“No worries at all,” Meghan says. “I’m just so happy you’re here!”
Inès steps in next, her smile as radiant as ever, her eyes darting to my baby bump. “Blair, oh my goodness, look at you. You’re glowing!” she says, hugging me gently.
“Pregnancy perks,” I reply with a laugh, patting my belly before turning to Camille. “Hi Camille, it’s so nice to see you again. We definitely need to get together for lunch when we’re back in New York.”
“Absolutely,” she says enthusiastically. “I’ll give you my number later. We’ll make it happen.”
I glance around at the grand hotel lobby. “This place, though! Holy hell, it’s beautiful.”
“It’s incredible, right?” Meghan says. “Justin wanted everything to be perfect.”
“And it will be,” I say.
Just then, Calvin and Desmond walk in with their usual air of confidence, holding our luggage. Calvin’s gaze softens when it lands on me.
“Ladies,” he greets with a small smile, nodding to each of them.
Desmond follows suit, flashing his signature grin. “Nice to see everyone again.”
“Where are the guys?” Calvin asks, slipping his arm around my waist as we all exchange pleasantries.
“They’re on the rooftop,” Meghan replies. “There’s a bar up there, and they’ve been waiting for you two.”
Desmond chuckles. “Figures.”
“We’ll check in and join them soon,” Calvin says.
Meghan turns to me with a conspiratorial smile. “While they’re off doing whatever it is they do, I have our own little gathering planned. There’s a private lounge on this floor. We need to catch up.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I agree excitedly.
These past few months have been a whirlwind. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a moment to just sit, breathe, and truly relax. Moving to New York was a massive change. Exciting, yes, but overwhelming in its own way. Starting my new job at Vogue felt like stepping into a dream and a pressure cooker all at once. Every day is a rush of deadlines, creative meetings, and navigating the fast-paced fashion world.
And on top of that, I’m still working on my clothing line. It’s my passion project, my baby, but balancing it with a full-time role at one of the most iconic fashion magazines in the world and being pregnant has been… let’s just say, challenging.
Calvin hates that I’m taking on too much. But honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The adrenaline, the creativity, the feeling of chasing my dreams, it’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Still, I can’t deny that I’ve been neglecting some of the best parts of my life, like spending time with my girls. We haven’t had a proper hangout in months. Don’t even get me started on the romance book we decided to read together back in December. It’s June now, and we haven’t even discussed the first chapter, so I’m very much looking forward to this get-together.
Desmond’s room is conveniently right next to ours, and after exchanging some quick banter, Calvin and I make our way to our suite. The moment we step inside, I’m awestruck. The suite is massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering abreathtaking panoramic view of the St. Lawrence River and the city’s charming architecture. The combination of modern luxury and old-world charm is enough to make my heart flutter.
Calvin, on the other hand, seems completely at ease in such grandeur. He lounges on the king-sized bed like he owns the place, scrolling through his phone while I dart around the room, taking in every detail.
The bathroom is nothing short of a spa, with a deep soaking tub that practically begs me to jump in, heated marble floors, and gold accents that glint under the soft lighting. Even the toiletries smell like heaven.
When I finally finish gushing over every inch of the suite, I freshen up and step back into the bedroom. Calvin is still on the bed, phone in hand, but the moment he sees me, he sets it aside and gives me a small smile, the kind that always makes my knees weak.
I walk over and place my hands on his shoulders, gently massaging out the tension I know has built up over his long workdays. Calvin’s been just as busy as I have, pouring his heart into designing the tallest building in New York. His dedication to his craft is one of the things I love most about him.
“Hey,” he says, his voice low and full of warmth as he tilts his head up to look at me.
“Hi,” I reply softly, leaning down to kiss his temple.
“Come here,” he says, tugging me gently onto his lap. “This kid needs to hurry up and come out so we can get started on those twins,” Calvin says with complete seriousness, his hand resting protectively over my belly. When we found out we were just having one baby, he wasn’t even disappointed…no, he took it as motivation. Swore he was going to get me pregnant with twins next time, like it was some kind of personal mission.
I can’t help but laugh before his lips find mine. The kiss is slow, sweet, and deep. It’s the kind of kiss that makes time feel like it’s standing still.
When I pull back, his voice drops to that husky tone that always sends shivers down my spine. “Hmm, give me more,” he whispers, capturing my lips again. His hands begin to roam, and I can feel the heat between us rising.
“Cal, we need to go meet our friends,” I manage to say between kisses, though my voice is half-hearted.
