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I smile back at her, my stomach fluttering with excitement. She’s right — not only does it tick all my boxes, I can genuinely see myself living here. “I think I’m going to buy it,” I whisper, scared to even say the words. Moving in with my parents when I came home after college has been tough, and I’m more than eager to put an end to that. Just the thought of having true privacy excites me.
Lily nods and reaches for her bag, pulling out a champagne bottle. “I know. I suspected this was the one when you asked me to come view it with you again, but I knew for sure when I saw the nail polish you’re wearing today. It’s the one I bought for you last month, isn’t it?”
I glance down at my gray-green nail polish in surprise. I must’ve subconsciously chosen it. “Alpaca My Bags,” I mutter, grinning to myself. She bought it for me to use when I found my dream home and could finally pack my bags at my parents’ house. “I’m buying it.”
Lily pulls disposable champagne glasses from her bag and pops the cork, both of us jumping a little when it comes off, only to fall into a fit of laughter. She hands me a glass and holds her own up. “To new beginnings, and happy homes.”
A happy home. I know how much those words mean to her — it’s the one thing she lost and never regained. “To happy homes,” I murmur. “You know this’ll be your home too? You’ll always be welcome here.”
She nods and glances around the kitchen. “You’llalways be home to me, Celeste. No matter where we are. You know that, right?”
I nod and notice the concern she’s trying to hide. Lily hates it when I shut her out, but the more worried I am about something, the harder I find it to talk about it. She’s gotten used to me not telling her things until I’ve processed them in my head and I’m fully ready to share, but she can always tell when something is up, and I know it hurts her when I don’t confide in her.
What would she say if I tell her about Zane? Every time I try, my throat closes up. I’ve barely figured out how I feel about him myself, and even though I know she never would, I’m scared she’d judge me for it. He’s bullied me for years, and part of me is ashamed that we’ve now… I’m not even sure what we’re doing.
“Celeste?”
I blink in surprise and sigh when I realize that I’d been completely lost in thought again. “Sorry, Lil,” I murmur, feeling defeated.
“What’s going on with you?” she asks, her voice soft. “You’ve been like this for weeks now, absentminded and quiet. I know that’s not uncommon for you, and you’ll eventually tell me whatever’s on your mind, but in the meantime, you’re worrying me. What’s wrong? Is it work? Or… are you… are you mad about me working for Windsor Hotels? Ever since I started there, we just… we barely talk.”
I look into my best friend’s eyes and take a deep breath, steeling myself. “Lily,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I kissed Zane Windsor, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him ever since.”
ChapterEighteen
Zane
I’m strangely nervous as I park in front of the unfamiliar house Celeste asked me to meet her at. When I realized she’d never truly give me a chance, I told myself I’d leave her in the past and tried my best to move on, yet here I am, simply because she called and asked me to come. If she ever realizes how much power she holds over me, I’m done for.
I sigh and reach for the stargazer lilies I brought for her. I planted them myself because I thought she’d like the smell of them, but I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to give them to her.
The front door swings open, and there she is, staring up at me with a hesitant smile on her beautiful face. That red dress and her matching red lips make me weak, but somehow, I manage to smile back at her. For weeks, I tried to forget all about her, tried to bury the hope I held on to in every way I could think of, only for my intentions to fade to dust at the sight of her. “Hey,” I murmur, my voice soft.
“Hi,” she replies, standing aside to let me in.
It’s odd how so much seems to be standing between us now, when nothing has really changed. I suppose I’m a little disillusioned, reality finally drowning out the pink haze she wrapped me in. I’d so badly wanted to believe that we could start off with a fresh slate, that nothing would matter so long as she wanted me too. If only things were that simple.
“Brought you a gift,” I tell her as I hold up the stargazer lilies, my eyes roaming over the beautiful but very empty foyer. Surprise crosses her face, and she moves to take them from me, but I shake my head and pull them against my chest. “It’s a heavy bouquet. Just tell me where you want it.”
She nods and leads me into the house, her shoulders sinking as we walk in. “This is a terrible idea,” she says, her voice soft. “I don’t even have a seat to offer you. I just bought this house, and I moved in with nothing but my suitcase. All I’ve really got is a mattress, because even my bed isn’t here yet. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m so sorry. Why don’t I grab my purse, and we can go somewhere instead?”
She’s rambling, the way she does when she’s nervous. It’s fucking adorable. “This is your home?” I ask, seeing the place through fresh eyes. She nods as we walk into the kitchen, and I can’t help but whistle. “Damn, Celeste. This is one hell of a house. This kitchen is even better than mine — and mine, well, it was custom made for me.”
She blushes as I look around, and something about her shyness just tugs on my heartstrings. I place the flowers on her white marble counter, my eyes roaming over her. “So I’m your first guest, huh?”
She tucks her hair behind her ear and nods, her cheeks still tinged pink. “Kind of. You’re my first guest since I’ve owned it. Not even my parents have been here yet — they’re dropping by tomorrow.”
I grin at her, intensely pleased for reasons I can’t quite identify. “In that case, you’ll have to show me around.”
She looks into my eyes, both of us well aware of everything that needs to be said, but neither of us willing to break the fragile peace between us. “I will, but first… I just wanted to say I’m sorry, Zane.” She wraps her arms around herself, her posture betraying her vulnerability. “When you saw me at the restaurant, it truly wasn’t what you thought it was, but I understand how me saying that it wasn’t a date wouldn’t be enough of an explanation — especially because I’d told you I’d be with my mother. I’ve gone over this in my head a million times, reminding myself that this is a bad idea, that I should take the excuse our argument offered me and distance myself from you, let this thing between us just fizzle out, but I… I can’t.”
I cross my arms and lean back against her counter, noting the way her eyes are drawn to my biceps. She bites down on her lip and drags her eyes back to mine, the air between us slowly becoming charged. I drink her in as she explains how her mother set her up, but that only reinforces my doubts — not in her, but inus.
“Clifton Emerson,” I repeat, feeling oddly defeated. It only took me a few hours to find out who she’d been with, but hearing her say his name still hits me hard. “So that’s the man your mother envisions you with, huh? Notoriously calm and collected, patient, studious. He’s from a good family, but not one whose notoriety will bring you unwanted attention. Same industry too, but they’re not giants, so you’re on an even playing field. Yeah, you’d make for a great couple.”
I look away and run a hand through my hair, unsure of what else to say. I can’t compete with someone like him — my family is too well-known, the feud between the Harrisons and Windsors is too longstanding, and even if I suggested a merger, they’d just feel like we’re usurping them. Not that either her family or mine would ever consider it.
“Zane,” she says, my name a whisper on her lips. She takes a step toward me, and then another, until she’s standing between my legs.
