Page 13 of Promising Her Forever

“Why don’t you go up and pack your stuff. When you’re done, I’ll pack mine,” I say to Daphne.

“Okay, are you sure?”

“Yeah, I think I can handle whoever comes in. If not, I’ll let you know.”

“I’m so glad you found Fionn,” Daphne says as she hugs me.

“Now it’s your turn, you know you deserve to be happy, right?”

“I had my chance and I lost him. I’m okay being alone. I promise.”

I know she’s lying, but this isn’t the time to push her. When she lost Adrian, I honestly didn’t know if she would survive. He was her person and he treated her like a queen. I hope one day she finds someone again. If anyone deserves love, it’s my bestie. I watch her go upstairs to pack. Fionn comes over and hugs me.

“Thank you for not fighting me on coming to live with me,” he says softly as he kisses my neck.

I turn and face him. “Thank you for wanting to take care of me.”

“I plan on taking care of you for the rest of our lives.”

“When I met Playboy, I just thought he was a narcissistic asshole and I knew I never wanted to see him again. I also assumed that he would be going back to England. So I wouldn’t have any problems. Apparently, I was wrong.”

I hug him tightly. This is where I’m supposed to be, and Fionn’s my home. I’m surprised to see more customers coming into the coffee shop. I didn’t expect to have many customers since our grand opening is tomorrow. Today was just to make sure we have everything we need. And to make sure the equipment is working. I look around and see Fionn’s family and people that are here visiting Lake Renegade. I wipe the tears that are rolling down my face. When I told Daphne about my dream of owning a coffee shop, she never laughed or told me I shouldn’t leave my job for it. She said I’d know when the time was right. And that’s exactly how it happened.

I don’t know if I’ll miss being a lawyer, but I think that even if I do? Espresso Joy will remind me of what I have now. The freedom to live more stress-free and be happy. I loved being a lawyer, but the stress of everyday life was a lot. And now that Daphne will be working with me? It’s an even better decision.

I can’t believe my dream has finally come true.

I see Daphne coming back down with her suitcases.

“I’m going to head upstairs to pack my stuff. I don’t have a lot, so it won’t take a lot of time,” I say to Fionn.

“Do you need me to help?” he asks.

“I might when I’m done. Your muscles will come in handy to bring all my stuff down.”

“I’ll come up in thirty minutes.” He laughs.

“You think I can pack in thirty minutes?”

“Yep.”

I laugh as I head upstairs. I look around at the apartment I only got to live in for a month. It was the perfect place for me. And part of me wishes I had more time here. But I also know that if Playboy were to come after me? I wouldn’t be able to really defend myself here.

“You were a great first apartment for me,” I say to the apartment.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I hear a voice say from my bedroom.

I turn and see Playboy standing in the doorway, smirking at me.

“How the fuck did you get in here?”

The look on his face as he’s walking towards me, scares me. And that fear doubles when he pulls out a gun. I open my mouth to scream.

“If you scream, I’ll make sure that’s the last sound you make,” he says as he points the gun at me.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask as I try to look around for something to defend myself with.

“I told you earlier, you’re mine and I don’t like having to repeat myself. I’m glad you’re already packing up. We can head back to my place when you’re done.”