“Lilah,” he began. “You know I want this for you but—”
“But my father is an evil, homophobic fuck,” she finished. “You’ve been so amazing, Preston. More supportive than my own family. If I was into guys, you would’ve made an amazing husband, but we both know”—she looked to me—“that you want to be free of this just as much as I do.
“All I can do is promise you I won’t let him carry out his threats. I’ll protect you like you did for me. But I choose you,” she said to Mila. “As my girlfriend, not my fiancée. We’re both leaving this place and going back to the real world where we’ll go to NYU, move in together, fight and make up a million times, and when we’re both sure, I’m going to marry the shit out of you.”
Mila gasped on a sob, beaming from ear to ear. “Are you sure... this is what you want?”
“Of course I’m sure. I’ve been in love with you for six years, Mila Anderson. You’re the only thing I’ve ever been sure about.”
The girls kissed again—to the sound of raucous applause.
“IT SUDDENLY MAKES SO much sense.”
“I wanted to tell you,” he said.
Preston and I walked arm in arm down the hall, uncaring of who saw.
“August caught her with Mila when she was thirteen. He made up his mind to cut that potential scandal off at the knees and tie her to a wealthy, suitable husband.”
“But you said he didn’t anticipate you giving her freedom.”
“Nope.”
We entered their private wing and Preston drew ahead to draw back the sliding glass. Kimberly and her group could strut around knowing the night before was the best party of the summer. Mila and Delilah were in their rooms packing as we spoke.
“For the last six years, I’ve been her beard. Getting her out of the house for shopping, dates, and that crap, so she could really meet up with Mila. I told her I wouldn’t expect anything of her even after we were married. She didn’t need to hang on my arm at events or drop little Prestons. She could live her life with Mila or whoever made her happy.”
“That’s really amazing of you, Preston.” He reached to pull out my chair but I reached for him, wrapping his arms around me, and sharing a lingering kiss. “Why are you such a good man?”
“Because it gets me sex.” He winked. “I’m hoping the trend continues.”
This guy.
“It will,” I said. “You and I are going to have more sex than you can stand.”
“I don’t have a limit, but we’ll break records testing that theory.”
I nipped his nose. “There’s just one thing I don’t understand. Why has Delilah been so beastly to me? Does she really just not like me?”
“What she didn’t like was you flirting with her girlfriend.”
“Flirting with— I wasn’t flirting with Mila!” I cried.
“From the many rants I had to listen to, you were sharing desserts, taking her out scuba diving, skipping off to the bar every other night, walking around linked at the hip, and putting on shoes that made her tingly.”
My jaw sank with every word.
“Lilah wasn’t a big fan of you publicly doing with her girlfriend all the things she wanted to do.”
“Why did she single me out? Mila has lots of friends who were doing the same.”
“It’s the curse of our kind, babe, which I tried to explain to her. A siren smiles in your direction and you think they’re trying to light your loins on fire. She didn’t trust you with her girlfriend after you stole her fiancé.”
“I don’t even know what to say to that,” I mumbled.
Preston shrugged, smiling down at me. “It all worked out, didn’t it? They have each other. And I have you.”
“Did it?” I asked. “What if she can’t stop him, Preston? Her father promised to cut her off and rip your legacy from you. What is she going to do to save you now that she couldn’t do before?”
“That is something me, my mom, and our army of lawyers will figure out tomorrow,” he said. Preston nipped my nose right back. “Today, I have nothing standing in the way of being with you. An apartment in the middle of our schools. You and me coming back to the cove for Christmas. Going on a backpacking trip to the fashion and art capitals of the world. Today we get to do what we couldn’t. Plan our future together.”
I closed my eyes, seeing that future play out in sharp, clear focus, and I wanted it so badly it made my knees weak.
“But we can’t,” I whispered. “Why do you guys keep doing this to me? Teasing me with a life I can’t have.”
“Because we will have it, Belle. I know you’ve been given every reason to despair and none to hope. But that’s why you fell for the three of us. We’ve got more than enough for you. It’s okay that you can’t see our future, love. Because I can, and I won’t stop until I make it yours.”
My cheeks were wet. Preston kissed them, taking my tears onto himself. It seemed like I fell for them, so they could crack my tough-girl exterior. “I can see it, Preston. That’s why it hurts so much.”
“Mal won’t have you, Belle.”
Leaning back, I hung off his shoulder. “You will?”
“No, you will. Your life, choices, and decisions will be your own and I’ll give anything to see that happen.” He winked. “You’re hopelessly in love with me, so I feel safe about being a part of that future.”
I hummed. “I confirm your chances are good. As long as you don’t lose your looks.”
“It’s cracks like those that get you spanked, baby. You know it’s coming but go for it anyway.”
Happiness burst and popped inside me as I was dipped—my squeal swallowed by hungry lips.
Preston lifted and set me on my seat. The chef’s assistant popped her head out just in time.
“Morning, Preston. Belle. What can we get you today?”
“Just scrambled eggs and toast for me, please,” I said. “With a side of fruit.”
“Make it four,” Preston added. “Nathan and Carter will be down soon.”
Slipping out of my shoes, I popped my feet on his lap and received a foot massage for my trouble. I melted in my chair, soaking in the sun.
“If you can see our future too,” Preston began, “what do our kids look like?”
“Dangerously adorable. We keep them inside for their own protection. They’ll be too stealable.”
Amusement laced his voice. “What about our home? Where do we live?”
“Carter moved from Hawk’s Bay near you guys in Ashford. Bracknell isn’t too far from there. I think we stay close by.”
“Even if your parents move to England?”
“We can split our time after all this forced-marriage nonsense is over and the real Cecilia and Tobias return.” Just like that, Preston had me talking about our future. “Both our careers will take us to Europe and around the world. We’ll stay with them when we travel.”
“I’m taking you to a ridiculous amount of art galleries.” He dug into a spot on my foot that left me boneless. “I’m building up a thick skin to weather the trashing of my favorite artists.”