Chapter 33
SELENE
Two months later
Springtime in Paris is more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.
The girls and I have spent most of the day walking around the city, exploring the beautiful gardens.
We took several breaks, since the aches in my ankles and lower back are growing with every week that I inch closer to my third trimester.
I’m nearly there, and the thought of how different my life is going to be in less than four months is insane.
When I think back to where I was just last year, it feels like a lifetime ago.
Now, here I am, heading home from having dinner in Paris with my best friends.
“Are we ready to head back to the hotel?” London asks, hooking her arm through mine while leading us down the streets of central Paris. The trees and buildings are decorated in twinkling lights, and I feel like I’m living a dream.
“No,” Julianna groans, hooking her arm through Charleigh’s. “I don’t want to go back just yet. Can’t we find a club or bar to go to?”
We continue walking down the street in the direction of our hotel as she reaches up and adjusts Charleigh’s bachelorette crown, decorated with delicate pink roses and a white toile veil cascading down the back.
This trip wasn’t meant to be a bachelorette party, but Julianna can rope anyone into doing anything. Charleigh doesn’t seem to mind because she hasn’t stopped smiling ever since we touched down in Paris in Asher’s plane.
Charleigh nods and glances down the row to London and me beside her. “What about you two? Do you want to go out with me and Jules?”
I laugh sardonically, then rest my hand on my stomach. “What am I going to do at a club? I can’t even drink right now.”
London gives me a small smile of reassurance. “They have mocktails, Selene. Besides, pregnant women can go to clubs.”
I toss her a side-eye, then shake my head. “No, that’s okay. I’m pretty exhausted, anyway.”
“We understand,” Charleigh says, reaching out and wrapping her hand around my arm.
“We do,” Jules says, nodding sharply. “You and my baby nephew need rest.”
“We’re fine, Jules,” I say, giving her a small smile. I love how she’s already settled into the protective aunt role.
“Oh, that isn’t coming from me.” She tucks her brown, beach-wavy hair behind her ear. “That’s coming from my overprotective, love-obsessed brother.”
I blush at the thought of Holt telling Julianna to keep an eye on me.
“Of course, he would task you with making sure I’m not overdoing it.” I smirk. “He’s only messaged me about three times, making sure I’m staying hydrated and eating enough.”
“He loves you,” London coos, resting her head on my shoulder. “He’s thousands of miles away. I’m sure it’s eating him up that you’re so far. It’s sweet how obsessed he is with you.”
Julianna fakes a gag, causing the four of us to break out in laughter.
Once we reach the end of the block before the hotel, Charleigh and Julianna point to a bar they spot around the corner. London reluctantly agrees to join them, but only after she insists on walking me back to my room.
I don’t bother arguing with her, knowing she just wants to make sure I get there safely.
My phone pings in my purse. Before London and I break from the group, I pull it out, assuming it’s a message from Holt. But my hand is flying to my mouth when I see an unread email notification waiting for me instead.
“What is it?” London asks.
With a shaking hand, I pull it away from my face and nervously click on the email, opening it. I frantically read the first few lines before swinging to my three best friends.
“They loved it!” I manage to choke out.
“Who loved what?” Charleigh asks.
“My book,” I breathe. “I have an agent.”
“Oh, shit!” Julianna shrieks.
London and Charleigh join in on the screaming when they start jumping up and down in a circle around me. Onlookers and passersby stare at us with confusion before continuing on their way.
“Congratulations, Sis.” London wraps her arms around me, sobbing happy tears into my shoulder. The other girls join in.
When they pull away, I realize I’m crying as well. I smile at my best friends through watery eyes. “Oh, my God, I can’t believe this.” I sniff and read the email again just to make sure I read it correctly.
“We can.” Charleigh squeezes my hand.
“Thank you.” I melt, knowing I couldn’t have gotten to this point without their support.
“Holt’s going to freak when you tell him, you know that, right?” Julianna asks, her smile unwavering.
“He is.” I laugh.
After the reality of what this means subsides, London walks me to the door of our shared hotel room before she heads back out to join Charleigh and Julianna.
Honestly, I’m thankful I don’t have to go, even after declining their invitation again after receiving the email from my new agency.
My lower back is killing me, and I could use the sleep.
Once I was out of the first trimester, my constant, chronic nausea transformed into constant fatigue. I swear, all I want to do is sleep.
But I’m anxiously awaiting Holt’s reply to my text or a phone call. I’m staring at my phone when I enter my dark hotel room.
