Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Pippa
The morning sun pours through the kitchen windows, painting the room in golds and pinks.
I sit at the table with a cup of coffee in front of me, staring out over the beach.
The previous night is still alive in my mind, and I can’t sleep, although it’s not a bad feeling.
I think it’s more excitement that has woken me up early.
I can’t keep the smile from my face when I think of Rhett, the words, the ring.
I can still feel the warmth of him, the safety, the love.
It’s all real. It’s not an act. It never was.
I should probably send Max a thank you note, because if it wasn’t for him, I would be gone, back in London, hating my life choices.
Rhett comes into the kitchen, naked but for a pair of white shorts, and he still looks perfect in a way that makes my heart squeeze.
“Good morning,” he says softly.
“Morning,” I murmur, feeling shy and giddy all at once.
He nods to my almost-empty cup. “Do you want a refill?”
“Yes, please,” I say.
He refills my cup and makes one for himself.
He comes and sits down opposite me, placing my cup in front of me.
I pick it up and sip my coffee, feeling suddenly shy.
We need a big conversation, and I don’t know how to start it.
We sit there in silence for a moment, drinking in the quiet, before he breaks it.
“Pippa, we need to talk about us.”
I nod, expecting something heavy or dramatic. But he just smiles at me, warm and calm, and I feel a rush of relief. It seems he knows where to go with this, even if I don’t.
“I meant it,” he says, moving to sit beside me. “When I gave you the ring back. I really want us to be engaged. For real. You and me. That’s it.”
My heart stutters. “You really want to get serious with Mrs. Jessica Rabbit?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He cups my face gently. “Yup. I want to get serious, very serious with Mrs. Jessica Rabbit.”
“Ok, that’s good. Because Mrs. Jessica Rabbit wants that too,” I say, looking at my ring, which always makes me smile, and this time is no exception. “And you know what else? I think I’m going to accept Max’s offer.”
“Good. Because I want you here with me, in New York. I want us to build our life together. I want you to move in with me, and not just for convenience, but because I want you here. I want to fall asleep beside you every night and wake up with you every morning.”
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but they’re happy ones. I throw my arms around him, hugging him tight. “I want that too,” I murmur. “I can’t believe this is real.”
He laughs softly, kissing the top of my head. “It’s real, Pippa. And it’s ours.”
We get ready, and then we spend the day talking about the logistics of my move and how we’ll manage our schedules. Every plan, every word makes life feel more tangible, more ours. We only take a break for lunch and then get right back to it.
Eventually, when I feel like we have worked out enough details for our plan not to seem like a whim, I pick up my phone and call my parents.
The line connects almost immediately, and their excited, squealing voices fill my ears when I give them my news.
I laugh and cry at the same time, sharing the details, explaining everything to them.
Their excitement for my new life and career makes my heart swell.
When I end the call, I dial Sandra and Lucy in the group chat. Their shrieks of delight are loud enough to make me tear up again, and we spend a long, giddy half hour talking about wedding plans, Manhattan life, and how I should play the part of Jessica Rabbit as the face of RIP.
Rhett smiles indulgently at me as he passes by on the way to his study. When I finally hang up and go to him, he pulls me close.
“We’ve got a friend coming over for dinner tonight,” he says casually, as if it’s a minor detail, but there’s a glint in his eyes. “I’ll cook if you want to go upstairs and get gorgeous.”
“Who is it?” I ask.
“You’ll see,” he says with a mysterious smile.
I laugh, feeling a surge of excitement and nervous energy as I head upstairs. I sit on the bed for a moment while I think about what to wear. Once we decided I was definitely staying, I unpacked my things again as we talked, and they are now in Rhett’s room. Oops, our room.
Just as I’m starting to pull together an outfit, my cell phone rings. The name on the screen makes me pause. Maria. I pick the cell phone up and swipe to answer her call. I bring the cell phone up to my ear.
“Hello,” I say.
“Pippa, hi,” she says, her voice rushing, slightly panicked. “I just wanted to call and apologize. About the video. I didn’t think it would upset you. I thought … I thought you’d see the funny side of it.”
I inhale slowly, realizing how tense I’ve been since I saw her name on my cell phone screen. “I’m sorry too. I overreacted. It was unexpected and embarrassing, yes, but I … I shouldn’t have rushed out like that.”
