Page 51 of Keeping Kaitlyn

You’re lying.

Instead of saying it out loud, I catch his hand before he can pull it away and make him lie to me again. “Are you sure?”

“Right here, right now—everything is perfect.” Curling his fingers around mine, Went pushes himself out of his crouch to stand over me. He’s wearing the same gray sweats and hoodie he wore on his runs around the lake at Northpoint. “I’m heading down to the gym for a quick work out. I’ll order breakfast on my way back up.” Squeezing my hand, he leans down to press a soft, lingering kiss against my mouth. Pulling away, he gives me a knee-knocking grin. “Don’t shower without me.”

Rolling onto my back, I frown up at him when he stands. “Then what am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”

“Well…” He backs away from the bed on a laugh. “You can lay there and pretend to sleep some more, or—” Went points at the foot of the bed. “you can check your emails. Your laptop has been making noise all morning.”

Early morning emails can only mean one thing.

Final grades have been posted.

Instead of nervous, I feel defeated. “How am I going to pay for nursing school?”

Went looks at me like he doesn’t understand the question before he laughs. “It’s like you forgot you’re married to a literal billionaire.”

This time when I move to sit up, he doesn’t try to stop me. Frowning up at him, I shake my head. “That doesn’t mean that your money is my money.”

“Actually, that’s exactly what it means.” Like he can sense that I’m on the verge of some sort of meltdown, Went reaches out to cup his hand around my chin. “Let’s focus on getting you into a good program. We’ll worry about finances later.”

Even though I know what that means—that he has every intention of paying for it—I don’t argue. “Where should I apply?”

Leaning down, Went gives me another kiss. “Anywhere you want,” he tells me before backing away. “I’ll be back.”

As soon as Went is gone, I dive for my laptop and turn it on. Sure enough, emails from my instructors have been coming in with links to the digital message board where our grades are posted. Holding my breath, I click the link and check my grades.

I passed.

And not justpassed. I did so well that three of my four instructors sent me personal letters of recommendation. Combined with my near perfect GPA, I’m pretty much guaranteed entry to any nursing program I apply for. That means if I let Went pay for my tuition, I can go anywhere.

Anywhere I want.

AFTER WENT COMES BACKFROM HIS WORK OUT, WE shower and get dressed before having a late breakfast in his family’s rooftop garden. Afterward, he places a long, red box tied with a white ribbon on the table between us.

“Happy anniversary.”

Sure that he’s joking, I laugh. “It’s only been a week.”

“A week ago today.” When I don’t reach for the box, he nudges it toward me. “Open it, Sunshine.”

Flustered for some reason, I shake my head. “But I didn’t get you anything.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me.” Giving me a quick smirk, he shakes his head. “It’s not a big deal.”

“I think you and I have very different ideas of what a big deal actually is,” I tell him while reaching for the box. Untying its ribbon, I lift the lid on the box, expecting more jewelry—maybe another necklace or a bracelet but it’s a pen.

Probably the most beautiful pen I’ve ever seen.

“Oh…” It comes out softly while I reach out to run my fingers along its slim, sliver barrel, tracing its delicately intricate scroll work inlaid with fine lines of what look like lapis and jade. Amethyst and red agate. Turquoise and obsidian. It looks like a tattoo.

“Your pens were looking pretty chewed up so?—”

“Pardon the disruption, sir—” Hearing Jerard, we both turn toward the sound of his voice to find him standing a few yards away, on the garden path that leads to the elevators. “but there is a Mr. and Mrs. Barrett here to see Mrs. Fiorella. I’ve taken the liberty of sitting them in the living room with some refreshments while they wait.”

He’s here.

My father is here.

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