Chapter Eight #3
Pausing, she stares at me. “You’re eating…here?”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
Shrugging, I experiment with a headband as I look at myself
in the mirror. “Because we wanted to have a pizza date before the party.
There’s going to be food there, but we were both talking about how we were in
the mood for pizza.”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you guys are
adorkable.”
We are, and I am here for it.
The party is at our friend Will’s place. He shares a
massive, top-floor loft in the city with two other actors in the industry, and
it is the perfect party space.
It’s also decorated nicer than some movie sets I’ve been on.
Fairy lights are looped across the apartment ceiling,
casting a warm glow over the crowd of friends crammed into every corner. There
are streamers and signs everywhere you look, and the party vibe is palpable.
Someone set up a countdown clock on the TV, and the music pulses, low and
steady.
Christian has met and hung out with my friends enough times
to know them, and he is comfortable talking to them without me at his side.
Right now, I’m chatting with Will, and he’s standing across the room, chatting
with a group of people—some I know, others are unfamiliar—but when he turns his
head and catches me watching, he smiles, and I’m mesmerized.
“I’m so happy for you, Ella,” Will says. “You’ve found your
Prince Charming.”
“I still can’t believe it. I never would have predicted
this; it’s truly fate. My mom always said that when you met the one
you’d just know, and she was right.”
“And the fact that you had your first date on your golden
birthday, and he’s number twenty-two? You are living a real-life fairy tale,”
Will marvels. “I’m beginning to think that I’m destined to be alone for the
rest of my life because every guy who enters my story turns out to be a
villain.”
“Don’t worry, Will, your Prince Charming is out there, and
he’ll find you. Don’t give up on love.” I give Will the biggest reassuring hug
before he runs off to start passing out champagne for the midnight toast.
My gaze goes right back to Christian. I begin to think of
every small thing that has led to this moment: our first date, the movie
premiere, meeting each other’s families over the holidays, the quiet drives,
the laughter, the singing, and just knowing how it’s only the beginning. This
new year holds so much potential, and I almost can’t wait for midnight so it
can start.
I can tell he’s wrapping his conversation, and his blue eyes
are on me as he makes his way over, weaving through the partygoers. Everything
else blurs around him. He stops at the bar and asks for two drinks. It’s
getting close to midnight, so I know he’s getting something for us to toast
with. We’re not drinkers, and my friends know that, so there’s sparkling cider
especially for us. Drinks in hand, he continues his way across the room. When
he gets to me, his gaze is soft and tender.
“Are you having a good time, Ella Rose?” he asks, his voice
low and close to my ear, as he places a glass in my hand.
I lean in, smiling, trying to position my body perfectly
into his. “I am.” I turn my head so I’m speaking close to his ear. The music’s
loud enough that we almost have to shout to be heard, but in our own little
pocket of the party, it feels like an intimate conversation.
“You were looking pretty intense a moment ago. What were you
thinking about?”
I don’t even hesitate. “Us, and the incredible path we’ve
taken to get here tonight. Between movie premieres, out-of-state physical
therapy, and hundreds of phone calls, it feels like a lifetime, but it’s not.”
Pulling back, I give him a sweet kiss on the lips. “Plus, we met each other’s
families and survived. I think we can handle anything the new year throws at
us.”
He laughs and brushes a strand of hair from my face. “Have I
told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
I nod just as the clock on the TV starts its countdown.
Ten… nine… eight…
The noise in the room swells, friends shouting, glasses
clinking. But right here in our cozy spot, everything feels still.
Christian takes one of my hands in his. “Ella Rose,” he says
quietly, like he doesn’t want to lose the moment to the noise. “I love you.”
My breath catches. All the laughter, the chaos, and the
sparkle falls away. My heart feels ready to burst. We’ve said I love you in
every way except with those three wonderful words.
Until now.
I look up at him, my heart full and steady. “I love you,
too.”
Three… two… one!
The room erupts in cheers, confetti, and the pop of corks,
but we barely notice. Christian kisses me, deep and sure, as fireworks light up
the night outside the window.
When we finally pull apart, the noise feels far away. He
rests his forehead against mine as we both smile.
“Happy New Year,” he murmurs.
“Yeah,” I whisper, my voice catching. “It really is.”
I have no idea how long we stay like that. All around us,
the music swells, and laughter fills the room again. It’s a celebration, after
all. But not just for the new year. It’s a celebration for all the new
beginnings.