AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She stared up at him in awe, grateful for how understanding he was. She knew it wasn't something he was comfortable with, but he'd understood that it was her decision in the end.
"But," he said, "I'm filing a restraining order against him, and you can't stop me."
She smiled, though she felt a hint of pain at the prospect of never seeing Xavier again. "Agreed."
She realized how unexpected life could be. Someone's image could change completely in a matter of seconds. It takes only a few moments for your life to split into before and after, in a way you'd never be able to go back to theBeforeeven if you wanted to.
She smiled.
She didn't want to go back toBeforeanymore, because theAfterhad blessed her with Chris's love.
"I need a long break," she whispered.
Chris adjusted himself till he was lying on his back. Giselle turned her body toward him and snuggled up to him as he wrapped her up in his arms.
It felt natural, like she was supposed to be nowhere else, like this is where she was meant to be all along. She'd thought that being this intimate with her best friend was going to be awkward, but she was wrong. It felt like heaven. It felt like home.
She lay her face on his chest, and he trailed his fingers up and down her arm. He smelled divine, his cologne mixed with the scent of his body. His firm muscles turned into a soft pillow under his collarbone for her face to rest on when he folded sideways to hold her.
"Do you wanna go somewhere?" he asked, his chest vibrating as he spoke.
"Like a getaway? Don't you have work?"
"I took a few days off."
"Why?"
He sighed. "I need a break, too."
Giselle trailed circles on his chest over his blue t-shirt. "Where do you wanna go?"
"Wherever you are."
She thought about it for a moment. "Hey, I have that trip from the auction. We could go to Aquaville if you want. There's the ocean."
Weirdly, he was the one who hesitated. It was she who should've felt hesitant about going to Aquaville since it was Xavier's homeland. It was where his parents and sister were buried. Chris didn't even know about that.
"Whatever you want, dearest." He kissed the top of her head.
She smiled. "I can call the traveling agency and they can set us up for tomorrow, I hope. Oh, but wait no!" She gasped. "I gave away the tickets to Ana!"
"We can take the car," he mumbled.
"You sure?"
"Mm-hmm."
"It's an eight-hour drive, I think."
"Perfect," he murmured.
"Do we go tomorrow?"
He hummed.
She wondered if he was even listening to her. "Chris?" she called softly.
He didn't reply, his breathing relaxed and even.
