Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Today has been awesome. The heat was the only thing I can complain about. Cee has laughed, she’s gotten to know a few of the other women on the tour. I’ve watched her light up all day.
“You look happy,” I say as I watch her.
She turns to me and cups my face. “Right now, I am.”
I take her lips in a searing kiss. It’s so easy to get lost in her. Everything else falls away. I go to deepen the kiss, but she pulls away.
“This place is magical. I wish we could stay. I have this sinking feeling like everything will change when we get back.”
“I wish we could stay here too, but I know how much Ally means to you. We need to head back for the engagement party as well. My mother has been busy planning while she’s been here.
“I walked in on one of her calls. I had no idea she was so far into the planning. I thought she wanted to return home back to her life when she kept asking when I’d be heading back.”
Cee laughs. “It all makes sense now.”
“What?” I give her a questioning look.
“She’s been asking me questions and I think Chloe gets away when she’s planning, if not napping.”
I start to laugh. “I can see that. Mom has been paying the party planner extra to work on her time. I’m sure it’s going to be quite the affair.”
I look around us, then turn back to face her with a smile on my lips. Reaching up, I run my hand down her cheek.
“As beautiful as this night is, you outshine it all. I love you. If you want to come back, we’ll make a trip as soon as all the events back home are over.”
“Events, ugh. Don’t remind me. Your mom has taken over planning our wedding. Sid is lucky Eileen’s here with me. Did you know she’s been having Sid FaceTime her for dress shopping?”
I chuckle. “I may have heard something about that.”
Chloe frowns and a puzzled look crosses her face. “Sid and Clay are planning a real wedding too. Do you think they’ll go through with it? I think your mother will be heartbroken if they don’t, she really likes Sid.”
“We don’t talk about it when I get a chance to talk to him. I can’t say either way.”
“He better not hurt my friend. She sounds happy.”
“Cee, Sid and Clay are both adults. He’s not going to intentionally hurt her. Neither of us knows what’s going on in his or Sid’s heads. When we get back, we’ll learn what’s going on. Until then, let’s enjoy our life.”
I don’t tell her I plan to call Clay to tell him we’re heading back. I don’t want to be placed in the middle of Clayton’s situation. He’s obsessed with Sidney. I can’t say he won’t go through with the wedding.
This is Clay. He’s always a step ahead. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he’s already married Sidney. Whatever’s going on with them, I don’t get the feeling Clay would allow Sidney to get hurt in any of this.
Chloe snorts, but she moves to come sit between my legs. The richly colored rugs are so cool beneath us. The night has cooled down and is much more bearable.
I can see why Cee wants to stay. There is a magic here, but I’m determined to find our stride back home.
Chapter 40
Going Home
Chloe
It’s time to return home and I’m not too sure how I feel about that. Here in Dubai, Gregor has become someone else in my mind entirely. I fear going back home to the reminders of my real life and remembering that he’s still Brodi.
Like I told Gregor the other night, the last few weeks have been magical—I’ve remained in the moment. Eileen has been talking about the huge plans she has for the ceremony when we return home, but I don’t think that will compare to our intimate wedding.
Standing before just Gregor and the officiant while draped in white—after being pampered and given a twenty-four-karat facial—I felt like a princess or something. My greatest fear is that I’ve been carried away into a fairy tale and when it all comes crumbling down, it will explode in my face.
I mean, we’ve been living like a king and queen since the wedding. When we’re not off on some adventure, we’re home with Chloe playing the role of a perfect family. Looking from the outside in, you’d never know the festering pain that lies within our relationship.
Honestly, my heart is still rattling around in my chest. Yet, the time we spend together—whether with Chloe or not—just feels right. Which totally confounds me.
From time to time, I find myself looking at her with thoughts of what if, but those moments are becoming less painful as Chloe clings to me as if I were her mother.