“This is a huge moment for me.”
I take a deep breath and spin to face her. I take her hands and make her sit down so we’re eye to eye. “I’m so glad you’re here and we’ve spent the last couple of years becoming closer. Don’t worry, I don’t subscribe to voodoo…”
“You should, it’s very serious.”
“…because I’m… I don’t know? Normal. And I’m not nervous about this. I know it feels like a whirlwind, looking in from the outside, but it feels right to me. To us. I’ve never felt like this about anyone. Ever. Even when we argue, even when it feels like he’s the most annoying man on the planet, I have no doubt that I want to tolerate him and love him for the rest of our lives. And I am confident he feels the same way.”
Gemma hums. “Yeah. He definitely tolerates you.”
I swear Hattie kicks her under the table.
“And loves you,” she adds.
“He’s callingagain,” Hattie says. I spin back to see his name lighting up my phone.
“Ah, look at that. I can break up with him. Thanks for the heads up, Millie.”
Hattie is fighting a smile; her fizzy hair brushed back into an explosive bun. I’m still in my casual, loose clothing as I grab the phone and head into the walk-in closet that’s attached to our room for privacy.
Once things got out about us dating publicly, there was a buzz of interest in me for a few weeks. Work found it a tricky to navigate when fans were waiting in the lobby to speak with me about Gus. And it took some getting usedto, being papped when we went for our Sunday morning walks down the seafront. And yet, with all these things, they moved onto a new big topic.
But since Gus has been unemployed for the past year, he’s been able to flex to my schedule. We’ve travelled at weekends and during my annual leave. I’ve helped him navigate the rocky waters of his future and enjoyed listening to him create music for other people whenever I’m with him.
And when we’re not travelling, we’re at his beautiful home in Tetbury – which is now mine too, I guess. It’s all modern and tidy inside, but externally it’s an ancient Cotswold barn with massive glass windows and doors where the entrance used to be.
It’s totally my cup of tea.
Essentially, I have fallen in love with more than one thing these past couple of years.
When I peer out of the window at the long lawn at the rear of the house, I can see the garden is filling up with familiar faces. We said we’d keep it a small affair, but of course, my extended family is massive, and Gus’s mother is intense. Not to mention Grace’s social circle that we had to consider for some reason.
I answer his call. “Are you still doing this?”
“I am,” he says. “This is the last time though as I fear I’m close to be attacked by my auntie.”
“Isn’t Carl around to protect you?”
“Probably. He’s always creeping about.”
“How can I help you, Augustus?”
“I want to tell you, I love you. And I’m here. And I know there arewaymore people than we originally planned. AndI know your dad is only seconds away from coming up to the bridal suite to make you cry. But I’m here. And I’m staying. There’s pretty much nothing in the world you could do now to change that.”
“On that note. You should know, Millie has just confessed our love may be due to a failed voodoo experiment that she messed up in her teens.”
Gus blows out a breath, but I can hear his smile as he says, “Well, thank God for that. Will you thank her for me.”
I laugh quietly, hoping they’re not all listening in at the door. “I love that you’re putting me at ease, but I’m pretty sure this is bad luck.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in luck.”
“Well, maybe you’ve changed me.”
“I wouldn’t change a single thing about you.”
There’s a knock on the door and I’m distracted for a second. Hattie yells at me to get off the phone, it’s time to go for photos and I’m not even in my dress yet.
I laugh. It’s time.
