Chapter 13 – Henrik
Chapter Thirteen
Henrik
I wake slowly, stretching my body and feeling a delicious burn in my legs. My arms slips from under Bryn, but as quickly as I stretch out the kink, I’m back wrapping her up to my side.
She snuggles closer to me, smiling softly as she wakes up. When her brilliant green eyes lock on me, an emotion that I’ve never felt before overcomes me.
I love her.
I think I’ve loved her for a while now. And I want to do everything I can to protect her, our relationship, and everything we’ll create together. Now and in the future. I can’t wait.
“I love you.” Saying the words out loud is easier than I expected…but the silence that follows as a lump forming in the pit of my stomach.
Bryn looks shocked. I watch her mouth open and close but no words form. Pushing up and taking the bed sheets with her, she leans against the headboard. She’s not touching any part of my body and I hate it.
“Wh-what did you say?”
“I love you,” I repeat, shuffling closer to her on the bed. “I love you Bryn. I wanted you to know.”
“You’re not practicing a line? Trying out something new for the photographers?”
“What? No. I’d never do that to you. I love you , Bryn. You . Not as a character. Not as a fake girlfriend. I love you, Bryn Bright. Just as you are.”
She stares at me another moment before launching herself at me. Her whole body is shaking as she squeezes me so tight I feel like I might lose all my breath. But I don’t. Instead I hold her just as tight, laughing with her as she begins to laugh-cry.
“Why are you telling me this now?” She asks, her voice muffled from the arch of my neck. “Isn’t this too fast?”
“Fuck fast. I wanted to tell you today because I couldn’t wait another moment not sharing how I felt. I know we’ve had a rollercoaster of a relationship but wasting another second pretending isn’t in me. I don’t want to be your fake boyfriend or whatever. I want us to be the real deal. I also wanted you to know my feelings before we looked at the rating for the show. No matter what, I’m yours.”
“Oh my God! The ratings! The first two episodes have been live for hours!” She tries to turn and reach for her phone but I stop her and drag her back onto my lap.
Gently grabbing her cheeks between my thumb and pointer finger, I direct her attention back to me. There’s humor in her eyes. She knows exactly what she’s doing to me. Toying with me.
“Tell me what I want to hear Princess. The ratings can wait.”
With a brilliant smile, she grips my shoulders and leans forward for a long, claiming kiss.
“I love you too, Henrik Westwyld.”
“Fuck yes you do. Now let’s make it official,” I joke, pushing her onto her back and throwing the sheet away from her chest.
“Wait!” She cries out in a laugh. “Wait, Henrik. We really need to check the ratings. You can ravish me afterward.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I’m counting on it,” she smiles up at me. Then she twists again, reaching to the side of the bed for her phone.
I arrange myself against the headboard and then place her at my side as she clicks away on her phone. I can see the screen just over her shoulder. When she opens the email from the studio, I read the news over her shoulder.
The show’s a hit.
It’s already trending across four countries and making its way up the most watched list.
“Look,” Bryn points to another section of the email I haven’t gotten to yet. “We’re getting another season. And it will focus on Eren and Adelina’s love story. Oh my God,” her voice is shaking now. “We did it! We did it!”
“Yeah we did, Princess! Holy shit,” I breathe out, running my hands through my hair. This is surreal.
A year ago, I was a creative mess. Struggling to make band life and touring work when the spark was gone. I never imagined that a leap of daring would bring everything full circle. I was now snuggled with the woman I loved and thriving with a new creative outlet.
Life was fucking good.
Yet I have a feeling it was only going to get fucking better.
“Are you ready for me to rock you again Princess?” I tease her, kissing her temple.
“I’m ready for everything you’ve got.”
My lips claim hers, marking the start of a beautiful forever.