There’s a pause, then a laugh through the line. “Pippa, you’re mad, you know. The video of you was a brilliant touch. Honestly. I chose it because it shows you as someone funny, confident, hot, someone they’d all love. That’s why I put it together. I knew our group would eat it up.”
I smile, a warm, relieved feeling spreading through me. “Thank you, for seeing me that way. I needed to hear that.”
She laughs again, light and melodic. “You’re welcome. Don’t make plans for Friday. We’re going for cocktails. Just you and me and all those texts I’ve had from my guy friends about how to contact you.”
“Sounds good,” I say.
We end the call, and I smile to myself. Max was right. They really are making an effort with me and becoming my friends.
I finish getting ready, carefully choosing an outfit that feels right, stylish but approachable, and elegant. I do my hair, curling it and leaving it down, and apply some makeup, before heading back downstairs to meet the mystery guest.
When I enter the dining area, I am shocked to see Vanessa sitting casually at the table, sipping a glass of water. Her head turns, and before I can say a word, she jumps up and pulls me into a hug.
“Congratulations,” she says when she releases me, her smile radiant and genuine.
I step back slightly, confused, my brow furrowed. “Um … thanks? Wait, I don’t …”
Rhett chuckles behind me, stepping closer.
“What’s happening?” I ask him.
“Pippa, Vanessa isn’t my ex-girlfriend. Well, I suppose technically she is, but we dated when we were like eight.
Since then, she’s been one of my closest friends.
That night in the bar when I came up with the plan to make George jealous, I already knew I wanted to win you from him.
I knew you were the girl I wanted to marry, but I knew I had to win you over, so I deviously made up the whole thing about the clingy ex.
I knew Vanessa could play the part of the bitchy, clingy ex perfectly. You forgive me, right?”
I burst out laughing, the tension in the room melting instantly. “Vanessa, you should go into acting. You were flawless as the bitchy, clingy ex.”
She grins, waving her hands dramatically. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I did slip up once, though, at the beach, when I found out you were engaged, and I asked Rhett if he was sure this was what he wanted.”
“I didn’t notice,” I say truthfully. “But now you’ve told me, I see it. At the time, I was too jealous to think straight. It didn’t make me suspicious at all.”
Rhett shakes his head, still smiling. “Dinner will be ready soon. You two can sit, relax, and enjoy.”
And enjoy we do. We sit, sharing stories and laughter. Vanessa regales me with hilarious, embarrassing tales about Rhett, some of his childhood mishaps, and some more recent antics. Vanessa launches right in with a wicked grin.
“Did Rhett ever tell you about the time he got stuck in a tree when he was nine? He climbed up it to impress me, of course, and then he refused to admit that he couldn’t get down. His dad had to call the fire department.”
I clap a hand over my mouth, laughing. “No. He most definitely didn’t mention that.”
Rhett groans. “Don’t exaggerate. It wasn’t the fire department. It was just a neighbor with a ladder.”
“Uh-huh,” Vanessa teases him. “And you’ll be saying next that the whole neighborhood didn’t gather to watch? Sure.”
She goes on smugly before he can interrupt again.
“And don’t even get me started on what he was like at college. Once, he thought he’d impress everyone at a pool party by doing a triple flip off the diving board. He ended up belly flopping into it so loudly that the lifeguard blew his whistle and asked if he needed medical attention.”
Rhett shakes his head, though there’s a smile tugging at his lips now. “Be careful, Vanessa, or you’re never coming to dinner again.”
Vanessa winks at me. “See what I’ve had to put up with? You’re a saint for saying yes to him.”
I look at Rhett fondly, unable to stop smiling. “I think I like hearing these stories. They make him real.”
“And lovable,” Vanessa adds, raising her glass. “But don’t let him fool you - he’s always been that way.”
Each story she goes on to tell me paints him in a light that makes me laugh until my cheeks ache.
I glance at Rhett, who’s smiling indulgently, clearly enjoying being roasted by his friend.
The atmosphere is warm, easy, and full of laughter.
By the end of the evening, I feel a profound sense of connection, not just to Rhett but to the people around him.
Vanessa’s warmth and humor make it feel like I’ve gained a new best friend.
As we clear the dishes away after we have eaten, I sit back and breathe deeply, my heart full.
I feel secure and certain of the love that has blossomed between Rhett and me.
No matter what else happens, I know that this is the life I want and the people I want in it.
That love between Elliot and Camile that I envied earlier suddenly seems like it is also mine.