Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
His jaw drops and he stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “That’s what you would do? Go watch the fucking ballet? Of all the things to do in this world, you would go watch a boring ass show where people dance to a story that nobody even understands.” There’s no heat or accusation in his tone, more shock than anything.
“Yep. You asked, and I answered.”
He nods slowly, then says, “All right. Let’s do it.” Standing, he pulls his phone out of his pocket while I’m still trying to register what he just said.
“Wait, what?” I stand as well.
“You want to go to London to see men in tights dance with swans...let’s go. Go pack a bag.”
“What?” I say again. “We can’t just go to London.”
“Of course we can,” he says, completely nonchalant like we’re discussing going to a drive-thru fast-food restaurant and not to another freaking country across the pond.
“Actually, we can’t. One, I don’t have a passport...” And now that I’m thinking about it... “Or a birth certificate, or social security card. All of our important documents were lost in the fire. And even if I did have all that, I still have to work on Thursday.”
Micah glances up from his phone. “Challenge accepted.”
Lesson number one to remember: when you tell Micah Alexander something can’t be done, he will prove you wrong.
Case in point: we’re about to land at Heathrow airport in London, and I have my brand-new passport in hand, ready to show customs. The flight was long, but thanks to Micah’s luxurious private plane, we slept through it in a bed—yes, the man’s company has a plane with an actual bed that’s bigger than the apartment I lived in before it was burned down.
“This is insane,” I tell Micah, nervously tapping my foot on the floor as the plane lands, but really, deep down, I’m so freaking excited because holy shit! We’re in London! When I was growing up, my dream was to join a traveling dance company, which would’ve meant dancing here. That’s a dream no longer possible, but getting to see a show here is beyond amazing.
“I meant what I said,” Micah tells me, leaning over and kissing the shell of my ear. “Whatever it is you want, whatever you need, I’ll make it happen.”
At his words, a bolt of emotion shoots through my veins and straight to my heart. It’s not about him giving me whatever I want. To be honest, there isn’t a lot that I want or need—a safe home for Ellie and me, a job that pays the bills, and my mom to drop off the face of the earth. Those are my top priorities. It’s that for the first time in my life, I have someone who cares enough to want to give me those things. It’s as if he thrives on me being happy. I’ve felt alone for so long, and now, I have someone by my side, who listens and cares.
Since we slept during the flight, we’re both wide awake when we arrive, so Micah surprises me by spending the day showing me around London. We visit all the touristy attractions like the London Eye, Big Ben, and the London Bridge. He’s obviously seen it all already, but rather than appearing bored, he seems to enjoy watching me gush over all the sights. He takes pictures of me, and with me, and joins in my excitement and happiness.
And when I mention how I would’ve tried to get Harry Potter tour tickets had I known we were coming here, he assures me that we’ll come back, but next time with Ellie, since she loves Harry potter just as much as I do.
I had assumed it would be a quick turn-around trip to see the ballet, but Micah said the show we’re seeing isn’t until Wednesday, so we spend the next two days sightseeing and having a blast. The food is divine, the city is magical, and my husband is so much fun to be around. He might be a serious businessman to everyone else, but with me, he’s funny, playful, attentive, and affectionate.
Tonight, we’re attending the ballet, and it’s also our last night here. Since I have to work tomorrow evening, we’re heading back home first thing in the morning.
When I step out of the room in the gorgeous floral print, tiered, silk gown by Marchesa that Micah surprised me with, I feel like a princess in a fairy tale, once again. Growing up the way I did, I’d come to believe that fairy tales are nothing more than fantastical stories giving false hope to people just like me. But now I’m starting to believe that fairy tales can come true. That it’s possible for me to find my very own Prince Charming, to fall in love and live happily ever after.