Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 160356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 802(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 802(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Hours later, after passing endless Christmas markets, enjoying a few more hot drinks, and having an impromptu mini tour of some of the landmarks hard-core Londoners neglect to appreciate when they’re immersed in the grandeur of the city daily, we find ourselves on King’s Road. I’ve talked about Noah non-stop, his funny little traits, his loves, his hates, and I didn’t break down once. My throat clogged up, my eyes stung, my heart squeezed, but I never fell apart. Dec listened. He asked me questions. He smiled with me, and he held me close to his side as we walked, squeezing me into him a little harder when I needed it and kissing my hair often. It’s been a lovely day—a special day—and I couldn’t have done any of it without him.
Dec stops us outside a store window, pulling me round to face it. I’m met by a mannequin in a muted gold mini shift dress, with a chic slash neckline. “You’d look amazing in that dress,” he says.
“It’s gold.” I frown at the beautiful dress.
“Try it on.”
“What? No.”
He grabs my hand and pulls me into the store. “Yes.”
“Dec, it’s a gold bloody dress. My favourite colour’s black, remember?” Gold is very nearly a shade of yellow, my least favourite colour.
“My girlfriend would like to try on the dress you have in the window.”
I freeze, those words knocking all fight out of me. His girlfriend. It probably sounds a bit stupid for me to balk at that statement, since declarations of love have been tossed around, but still. It’s shaken me. I’m his girlfriend. I’m his girlfriend whom he loves.
“Oh, it would look fantastic on her,” the assistant gushes, coming out from behind the counter, all big, bouncy hair and lashes. “Your colouring, your legs.”
“You can’t see my legs,” I murmur, looking down at my jeans.
“I can see your legs,” she assures me, pulling one of the dresses off the rail and holding it up. “I’ll pop it in the changing room.”
She disappears, and I turn into Dec, finding him looking at me fondly. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just imagining you in that dress.”
“Do they have it in black?” I ask, semi-scowling.
“No.” He takes my hand and pulls me toward the back of the store.
“You haven’t asked.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re trying the gold.”
“And where am I going to wear a gold dress, Dec?”
“You’re going to wear it for me tonight when I take you out.”
I stop, forcing Dec to a stop too, and he turns, his face its familiar impassive beauty that I love so much. “We’re going out?”
“Yes,” he answers, assertive, leaving no room for protesting. “And we’ll keep walking and talking, drinking hot drinks. The only difference is, you’ll be wearing a gold dress instead of wellington boots, and I’ll have some clean clothes on instead of the clothes I wore yesterday. We might even stop for dinner somewhere. Have a drink. Maybe, who knows? It’s all a bit up in the air at the moment, but I hope we’ll finish off the day in my bed, for no other reason than I can’t bear the thought of not cuddling you all night.”
“You hope?” I parrot, my smile stretching across my face.
“More than I’ve ever hoped for anything.”
“You love me. You just referred to me as your girlfriend, so I’d say me being in your bed tonight is a given.”
“Go try on the dress,” he says quietly, jerking his head toward the changing rooms. “And don’t show me.”
I slink off and look at the dress hanging on the hook as I strip out of my coat. “I’m buying the dress if I like it,” I call.
“Shut up.”
The dress was already paid for when I got to the counter, and one look at Dec told me I’d get nowhere if I argued. So I didn’t. But I will be paying him back, and I haven’t stopped thinking about how since we left the store with my beautiful gold dress. What could I possibly buy him? A man who I’m certain has everything. I’m still pondering this when we turn onto my street. I see a grey Defender parked outside my building, the engine running. Ron. “I’ll pick you up in a couple hours, okay?”
“I thought we were walking?” I say with an arched, accusing eyebrow.
“You’re going to need heels with that dress, Camryn. No walking for you.”
“You tricked me.”
He hooks an arm around my waist and hauls me in. “Will you be okay for a few hours on your own?”
Yes, I will. Because for the first time since I lost Noah, I’ve been able to remember the happy times. I’ve been able to remember him without feeling annihilated with devastation. “I’ll be fine.”
He must see the peace in my eyes, as much as I can feel it in my soul. “Okay.”