Page 114 of Chasing After You
“Maybe one day soon I’ll tell you that story. I just want you to know if Henry is the one for you, there’s nothing you could ever say or do that would mess things up permanently between the two of you. Live in the moment instead of worrying about the future, okay?” I feel my eyes well up with tears and Dad is quick to wipe away the one that falls. “Do you love him?”
“Are you going to kill Henry if I say yes?”
He laughs, shaking his head. “No, I’m not going to kill him.”
“I’ve always loved him, Dad. It might have started as a stupid childhood crush, but I can’t remember ever not loving Henry.”
“If he hurts you, then I absolutely will kill him. It doesn’t matter if he’s my godson, you’re my daughter. I love you, and there is nothing you could do that would ever change that. For what it’s worth, I think he loves you too. Henry would be an idiot not to.”
It’s the way he says it that makes me believe him. I hug my father tightly.
“Don’t tell your brothers, but you’re my favorite. I know I’m not supposed to say that shit, but it’s true,” he whispers, and I pull away laughing.
“Dad.”
He holds his hands up in defeat. “I said nothing.”
Mom and Henry stop next to us, and Mom’s eyes widen. “Mirabelle, are you okay?”
“I’m perfect,” I say, just as two guests walk up to us, and my parents are whisked away as that conversation runs through my head. Henry tilts my chin up, reading me.
“Were you crying?” he asks, his face shifting into concern.
I smile at him, hoping to reassure Henry as my dad’s words echo through me. “They were happy tears.”
“Are you sure?”
I reach up to cup his face, brushing my thumb over his cheek. “I promise,” I say, and Henry relaxes, leaning down to kiss me softly.
I was wrong before. I won’t ask for forever with Henry, but having the chance to grow old with him would be enough for me. I can only hope he wants the same thing.
He pulls away again, and the way Henry’s looking at me, makes me believe every word he’s said to me. It makes me believe I do deserve everything, that it would wreck him if something happened to me, and I am his heart.It makes me believe if he doesn’t love me yet, he will.
And then Henry catches me by surprise, spinning me and causing the tassels on the dress to twirl around me. “Have I told you how good you look in that dress?” he says, holding me closely, like I’m the most precious thing in the world to him.
“Once or twice tonight,” I say, my heart beating quickly in my chest.“Mais n’oublie pas à quel point je serai belle sans. Je pense que je vais aussi garder les talons,”45 I tease, and his eyes light up, his grip tightening.
“Mirabelle, tu es un rêve devenu réalité.”46
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Mirabelle
WE TOOK THE town car for ourselves. Henry at least had the courtesy to tell Wilson and Andrew via text after we’d already left.
I’m slightly buzzed from the champagne I drank tonight, feeling more giggly and confident than usual, if that’s even possible.
Henry tugs my dress up my thighs as I straddle his waist, kissing down the open collar of his neck as the tinted windows block us from everyone outside. The bowtie was pulled loose within seconds of us climbing into the car, and his jacket was discarded on the seat next to us. Honestly, I don’t think I care at this point if the dress accidentally rips, but I would feel bad telling Emily.
I kiss Henry roughly, his calluses scraping deliciously over my thighs, and I can’t wait to feel them everywhere. The thought causes me to press my lips harder against his, dragging my fingers through his hair.
Ineedto know whateverythingfeels like with Henry.
Everything before now—before Henry—feels like practice for the big game, and I am so fucking ready for this.
He pulls my dress up again, and I break apart from him, my breathing ragged. “Careful, Emily will kill me if it’s ripped,” I warn, sitting up to help shimmy the fabric up over my hips.
“I’m not going to rip it,” Henry says, his hair tousled sexily from running my hands through it for the last couple of minutes.
