
I laugh through the lump in my throat.
“Okay! Picture time!” Sophie grabs her phone.
Me and Luna pose in front of the trees as Sophie takes our pictures. We take turns and rotate from taking pictures. Our laughter fills the room.
It feels good.
I’m happy to spend Christmas with my sister, watching her laugh and seeing her so joyful. But something still feels off. He’s giving me the space I asked for, but I wish he was here.
Eventually, I slip away, leaving Luna and Sophie watching a movie. Their easy connection makes me smile.
I wander through the house, my footsteps barely audible as I move from room to room until I find a large door. My heart skips a beat as I push it open, revealing the ballet studio. It’s just like the one in Barcelona.
So he wasn’t lying.
My eyes take in the mirrored walls, polished floors, and the quiet stillness of the space. Did he really do this for me?
I pull out my phone and send a message.
Me: Thank you for my gifts. I love them.
Luc: You’re welcome. Anything for my favorite ballerina.
A smile tugs at my lips, but it’s not enough to quiet my racing thoughts.
Me: You’re such a charmer.
Luc: *Winking emojis*
I hesitate before typing again.
Me: Can I ask you a question? The ballet studios, were they really for Sophie?
His response comes quickly.
Luc: No .
I pause, staring at the screen. My heart is pounding now.
Me: Then who are they for?
Luc: Who do you think, baby?
A pressure builds in my chest as I take a deep breath and press further.
Me: Please tell me.
Luc: I did them for you, baby.
Me: Why?
Luc: Why do you think?
Me: Please, tell me.
Luc: Because I love you and I see you. All of you. After I saw you dancing that night, I wanted you to have a place where you could always be yourself. A place where you could transport into your world.
My throat tightens as I read his words again and again, unsure how to process it all.
Me: But we weren’t together.
Luc: I knew then that I would do anything to have you in my life.
My fingers hesitate over the screen before I type one more question.
Me: What would you do if I walked away right now? Would you let me go?
There’s a pause, long enough to make my stomach flip, before his response comes.
Luc: I made that mistake once, and I won’t do it again—especially now I know how you feel about me. Wherever you go, I’ll follow you.
I exhale, leaning against the mirror, his words sinking in. Wherever you go, I’ll follow you . The weight of them lingers, wrapping around me like a promise.
Maybe it’s time I stop running.