Page 41 of When Forever Comes

“Whatever you want, my love.”

There’s a small table with two chairs that’s perfect for breakfast in the morning and tea in the evening. The Eiffel Tower is just in the distance.

I pull her chair over so she’ll be beside me and she sits. I take the spot next to her. After we send up a prayer of thanks, we both dig into our food.

“How do you stay so fit, eating like that?” She pokes my stomach.

“Exercise and only indulging on special occasions.”

“Maybe you can help me with that now that we’re married.”

“Help you with what?”

“Losing weight.”

I turn to face her and gently grip her face in my hands. “You are perfect exactly as you are.”

Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears. “Somehow, you make me believe it.”

“Because it’s true.” I lean over and press my lips against hers. I pour every ounce of desire I feel for her into our kiss. “Believe me now?”

She bites her lip. “I don’t know. I think there’s more you can do to prove it.”

“Oh, I plan to, Mrs. Lockwood. But first, you need to eat.”

We eat and discuss our plans for the rest of the day.

After taking our plates inside, I shut the French doors and settle my hands on her hips, pressing her back against the cool glass. Leaning forward, I claim her mouth in another kiss.

She’s breathless when I finally pull away.

“I still can’t believe you chose me.” Before I have a moment to respond, she adds, “You could have any woman you want. Why me?”

“There would never be anyone else. You’ve been it from the very beginning. You’re my forever, Olivia. I knew it at fifteen, and it was confirmed when you showed up at my resort. And you knew I was yours. Maybe you didn’t realize who I was at first—”

She cuts me off. “But my heart did.” This time, she kisses me. “And it always will.”

BONUS EPILOGUE

DANA

As happy as I am for my sister and West, I’ve been asking God if I’ll ever get my own happily ever after.

While Liv and West spend their honeymoon in Paris after their fairytale wedding, I’m stuck in a bungalow, alone. Technically, I’m not in my bungalow. I’m walking barefoot down the beach, the golden sand squishing between my toes, but still.

IknowI’m being whiney while I live what would be a dream for other people, and I am grateful for this life. Truly, I am. But like West, I want someone to share this life with. Have children, a dog. Well, maybe I can get the dog on my own. But having another person to help with this imaginary dog would be nice. Having a husband to love and cherish me would be wonderful and, of course, I’d love and cherish him too.

Following God’s will for my life has always been my goal. But since I was a little girl, my desire has been to be a wife and mom. If God planted that desire in my heart, then why hasn’t He brought me my own Prince Charming?

No Prince Charming for me… I feel as though I’ll be single forever.

Maybe forever is alittledramatic. But it just hit me today that I will no longer be living with my sister. She’s going to be moving in with her billionaire Prince Charming once they return from their month-long honeymoon in the City of Love.

Bitterness envelops me as memories wash over me. It was stupid to believe, but I thought maybe, just maybe, Rhett would be my happily ever after. But the day after our first and only date, he vanished.

Rhett took ghosting someone to the next level. So much so that I had to ask my sister and West if Rhett even existed or if he was someone I dreamed up with my overactive and deeply desperate imagination.

We only had a handful of lessons and one date, but our conversations, laughs, and lingering touches have stayed with me. We spent our date night at a beautiful rustic restaurant right on the water. The weather was perfect. I thought the same about my company.

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