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He nods in understanding toward my brother.
“I saw that.” I lean toward him, squinting, and he raises his hands, amusement transforming his features.
“You caught me, happy?”
“Have I said you’re still my favorite couple in the world today?” Sophia chimes in, and Damien frowns at her.
“Not recently.”
“Well, you are. Can you imagine the kids they’ll make?”
Sophia says and her eyes widen, mouthing an “I’m sorry” to me. Still, it feels like a punch knocking the air out of my lungs. Damien goes rigid behind me. And the worst part just starts.
“Alex, I’ll win the title of the best uncle. Don’t even try.”
“We’ll see.”
He grins. They continue their verbal attack as I plead for my eyes to remain dry. I have to put an end to it. I force a smile and say in a cheerful tone, “Hey, let us marry first.”
They drop it, and Sarah and our mothers shoot off their wedding suggestions. Is it my charade that broke through the haze, or they sense the heavy tension that settles in, but from one moment to the next, they change the topic.
Damien’s grip loosens, and I breathe again. He lets an almost inaudible thank you out, and I nod, shaking. I don’t trust my voice. Instead, I let the silence smooth the tattered edges of my bleeding heart. Sleep finds me, and I give into its lulling seduction, either to forget or to gain strength. Not that it matters, I need a reprieve.
Chapter Sixteen
BRIA
We land in London, where two black SUVs wait to transport Sophia, Alex, Sarah, and Filip and our parents and Quinn. After we agree on meeting tomorrow morning, we say our goodbyes, and hand in hand, we make our way to Damien’s car. Being here again with him is both strange and exhilarating.
My fingers tighten around his as he squeezes mine. Damien seeks my eyes, sensing my inner turmoil as I fight to understand what’s going on inside me.
“It feels strange, doesn’t it?”
My voice trembles when I answer, “Yes, it does.”
“Maybe we will finally be able to put the past behind us.”
Damien grabs my hand in his, kisses each finger, pushing my unease away, allowing butterflies to take their place.
“I’m nervous, but in a good way. I wanted to visit our flat over the years, but that would have meant a wrenching confrontation with you.” He pauses at the passenger door and shuts his eyes for a moment.
“I’m sorry, Bria, if I had the slightest idea . . .”
“I know, stop it. We aren’t those people anymore.”
He drives and drives, either to reminisce about every place that held meaning for us or just to enjoy the rightness of us being together and here again. I take it all in—the masses of people lost in their thoughts, strolling from one place to another. The buildings encompassing the past and the future. And the Thames that holds my heart in its depths. I roll down the window and inhale the light breeze while rain drops land on my skin.
My body comes to life when Damien takes the turn onto the most familiar road of all—one made of dreams and lovers’ promises. After all these years, we’re back. The emotions overwhelm me as I crane my neck to the modern glass building. We step inside to spotless white walls as we wait for the elevator to take us to our penthouse. When the doors ding open, emotions run rampant inside me.
“I have you, baby. I will always have you.”
“It’s just . . . it feels like too much of something. I don’t know if it’s good or bad.” His arms wrap around my waist, and I lift my gaze to him as he offers a slight smile.
“It’s neither. There’s nothing bad in there, just our first home, a reminder of two stubbornly-in-love-almost-adults. It’s us from another time. It might be and feel different, but within its walls, it keeps our love safe from the outside.”
His words touch a chord deep inside me. He’s right. This is one of the few places where our love lives on vividly.
As we walk through the elevator doors, my fear ebbs away, curiosity and excitement replacing it. I can’t wait to get inside.
