All I've Never Wanted(142)

“Wow. She must be really good, if she can afford the tuition on a hairstylist’s budget.”

“Yeah.” Adriana shrugged. “She’s nearly impossible to get an appointment with, booked five years in advance. She charges something like $1000 per highlight. But anyway, she doesn’t pay for tuition. Chantal—that’s my friend—her father is a huge media mogul. He pays for almost everything.”

She didn’t offer any more information, and I didn’t ask, because at that moment I heard Roman’s laugh float up the stairs, and I was suddenly itching to join him.

Adriana must’ve noticed, because she grinned and shooed me toward the door. “Go to your lover boy,” she said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. “I have to get ready for the boat get-together anyway. Have fun, and be safe.”

I blushed. Little did she know, what I planned to do tonight was quite dangerous indeed.

* * *

“Are we almost there yet?”

“Just wait. You’re so impatient,” Roman teased.

I pretended to pout, but secretly, I loved the mystery. When I saw Roman in my living room earlier, my eyes nearly fell out of my head. He’d looked absolutely amazing in a perfect black tux, and he’d handed me a single, perfect red rose—after greeting me with a kiss (kept chaste for my parents’ benefit). He’d whisked me into a private jet for a very short ride and then into a limo, where proceeded to blindfold me. I assume that was so I wouldn’t know where we were going.

Like I would know anyway. I didn’t even know what town or city we landed in.


Suddenly, the limo rolled to a stop, and I heard the distinct sound of a car door slamming shut.

“We’re here?” I ask-squealed, sounding like a little girl.

Roman laughed. “Yes, we’re here.” I felt him move off the seat, and a moment later, he grasped my hand with his strong, warm one. “Watch your step,” he warned, as I slowly swung my legs out the door and stood up hesitantly. He wrapped an arm around my waist to steady me.

And that was when I smelled it. The tangy, salty scent that could only indicate one thing—we were near the ocean. And if that didn’t give it away, the sound of waves crashing against the shore certainly did.

“Can I take off my blindfold now?”

“In a little bit.” He began guiding me closer to the waves. “And…stop.”

I stopped.

I felt him lean closer to me to whisper in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. “Are you ready?”

I nodded eagerly, and then the blindfold fell off. A burst of light replaced the previous darkness, and I had to blink a few times to orient myself. When I did, I gasped, staring at the giant, gorgeous yacht in front of me. It was like a floating mansion, so tall I had to crane my neck to see the top, and it was decorated with strings of beautiful, twinkling lights. That wasn’t what shocked me though. What shocked me was the flowing blue script on the side, which spelled out one very simple name: Maya.

“You…you named this after me?” I squeaked.

Roman smiled. “Yes. I got it as a Christmas present, but I couldn’t think of a good name, until I suddenly thought, why not name it after someone I love?”

I turned red with pleasure. We’ve been saying the L word a lot lately, but I never tired of hearing it. “Wow,” I whispered softly. “But—it’s your boat—“

“No. It’s our boat,” he corrected firmly. “It’s as much yours as it is mine. It has your name on it. Literally.”

I laughed but shook my head. “You are too—“

“Handsome? Charming? Perfect?” he suggested.

I rolled my eyes. “I was going to say modest,” I joked.

Roman grinned and led me up the ladder onto the yacht. We wound through the massive boat until we reached the top deck, and once again, I was stunned. There was a single table for two in the center, set with a crystal vase of roses, gleaming silverware, and delicate china. There was also a giant banner that read VALESCA HOMECOMING.

I raised a quizzical eyebrow at him.

“Well, I kind of heard that I ruined your homecoming for you,” Roman explained rather sheepishly. “So…I guess I’m trying to make it up to you. Obviously, I can’t recreate it all the way, and we didn’t really have dinner there, but it’s the closest I could—“

“Roman,” I interrupted, smiling. “You’re rambling.”

He actually blushed. It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. “Sorry.”

“No, you don’t need to be sorry.” I looked around, taking in the simple, beautiful decorations, the vast sea stretching out to the horizon, which was still tinged a pale pink and orange from the sunset, and I could feel the emotion welling up inside me. “This…this is absolutely perfect.”

Roman’s face lit up. “Do you really think so?”

I nodded, drawing him into a lingering kiss that showed him just how much I loved it.

When we broke apart, I could see a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

“So…are you really hungry? Or can you wait a bit?”

I stared at him curiously. “I can wait a bit. Why?”

“I have one last surprise for you.” Roman gestured to something behind me, and when I turned, I let out a scream that could probably be heard all the way in Asia, because standing at the edge of the floor was a very, very famous British musician. He looked even snazzier in real life, in a white tuxedo and his signature glasses.