Page 147 of The Daddy’s Girl

“Julian,” I say, leaning forward to stare into his eyes. “How would you feel if Mom or Dad hated you being with Archer? Or Freya? It would tear you up, and you know it. It doesn’t matter if they’re mad at me or him. It hurts me all the same.”

The corner of his mouth lifts. “Easy, Mel. I was just pointing out that you’re their daughter. He is their friend.”

“Yeah, well…they’ve known him longer,” Archer says, nodding toward Matis, and I crack a smile. He’s trying to lighten the mood, and I love him for that.

“So what’s the plan? With London, I mean?” Julian asks, remaining serious, regardless of his fiancé’s attempt to make us laugh.

I glance up at Matis, who meets my gaze.

“I’m still undecided,” he says while staring at me.

He says that, but deep down, I know. If he wasn’t going, he’d have said so by now. There is some part of Matis that knows going is the best option for him. For no other reason than he wants it. He still loves me and wants to be with me while wanting that part of his life back too.

“And what about you?” Julian stares at me, and I spot the fear in his eyes.

In the back of my mind, I think about Phoenix, and I want to tell my brother that no matter what I do, we will never part. Not really. I could be in the farthest corner of the earth, and I’d still keep him close.

After a deep breath, I sit up straight. “I’m going to focus on my program…if I get in.”

“And then?”

“And then…we don’t know.”

Julian exhales slowly, his icy blue eyes staying locked on me. I watch his throat move as he swallows. Archer lays a hand on his leg, squeezing it in a comforting gesture.

Eventually, my brother gives me a soft, crooked smile.

“Don’t let their disapproval stop you from what you want,” he says in a gentle tone. “Be the stubborn brat I know and love, Amelia. Because if you let this go, you’ll regret it.”

With that, his hand grips Archer’s on his leg.

My gaze travels over to Matis, who smiles back at me. Suddenly, I remember that night when he was walking me home. The night he placed his hand on my belly.

The night we watched our dreams change right in front of our eyes. But dreams are never that easy. Dreams require sacrifice, and I’m not ready to let either of us sacrifice anything.

After hugging my brother and his family goodbye, Matis and I are alone. I feel weathered and exhausted, like these tears were a flu that knocked me off my feet.

Taking my hand in his, he kisses my knuckles and pulls me over to the couch. As we sit together, I know exactly what he’s going to say. It doesn’t feel like heartbreak or surrender. It feels like exhaling.

“If I go to London, it doesn’t mean the end of us. Nothing could ever mean the end of us,” he whispers, and somehow, I manage even more tears as I lean into him.

“I know.”

“You will have the space to work on your designs, and I would have the chance to make amends with your father.”

“It makes sense,” I murmur.

Touching my chin, he lifts my face until I’m staring into his eyes. “I need you to understand this does not mean I am choosing the club over you. I could never choose anything over you, mon trésor.”

I manage a sad smile as I nod. “I understand.”

“You are the best thing to ever happen to me, and I believe that what is meant to be will be. I love you so much.”

My arms wind around him, and I squeeze him so tight, I can hardly breathe. “I love you too.”

After a moment, he tugs me toward him so I’m lying with my head in his lap. Then he drapes a blanket over me, and I feel my eyes grow heavy. When I close my eyes, I feel a soft kiss against my temple.

As I slowly drift off to sleep, he begins to hum the same song he hummed that night in Trocadero when we danced beneath the Eiffel Tower. For some reason, I think about the bridge again. The one so weighed down by locks, it almost crumbled into the water. And I think about how sad that is. So many love stories. So many declarations.