Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Faye
“Here’s your morning ‘I’m sorry’ bagel,” I say, walking into Lola’s room and placing it on the desk.
She shoots me a look, but she’s smiling. It’s like we’re returning back to the Faye and Lola we’ve always been.
The past four days have been great. Things with Felix couldn’t be better. We make love, have wild sex, lie in bed for hours and hours discussing photography, debating children’s names, or just generally being crazily freaking happy.
There was some awkwardness with Lola on the first day, but she really meant what she said.
She supports us. She forgives us.
The only thing is she’s mentioned the breakup thing a few times, worrying what will happen if Felix and I call it quits.
I’ve stopped telling her that’s never going to happen.
We’ll prove it instead.
“How many times are you going to say sorry?” she asks, turning from her computer and picking up half a bagel. “Not that I’m complaining about the waitress service.”
I smile, muttering a silent thanks that we can still smile together. “I’m just so grateful. And sorry. And I want you to know that.”
She takes a bite, grinning as she chews. After swallowing, she says, “I know, Faye. It was a shock. But I’m a big girl, and I want you both to be happy. Speaking of which… shouldn’t you be getting ready? Isn’t your boyfriend picking you up soon?”
It’s taken some getting used to Lola’s light teasing, but I know it’s a good sign.
If we can joke about it, we can deal with it. It’s how we’ve always been.
“He is,” I nod. “What are your plans for the day?”
She tells me about her college course, and we talk about that for a while.
Afterward, I go into my bedroom, thinking of Felix's text this morning.
Sometimes we stay at his apartment, but we don’t stay here together since it would be too uncomfortable for Lola if she overheard anything.
I haven’t seen him since yesterday. Lola and I had a movie night.
His text told me to meet him at the studio at lunchtime to finish what we started.
Standing over my bed, I look down at the lingerie, thinking of our first photoshoot as my body floods with heat.
“Are you ready?” Felix says, his hand on the small of my back as we walk across the warehouse office.
Tingles dance all over me as I remember the day of the photoshoot, the pit in my belly when I thought about the Miss Kansas model, the shimmer which slowly turned into stampeding want when I realized Felix needed me instead.
It wasn’t that long ago, and yet it feels like years since I could’ve ever doubted that Felix wanted me, that Felix didn’t and couldn’t care about anybody else.
Felix is wearing a shirt, smarter than his usual, with chino trousers. The clothing hugs his experienced muscular body, reminding me of how strong and proactive he is and how supportive he is as if he’ll never leave my side.
“Why do I get the feeling we’re going to do something dirty?” I tease, jabbing at him playfully.
He chuckles, and even that amazes me, though it shouldn’t. I should be used to it by now.
But knowing we can banter so effortlessly about intimate stuff, with no shame, no doubt, and no worry about Lola…no worry at all except for our future, trying to make it the best it can be.
“I’m a master of misdirection,” he says.
I’m about to ask what he means when he pushes the door open.
The studio has changed, the city backdrop replaced with a series of lightbulbs against a black wall. It gives the room a dark cozy feel.
The bulbs are off, the only light coming from behind us.
“What is this?” I ask, turning.
Felix steps forward, wrapping his arms around me. “I love you.”
I gasp, and he smiles broadly, so much affection – no, love – in his expression I want to weep.
“I love you,” he repeats, hugging me tightly as we gaze into each other’s eyes. “All my life, I’ve been trying to capture something perfect and flawless. And I’ve found it in you….”
He steps back and starts lowering himself to one knee.
I leap forward giddily, touching his hands. “Wait. I love you too. So much.”
He chuckles, leaning down, brushing his lips across mine. “I just can’t wait to ask you this question.”
Kneeling down, he reaches into his pocket. My heart is like a camera flash going off over and over, the light spreading through me, into the past, so nothing seems as bad as it once did, into the future, so everything seems welcoming and warm and ours.
When he opens the ring box, I feel tears in my eyes. They slide down my cheeks slowly as I take in its beauty, the full diamond set within the elegant band.
“Faye Allen, you’re the woman of my dreams. You’re the only person I ever want to be with. Ever. And I love you so much it hurts thinking about being apart from you.”