She was asleep before I was, the bedside lamp still on on my side of the bed. I watched her, smiling to myself.
I couldn’t wait to show her off to the world. Miss Elaine Constantine on my arm on the red carpet.
My love, my life. My very best friend.
25
Elaine
I must have twirled a thousand times in front of the mirror, staring at the sparkle in my sapphire gown while Francesca stood beside me. She looked absolutely sensational, in a bright orange dress fitted like perfection to her curves. It was so striking. Totally beautiful.
“You look AMAZING!” she told me for the hundredth time as I checked out my back in the mirror all over again.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m just… I’ll be standing next to Lucian Morelli, the hottest guy on the planet.”
She laughed at that. “Just as well you’re probably the hottest girl on the planet, then.”
I rolled my eyes, because that was a crazy statement, but it still made me feel so nice inside, her being so nice to me.
She checked the time.
“Really, we have to go now. The boys will be waiting downstairs. Fuck, how Devon wishes Lucian was a drinker, he’d love to be knocking back the whiskies with him tonight.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Fuck, how you wish I was a drinker too, I imagine,” I said, gesturing to the glass in her hand. “You’d love to be knocking back the prosecco with me tonight.”
One thing was certain. I wouldn’t be knocking back anything. Me and alcohol were well and truly enemies these days.
I took a deep breath before we began our descent downstairs from Francesca’s bedroom. I had been trying my best not to touch my makeup, since it had been applied just right by the beautician. I wanted to look as perfect as possible for the red carpet.
I thought I’d seen Lucian taken aback by how I looked before, but it was nothing compared to how his eyes widened when I stepped through the sitting room doorway that night.
It was enough to knock me sideways. Absolute, total, adoration. I can only imagine my stare at him must have been equally as adoring, because he looked absolutely fucking amazing.
I had no idea when he’d been fitted for his tuxedo, but it was perfection on him. He was a god. A pure god. The sight of him made my heart race, giving me literal shivers because I was so excited.
He put his mineral water down on the coffee table and walked right on over, tipping my face up to his.
“Elaine. I have no words. I’ll be the proudest man alive tonight.”
I must have grinned like a happy little girl, my eyes meeting his with devotion. This man was a god. My god.
“Time to roll,” Devon said and I looked over to see his hand in Francesca’s, gripping tight.
Yeah, she was his princess, just like I was Lucian’s. It was written all over his face, just as he was enough to set her on fire right back. So lovely to see.
The limo was waiting outside for us, ready to go. My heart was still thumping, nerves and excitement and love a heady mash-up.
Lucian stroked my knuckles for the whole ride into the city while the Quentins told us all over again about the different performers and VIPs who’d be there with us. I was only half listening, too focused on London through the windows, burning bright.
Wow, the West End was thrumming with energy when we got there. I could feel it. People crowded around waiting to be let in. Paparazzi focused on the VIP entrance.
Here we were. This was it.
Songbirds in the Wind. The signs were bright and bold.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on our car as it pulled up outside the VIP entrance, red carpet waiting as the attendants stepped forward to open our doors.
They looked very shocked as I stepped on out, and shocked to a whole other level as Lucian stepped out and joined me. Yes. It was us. A Constantine and a Morelli standing together.
And that’s when it went crazy. Absolutely fucking crazy. Lights flashing, and cameras clicking and journalists racing forward to get shots of us up close.
Holy Jesus, I was proud. I held Lucian’s hand with my chin up high and my smile alight, posing for the press before we began our walk along the red carpet, along with the Quentins.
The press were calling out questions. Someone shoved a microphone right in my face.
“Elaine! Elaine! Were you kidnapped? Give us a statement!”
I gave them a statement. A very simple one, with a smile. “No. I wasn’t kidnapped, there has been a misunderstanding. I’ve been with Lucian Morelli and I’m very happy. He’s my partner now.”
All fear was lost under that pure burst of excitement. All thoughts of our families taking a swipe at us was lost under the bliss as the press went even more crazy with the camera flashes and questions. We ignored the rest of them, just kept on walking.
The red carpet steps lasted a lifetime and a heartbeat both at once. The theater was beautiful when we hit the entrance hall. We were guided to our VIP balcony and the view of the stage was incredible. I took my seat by the railing, leaning forward to check out the full scope of the place. It was everything I’d dreamed it would be.
“And here we are,” Lucian whispered to me. “A couple for the world to see. It’s an honor, Elaine. A true honor.”
“Ditto,” I said, with a girly grin. “Being anywhere with you is an honor, Lucian. I didn’t know it was possible to love anyone as much as I love you.”
His grin was amazing, nothing like his trademark smirk. “Ditto.”
The lights lowered to darkness, bursting to brightness again as the curtains pulled back and the show began. The music was so good. The orchestra was outstanding, and so were the performers on stage.
The story was about two birds separated by the bitter cold and wind, both of them believing the other was dead and not being able to live without them, searching desperately for the other even though they believed they were gone.
I was crying by the end, giving a standing ovation alongside Lucian and the Quentins with my hands in the air.
I only hoped we’d be able to do plenty more of these musicals, because they were magic. Magic.
Lucian knew I was crying with the emotion of the story when he took my hand and led me out onto the landing to make our descent.
“We’ll be doing plenty more of this,” he assured me, and wiped away my tears with his thumb. “Thank you,” I said.
“There’s no thanks to give,” he replied. “The pleasure is all mine.”
The paparazzi were ready and waiting for us all over again when we left the theater. This time we dashed right past them, taking a dive into the limo before the Quentins slid in and joined us.
Devon let out a breath once we were back in our seats, letting out a guffaw of a laugh.
“Well, we’re all still alive. Thumbs-up for that.”
Lucian laughed along with him, and he gave him a thumbs-up. An actual thumbs-up, which made me laugh too.
Yeah, these were our friends now. I knew in my heart they always would be.
“Time for the after-party!” Francesca said with a grin, but Lucian shook his head, then smiled at me.
“Not for us. We have somewhere else to be going.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but Devon did.
“Ah, yes. You’ll be taking the limo on to Soho. Of course.”