Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Truthfully, it was avoidance. I was afraid to look at my phone. If Roman messaged me, I’d be sad. If he didn’t, I’d wonder how long he’d be asleep and if he’d see the note I left on the jar of Marmite. Then I’d wonder if he’d smile. I hoped so.
An hour or so later, I boarded my flight, shuffling along with the herd of fellow travelers. I pulled my noise-canceling headphones out and shoved my carry-on into the overhead bin before claiming my window seat.
Just when I was beginning to think I’d lucked out and scored the row to myself, someone plonked into the seat next to me. Great. I secured my headphones, shifting to plug into the in-flight entertainment. My new neighbor draped his elbow over the console, making it impossible for me to see the outlet. Asshole.
And who did that anyway?
I furrowed my brow, cautioning myself to be nice to the guy I had to sit next to for ten hours as I tapped his shoulder.
“Excuse me. Would you—”
“Yes?”
I opened and closed my mouth twice. “What are you doing?”
Roman’s smile was slow-moving and boyishly crooked. “I’m taking a chance. A big fucking leap, actually. This might end up being a really long uncomfortable flight, but I couldn’t let you go without telling you…I want to make this work. I want to try. I want—I want you, Chance. I want us.”
“I want that too, but…how?”
“I don’t know,” he sighed, sounding slightly agitated. “All I know is you’ve made me smile since day one on that stupid app, and I can’t let that go. These past few weeks have been magic, Chance. I tried to tell myself that was good enough…maybe more than I deserved. And I’ve told myself this could never work, but there’s got to be a way. If you feel anything close to what I feel and if you’re willing to give this a shot, I—”
“Yes.” I blinked back tears. “Yes.”
“Good. Great. That’s…” Roman smiled, then blurted, “Fuck, I love you.”
“Wh—what?”
He licked his lips nervously and inclined his head. “I…I love you. Maybe it’s too soon, but I—“
I flung myself at him before he could finish his sentence.
“I love you too. Yes, we’ll figure this out. Yes, let’s do this. Yes, I want to be with you. Yes, yes, yes.”
He kissed me breathless, then held my face between his hands and rested his forehead on mine. “I know distance is hard and this is a lot to ask, but I promise I’ll do my best to make you happy and—”
“Shh. You already do.” I grinned, my pulse skittering out of control. “So…are you actually coming to California now, or is that someone else’s seat?”
“It’s mine. I bought it last week when I realized the guy I loved lived there. I thought I’d stay a few days, hang out at the beach, meet your cat, check out your guitar-pick collection, meet your family…”
“God, you must really love me.” I snorted.
“I do, Chance. I do.”
I blinked back tears and swallowed the desire to thank him. Thank you for talking to me, thank you for taking me in, thank you for trying, thank you for taking a chance on me.
Maybe it was true that love came along when you least expected it. But it was here now, and I’d do everything in my power to never let go.
EPILOGUE
One year later
Roman
Lolo wrapped his tail around my calf, purring noisily in a not-so-subtle demand for his dinner. I muted my conference call as I bent to pet him between the ears.
“Such a good boy. Go find your daddy,” I hummed.
“Looks like he did,” my husband snickered, setting the cat’s bowl next to the kitchen island.
I shot a wry grin at Chance, then motioned to my earbuds before wandering toward the window to gaze at the Thames while I finished my call. I hoped no one needed much input from me. I’d already mentally checked out for the day. The smell of marinara simmering on the stove and the sound of my man puttering around our flat drew me in. I was ready to kick back, sip wine, eat pasta, and curl up on the sofa with Chance.
So…husband. Yep, that happened.
Chance and I did the long-distance thing through summer last year. It was hard, but we made it work. We gave up our dating app and texted or talked on the phone every day. I was pretty sure there wasn’t a “Would you rather?” or “This or that?” question we hadn’t covered…and I kind of loved that about us.
Nothing about our relationship was boring or by the book. We took chances, followed our instincts, and somehow, we’d ended up married, living in a modern skyscraper in London with our cat. Personally, I’d never been happier in my life.
It was all a bit of a whirlwind. Chance closed a big deal in London last August and talked to his bosses about relocating here. I sold my flat in Kensington, and we bought this place together soon after.