I cupped her face in my hands. "Get used to it."
"Xavier—"
"I mean it. I want to give you the world." I leaned in, brushing my nose against hers. "And I'm going to keep showing up until you believe it."
She kissed me then. Soft and sweet, her hands resting on my chest, her body swaying into mine like gravity itself was pulling us together.
When we broke apart, I was smiling so hard my face hurt.
I was happy. So, so happy.
And for the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of it.
17KIM
The extra dayin Hawaii was everything I didn't know I needed.
We woke late, tangled together in the villa's enormous bed, sunlight streaming through the windows. Xavier ordered room service—fresh papaya, macadamia nut pancakes, coffee that tasted like heaven—and we ate in bed, feeding each other bites between lazy kisses.
Later, he took me snorkeling in a hidden cove only the resort staff knew about. We floated over coral gardens, watching sea turtles glide beneath us, and when I surfaced gasping with delight, he kissed the salt water from my lips.
We made love in the outdoor shower, steam rising around us, the afternoon sun warm on my skin. We made love again on the daybed overlooking the ocean, slower this time, his hands tracing every curve like he was committing me to memory. I let myself fall apart beneath him, let myself be seen in a way I hadn't allowed in years.
In the evening, we walked barefoot along the beach, collecting shells and talking about nothing important. He told me about the summer he spent in France when he was twelve, how he'd gotten lost in a vineyard and eaten so many grapes he'd made himself sick.
I told him about the library book I'd stolen when I was seven—The Secret Garden—because I couldn't bear to return it, and how I still had it somewhere in a box.
"That's a felony," he said, grinning.
"I was seven."
"A seven-year-old criminal mastermind." He pulled me close, pressing a kiss to my temple. "I had no idea I was dating such a dangerous woman."
We had dinner at a tiny restaurant tucked into the cliffs, the kind of place you'd never find without a local's recommendation. The chef came out to meet us personally, and Xavier charmed him into making us a special tasting menu. We drank too much wine and laughed too loudly and stumbled back to the villa holding hands like teenagers.
That night, lying in his arms, I let myself imagine a future. This man beside me. Zoe growing up surrounded by love. The three of us building something real.
The thought should have felt ridiculous. Instead, it felt fragile and precious, like cupping a butterfly in my palms.
I was terrified of crushing it. More terrified that I'd already started to believe it.
The next morning, Xavier's phone rang while we were packing.
He glanced at the screen, grinning when he saw the name. "Sebastian. Probably calling to make sure we haven't trashed his precious villa." He answered with his usual charm. "Brother dearest! Missing me already? I know I'm delightful, but?—"
He stopped.
The grin slid off his face. I watched it happen in real time—the light in his eyes dimming, his jaw going tight, something cold settling over his features.
"When?" His voice was flat. Unrecognizable. "How bad?"
I moved closer, trying to catch his eye, but he turned away from me. His free hand clenched into a fist at his side.
"I'm on my way." He hung up without saying goodbye.
"Xavier?" I touched his arm. "What's wrong? What happened?"
He didn't look at me. "There's an emergency. We need to leave. Now."
