Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“She is.”
“Well, I look forward to meeting her too.”
“So that’s a promise not to interfere?”
“Believe it or not, my darling, your happiness means more to me than status.”
Relief shuddered through me. As honest as I had been in my ultimatum, it would have killed me to walk away from my family. “I love you both.”
“We love you too, darling. Well, I best go. Apparently, Mummy and I need to have a serious conversation.”
We said our goodbyes and I turned toward my friends whom I hadn’t realized were standing behind me, silently listening in.
Maddie started clapping as Harry and Sierra burst into laughter. Lily’s roommate grinned affectionately at me. “Bloody hell, do I wish Lily had been here to hear that speech. Should I tell her to start planning the wedding?”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
“I wonder if she’ll let us choose our own bridesmaid gowns?” Sierra mused.
“Do I need to wear a tux?” Harry smacked me on the shoulder. “Or with Lil being Scottish, are we talking kilts and flying hairy balls?”
“I hate you all,” I lied as I jumped into my SUV with the sound of their good-natured taunts ringing in my ears.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
LILY
With Jan deciding to return to her student accommodation to study for her finals, there was no reason for me to remain at my parents’ house. Mum knew something was up, so I’d told her Sebastian had an awful argument with one of his roommates and I’d explain everything later. I’d then returned to the flat to wait for Maddie and Sebastian to return from France.
Sebastian had called me on his drive to the airport and told me what Zac confessed.
It made me sick that one of his best friends had been a snake in the grass. I was also annoyed with myself for not picking up on it, considering what my chosen profession was. From the discussions I’d had with Zac, I’d say his mother’s narcissism had affected him more deeply than anyone knew.
And he’d confessed to being in love with me. I shuddered at the thought, suddenly recognizing his affectionate behavior on a new level. I wouldn’t usually consider someone falling in love with me creepy. It was flattering and lovely under normal circumstances. But I wondered if Zac had grown to covet whatever it was Sebastian had. That he didn’t know me well enough to be in love with me, but he could have developed a twisted infatuation because I was Sebastian’s.
I didn’t want to think about it.
I didn’t want to see Zac ever again after what he’d tried to put us through.
Unfortunately, I would probably at some point have to meet Sebastian’s grandmother. Princess Mary. Who hated me so much she enlisted Zac to drive a wedge between me and her grandson, like some dastardly plot from a soap opera.
Bloody hell.
It was an unpleasant realization that your boyfriend’s family didn’t approve of you. Even worse when that family was one of the most powerful families in the world.
I wouldn’t let panic or insecurity drive us apart, though. After I got off the phone with Sebastian, I had a voicemail from Sierra relaying everything Sebastian had said to his parents. It was hard to make out some of it because Harry and Maddie kept interjecting with jokes and teasing.
The gist of it was that I didn’t need to worry about my boyfriend’s commitment.
Sebastian was all in and apparently not even a battalion of Royal Marine commandos would stand in his way of being with me.
When my flat buzzer sounded, I hurried over, my brow furrowing when Sebastian asked me to let him up. If Maddie was with him, she would have brought him straight up to the flat. I waited at the open door, hearing his footsteps as he took the stairs two at a time.
Then suddenly he was there, looking tired and travel worn but rugged, unshaven, and sexy.
And mine.
Our eyes locked as he bounded up the last flight of stairs. His gleamed with love and determination and something a wee bit desperate.
I understood.
We were both shaken from the drama and the thought of what could have happened if our bond had been weaker than it was. Sebastian swooped me into his arms, kissing me hungrily as he guided me backward into the flat. He slammed the door shut with his foot as I ran my fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss.
When we came up for air, I blurted out, “Where’s Maddie?”
Sebastian clasped my face between his palms. “She grabbed a cab and went to Shaun’s. I think mostly to give us privacy.”
I loved my roommate.
“How are you doing?” he asked, letting out a shaky exhale.
“How am I doing? How are you doing? Zac was your friend.”
“He was both our friend.” Sebastian scowled. “I can’t … I don’t want to think about him right now. Lily.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “Thank you for believing in me. I know considering what’s happened to you in the past that it couldn’t have been easy for you.”