Page 128 of My Real Love Affair

I was already thinking about the next vacation. Where could I take her? The Maldives? Santorini? Somewhere she’d never been. I wanted to take her somewhere I could watch her face light up with wonder again.

And then my thoughts jumped to the holidays. To Christmas, which had always been a tense affair at the Bancroft estate. But with Melody there? Maybe it would be different. Maybe I’d actually want to be there, to share that with her.

New Year’s Eve. Dancing with her as the countdown happened. Kissing her at midnight while everyone else cheered. Starting the new year with her in my arms.

Introducing her to everyone, not as a date or an arrangement, but as my girlfriend. My girl.Mine.

And then, more terrifying, the thought of making her more than that. Of proposing. Of watching her walk down an aisle toward me. Of calling her my wife.

Starting a family. Little Bancrofts running around. Kids with her smile and my stubbornness. Teaching them to be better than I was. Building something real and lasting and good.

The thoughts should have terrified me. Should have sent me running like they always had before.

But they didn’t.

They just made me hold Melody tighter.

Get a grip, Bancroft,I told myself.You’re getting way ahead of yourself. It’s just a moment. No need to take it more seriously than that.

But even as I tried to convince myself, I knew I was lying.

Because Melody wasn’t just a woman. She wasthewoman. The one who saw through all my bullshit. Who called me out when I needed it and supported me when I was struggling. Who made me want to be better not because she demanded it, but because she deserved it.

And this wasn’t just a moment. This was the beginning of something. Something that could either be the best thing that ever happened to me or completely destroy me.

Maybe both.

Melody shifted beside me, tilting her face up to look at me. “What are you thinking about?”

“You. Us. The future.”

“Scary future or good future?”

“Good future. Really good future.” I kissed her forehead. “Probably too good to be true.”

“Why does it have to be too good? Why can’t good things just be good?”

“Because in my experience, good things don’t last. People leave or disappoint you or realize you’re not worth the effort.Or I do something that sends people running in the opposite direction.”

“Austin, that’s not true.”

“With you, it feels different. Like maybe good things can last.”

She propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at me. “You are worth the effort. And good things can last if we fight for them.”

“You’d fight for this? For us?”

“In a heartbeat.” She leaned down and kissed me softly. “Would you?”

“Yes.” The answer came without hesitation. “I would. I will.”

She smiled again before stretching out again. I pulled her close, needing her body next to mine.

This wasn’t just a moment.

It was everything.

Shewas everything.