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I look up at him and try my best to smile. “Yes, of course,” I whisper. Kate glances at us and finishes her drink, her eyes flashing with annoyance. I watch as she sneaks off to the bathrooms with Jake, only to return minutes later, giddy and smiling. I should be glad to see her so happy, but something just doesn’t feel right. I always feel like the happiness she portrays around Jake isn’t genuine — like she’s just tipsy and buzzing. Her smile drops when her eyes meet mine, and she clenches her jaw before looking away.
Carter pulls me closer and presses his lips against my temple. “Let’s go home, Minx. It’s been such a long day for me. All I want is to lie down on the sofa with you and hold you in my arms.”
I turn in his arms and smile up at him. “I’d love nothing more,” I whisper right before pressing my lips against his.
Chapter 44
Carter
I’ve been running around all day, trying to get everything in place for the surprise I’m planning for Emilia. It’s taken some time to get her to smile properly again. It almost feels like our happiness is cast in shadows. I can tell Emilia is still sad, even though she tries so hard to hide it from me.
I turn the fairy lights on and look around the living room, pleased. I wasn’t really sure what to do, but I thought she might enjoy a little throwback of sorts. A reminder of happier times, of when we started to fall in love with each other, all those years ago.
I’ve transformed the living room to be as close to what I made our spot in the woods look like on her sixteenth birthday. There are pillows all over the floor, and I managed to fish out the old little cardboard projector I used that day. Instead of using a white sheet like we did that night, we’ll be using an empty white wall instead. I check my watch and glance around the room. I’m worried she won’t like it, or that she might think it’s not original enough. Other than the fairy lights and the pillows, I’ve got countless balloons filling up the ceiling. I got us a nice bottle of champagne too, and I got desserts from her favorite bakery. I hope it’s enough. I hope she’ll be happy.
I’m tense as Emilia unlocks the door. She walks in and freezes. She stares at me open-mouthed and I grin. “Surprise, baby,” I murmur.
She smiles from ear to ear and runs up to me, jumping into my arms. “Oh my gosh, Carter. This is amazing. Is this all for me?”
I twirl her around in my arms before setting her down on the floor, my arms wrapped around her. I lean in and kiss her, taking my time. I drop my forehead against hers and sigh.
“We’ve both been so busy recently, we haven’t even had time to go on a date. I just wanted to do something nice for you.”
She grins up at me happily, and my heart skips a beat. When is the last time I saw her looking this happy? I should’ve done this ages ago. I bury my hand in her hair and pull her close.
Emilia smiles and wraps her arms around my neck, her lips finding mine again. “I’ll never get enough of you,” I whisper. She giggles and pulls me down onto the pillows.
“It’s just like my sixteenth birthday. Do you remember that?”
I nod and hold my arms open for her. I expected her to snuggle into me, but she pushes against my chest and straddles me. I blink in surprise and wrap my hands around her waist.
“I wanted you to be mine then… did you know? I was so in love with you then, Carter. I was just as in love with you then as I am now,” she says.
I look up at my beautiful girlfriend and count my lucky stars. After everything we went through, we found our way back to each other.
“I guess the time wasn’t right for us then,” I murmur. Emilia nods and leans over me, her lips finding mine. I sigh happily as she kisses me.
“There’s one thing I wanted that night that we didn’t do,” she whispers. I raise my brow, and Emilia grins wickedly.
“We didn’t have sex that night. We should definitely recreate and improve that memory.”
I laugh and turn us over so I’m on top of her. “Baby, we’ve got all night. Asher offered to spend the night with Mason so we could have the apartment to ourselves.”
I lower my lips to hers and kiss her deeply, savoring her. Even when I’ve got her this close, it isn’t enough. Emilia’s grip around me tightens, as though she’s feeling the same need that I am — that intense desire to be closer.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I love you so much, Emilia. You’re without a doubt the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
She blushes and looks at me with such adoration, I know she feels the same way. “I love you too, Carter. You’re my favorite person. You’re my other half.”
My heart skips a beat and I kiss her to hide the blush that’s tinting my cheeks pink. The way she makes me feel… it’s unreal.
Emilia looks up at me with her bright blue eyes and grins before tugging on my t-shirt. I laugh and take it off.
“I planned this entire cute ass date for you, but all you want is my body, huh? What happened to wining and dining your date?”
Emilia giggles and tugs at my jeans impatiently until she’s got them off. She pushes against my chest and turns us over. I put my arms behind my head as she straddles me. I watch her with fascination as she slowly lifts her dress up and takes it off, teasing the hell out of me.
“I fucking adore you,” I whisper.
