know what I would do without you in my life.”
The smile that spreads across his face is so radiant it takes my breath away. You’d think he’s been waiting his whole life to hear those words.
“I love you, too.” He leans down to kiss me, lingering like he can’t get enough of the feeling.
“That shouldn’t have taken so long for me to say. I’m not very good at this, I’m afraid.”
When he kisses me again, I can feel his lips curl up. “I can teach you.”
He stands then with me in his arms, making me shriek at the sudden movement. “Right after I rock your world again.”
“Rock my world? Mister, I will rock your world!”
Epilogue
The elevator takes us up rapidly, climbing closer to my brother’s penthouse every second.
“This may not have been the best idea.” Ariana tugs at the hem of her dress.
When I asked Andre to host a dinner so I could introduce my secret girlfriend, he’d found the whole situation amusing. Especially when I’d told him who needed to be on the guest list.
It was a big deal getting Ari to go public now. She hasn’t gotten the results of her second scans back yet and I know it’s constantly on her mind. It’s on mine, too.
But no matter what the results say, we’re a couple and that’s not changing. So it’s time to finally let our loved ones know we’re together. We’re too old for this sneaking around shit. I want everyone to know she’s mine.
“It’s too late to cancel now. I already told Andre we were on the way.”
“You said you were bringing a guest?”
“I said I was bringing the love of my life.”
“Oh. Well, that’s okay then.” She leans over and kisses my cheek just as the elevator doors open.
Andre is waiting in the hallway. He’s wearing brushed wool trousers and a plain white dress shirt. This is his version of casual.
Ariana tugs at her dress again. She confided in me last week that she finds it intimidating to dress up in front of my brother. It’s one thing to wear jeans, everyone looks pretty much the same in casual clothes, but dressing up is different.
I get it. Fashion can be intimidating. That was my experience when I first started working with Andre years ago.
I grab her hand and she gives me a grateful smile.
Andre looks at me. Then he looks at Ariana.
“I thought you said you were bring–” He pauses. It’s like watching a light bulb go off. He starts laughing, his hand going to his stomach like it hurts. “This is going to be fun.”
Ariana fidgets, hopping from foot to foot. We follow Andre inside. The white sectional has been moved back to make room for a large dining table. It must be new. Soft music plays overhead and I can hear the sound of voices coming from the next room. Everyone must be here. Good.
“Are they here?” Casey comes trotting out of the kitchen.
A few seconds later, Mya Taylor-Hamilton follows. “Is who here?”
“Philippe is bringing his girlfriend,” Casey replies.
She stops when she notices me standing in the entryway. Then her eyes swing to Ariana.
“Oh, Ari! You’re here, too? I didn’t know you’d be coming. I don’t think I put out enough place settings.”
Andre is in the corner cracking up.
Casey looks at him, appalled. “Babe, what are you doing? You’re supposed to be greeting the guests. What is Philippe’s girlfriend going to think when she gets here?”
That only makes him laugh harder.
Ariana scowls.
I sigh.
Mya looks confused.
“I’m the girlfriend!” Ariana finally blurts out. “Geez Louise.”
Casey looks between us. “Wait, all this time it was you? Andre said Philippe has been seeing someone for a long time.”
“Still me,” Ari deadpans.
Mya bursts into laughter. “Well, I don’t think anyone saw that coming. But now I understand why we got an invitation.” She looks up at her husband Milo affectionately.
Casey puts her arm around Ariana’s shoulders. “Well, I think this is great. You deserve the best and Philippe is the best.”
She pulls Ari into a hug. But she’s standing so close that I can overhear. “You have a lot of explaining to do. At least now I understand why you didn’t want me to introduce him to Anya. You were jealous.”
Ari looks over at me. “I was not jealous.”
I just grin at this new knowledge.
“I wasn’t.”
“Whatever you say, baby. You know I rock your world.”
She rolls her eyes. “Keep messing with me and the next dicks I send you will be attached to bodies.”
The entire room explodes