I cross the room in three strides and pull him into my arms. My most incredible boy melts against me, burying his face in my chest.
“I love you,” I say, the words coming out rough and honest. “I want to be your Forever Daddy. That’s if you still feel the same.”
Teddy looks up at me, eyes shining with tears and joy. “Yes,” he whispers. “Yes, I do.”
We kiss. It’s passionate, deep, full of everything we’ve been through and everything still ahead. His hands clutch my shirt. Mine hold his like I’ll never let go.
When we finally pull apart, the others are watching with quiet smiles. Viktor raises his glass again.
“To new beginnings,” Viktor says.
We all drink.
For the first time in a long time, the future doesn’t feel like only war and shadows.
It feels like something worth fighting for.
Chapter 22
Teddy
ONE MONTH LATER…
I step out of the studio and the bright afternoon sun hits me like a spotlight.
My heart is still racing, adrenaline buzzing through every vein…
I just smashed that audition out of the park! I don’t want to jinx things, but I just know from the bottom of my heart that the whole thing went as well as an audition possibly could.
The casting director had asked for a scene with heavy improv elements, and I went for it… full commitment, natural timing, and that bubbly, slightly chaotic energy that always seems to work for comedy.
I nailed the physical bits, delivered the lines with perfect punch, and even threw in a couple of spontaneous character choices that made the whole room laugh out loud.
When they called “thank you,” the smiles on their faces told me everything I needed to know.
I did it.
I really,reallydid it.
Nothing is guaranteed in tis business, and I know that more than most. But I’m going to enjoy this feeling. Whether I get the part or not, I know that I’ve done my best and had a blast doing it too.
I bound down the steps of the studio, practically floating, a huge grin stretching across my face. And there he is, waiting for me on the sidewalk like he always does when it matters.
Kirill.
My Forever Daddy.
He’s leaning against his sleek black sports car, arms crossed, looking every bit the powerful, commanding man I fell so hard for. The moment our eyes meet, his expression softens with that rare, private smile he saves just for me.
“How did it go, malysh?” Kirill asks, voice low and warm. “Did you kill it?”
“I super-killed it!” I squeal, launching myself into his arms. He catches me easily, lifting me off the ground for a moment before setting me back down and pressing a firm kiss to my forehead.
“I knew you would,” Kirill murmurs against my hair. “You always do when you let yourself shine. You’re just incredible, you know that?”
I giggle and blush as we start walking hand in hand toward the nearby park, the city buzzing around us but feeling strangely distant.
Kirill stops at a little sorbet stand and buys two cups, strawberry for me, lemon for him. We stroll slowly along the winding paths, spoons clinking against the cups, the sun warm on our skin.
