As we danced, the space between us grew less, and soon, my breasts were pressed against his chest.
“Gatsby.” I looked at his strikingly handsome face.
“Yes, Daisy?”
“Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“I don’t want a dance studio in our mansion. I’ve spent too much time here. This is the only time I’ve ever been happy in this room.”
“Sure.”
I rested my head on his pectoral, and we danced slowly.
“I know it’s not real, but I like to think it might be,” I said.
“What’s that?”
“Our Gatsby mansion. It’s fun to pretend, but I don’t need all of that. I just need you.”
He stopped swaying, his hands pinching my chin as he tilted my head up. His eyes dipped to my lips. My heart skipped a beat as he came closer, and hesitantly, our lips touched.
The kiss was soft and fleeting, but it was the best thing that had ever happened to me. My head grew light, and my mouth curved upward in a silly schoolgirl grin.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a very long time.”
“Me too…”
He frowned slightly. “Three more years, Daisy. I know our dream sounds impossible, but I am going to spend these next three years figuring out how to make that happen.”
I started to roll my eyes, but he frowned, and I stopped.
“Do you believe in the green light?” he asked. The green light was more than just hope for us. It was a promise; it was our love. If he said we were going to have our Gatsby mansion, then we were going to have it. He’d asked if I believed in our love.
“Yes.”
Chapter 27
Gatsby
I stood in the doorway,my arms crossed as I watched her step into the primary bath.
“A swan bathtub,” she whispered. Creeping toward it, she put her hand out in front of her, as if scared to touch it. I understood exactly what she was feeling. I, too, felt like we could wake up any minute now and I’d be back in my cell at San Quintin’s, and she’d be at the house across the lake. “You remembered.” She sat on the edge of the pink porcelain and reached for the gold spouts, turning it on. It squeaked, and water poured from it in a large blast. She leaped back with a small yelp, followed by a giggle. When she looked up, tears glossed her eyes.
“Gatsby, I can’t believe this. All of this. The staircase, the elevator, the rooms, all of it. You did it all.”
“I did.” I nodded. I was rather proud of my work here. I’d spent many, many hours in my cell learning how to create a blueprint that was legible for the contractors I’d someday hire. When I finally did get a crew here, they were impressed by my papers, albeit a little daunted.
I pushed off the doorframe and went to her. “I can’tbelieve it either. This doesn’t feel real.” I took her hands and pulled her to her feet.
“No, it doesn’t,” she agreed. “And I hate that. I shouldn’t be scared like this.”
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her tightly to my chest.
“Well, you don’t have to be. This is real. I’m not going anywhere ever again,” I replied firmly. When I said something, I meant it. I just got her back. I wasn’t letting her go.
“Yes, but...” Her beautiful brown eyes drifted to her hand again.