The air is stolen from my lungs when two arms wrap around me, spinning me until my back hits the wall.
Even in the darkness of my hotel room, I recognize his familiar brown hair hanging above his brow and those bright blue eyes staring straight at me.
“Hello, Wallflower.” His voice is as smooth as velvet, hitting me in all the right places.
“Holt?” I’m still trying to catch my breath. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry.” He drags his finger along the side of my face. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You’re lurking and hiding out in the shadows of my hotel room like a fucking stalker. How did you expect me to react?”
The corners of his mouth curl into a devilish grin.
“What?” I ask, my shoulders deflating.
His chest rumbles. “I missed you, that’s all. You and that smart mouth of yours. The one you only reserve for me.”
“Well,” I scoff, laughing. “You did scare me.”
He hums before crashing his mouth against mine. I reach up, threading my fingers through his hair. His tongue slips between my lips, tasting me.
I’m lost in his intoxicating kiss when reality hits me. I pull away, pressing my hands to his chest. “Wait.” I catch my breath and swallow. “What are you doing here? How did you get into my hotel room?”
I’d almost forgotten I was in Paris and not at home.
“I have my ways, Wallflower.” He smirks.
Very true. Holt apparently had a security detail following me for months without me knowing. Him finding a way to get into my hotel room doesn’t surprise me and isn’t completely out of character.
“Besides,” he continues, still dragging his finger along my jaw, down my neck, and over the swell of my breasts.
“I’m aware I’m crashing your girls’ trip, but do you think I could just sit at home while you and my son were thousands of miles away with an ocean between us? It’s been the purest form of torture.”
I giggle, resting my head back against the wall to look up at Holt. I slide my hands down his chest before finding the buttons to his collared shirt. I start undoing them slowly, one by one. “You are so obsessed with me. With us.”
His hands press against the wall at either side of my head. “I thought we already made that clear months ago.”
I undo the last button and slip his shirt over his shoulders. I’m quick to work on his belt. “You did.”
He pants, letting out a heavy breath. His eyes have darkened, taking on a hungrier gaze. Suddenly, I’m not so tired. I ache to have him inside me.
“You sent me a text a few minutes ago, telling me you had something important to tell me. What was it?”
I stop unbuttoning his pants, looking him directly in the eye. “The agency emailed me back. They want to sign with me.”
A smile comes alive on his face. He’s gloating, and the idea that he always knew I would get here sparks that light he’s brought to life inside me. The one only he has been able to start.
“I knew it.” He kisses me deeply.
I get lost in his kiss before he pulls away. I miss his mouth the second it leaves me.
“I truly did miss you both,” he whispers deeply.
“We missed you, too.”
His eyes soften in the dark. He’s telling the truth. “I don’t plan on staying long,” he confesses.
I roll my eyes, shocked Holt is treating a day trip from New York to Paris like it’s normal.
His eyes search mine, and there’s an electric charge in the air. I feel it cackling between us, between the parts where we’re connected. I cradle the side of his sculpted jaw in my palm. My hand slips away when he falls to his knees in front of me.
I hold my breath when he kisses my swollen belly, then he reaches in his pocket, pulling out a single ring. The rock is a large, blue gem, surrounded by little white diamonds. I gasp, clamping my hand over my mouth.
“I have one more question before I go.”
A tear slips from the corner of my eye, sliding down my cheek.
“I know we don’t need a ring for us to promise each other forever, Wallflower.
” His neck bobs as he swallows. “But I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.
I’ve been obsessed with you from the start, and I used to daydream what a life with you would look like.
And when I pictured it, you were always there beside me, wearing my mother’s ring.
You’re the best person I’ve ever known, and I’ve never been too afraid to admit what everyone knows to be true.
I am obsessed with you. I want you for life. ”
“Holt…” I breathe. I’ve never been this deliriously happy.
“So…” He lowers his gaze, looking up through hooded yet focused eyes. “Wallflower, will you marr—"
“Yes,” I cut him off. “Yes, I will marry you.”
He lets out a heavy breath of relief before slipping the ring on my shaking ring finger. Then I’m pulling him up to kiss me.
I drape my arms around his neck in disbelief.
The woman who only ever believed this type of love existed in romance novels now has it all. Best friend’s, billionaire, older brother falls for the woman whose sworn off love forever.
Okay, well, maybe not forever.
But Holt is just that. My forever.