Thrive (Addicted, #4)(75)
“Get out,” she sneers, shoving his arm. “Or I will burn more than just your eyes.”
I wrap my arms around Lo’s neck, and his hands slide to my legs as he settles down. My sister has this under control.
Julian raises his hands, sending the room one long, useless glare before he exits the townhouse.
“One douchebag down,” Lo says under his breath.
One more to go.
{ 34 }
0 years : 09 months May
LOREN HALE
“Can I ask you both something?” Connor says, leaning against the dresser in our room. The clock blinks 4 a.m., but he stands there, fully clothed like he just returned from a business meeting.
Lily and I have had a few minutes to rub our eyes and sit up against the headboard. Her body rests against mine, basically using me as a pillow. My lethargic brain has trouble processing what topic this could be about.
“If it has to do with Scott or production, I’m going back to bed.” I just don’t have the energy to deal with that at four in the morning.
Lily lets out a small yawn, her eyes partially closed. We had sex for over an hour. She was a little compulsive…I think because Rose made her try on the wedding dress to see if it needed any alterations.
“It’s not about him,” Connor says, his voice quiet in the dead of night. “I want to know your feelings on your wedding in a month.”
I rub my eyes again. “You know, this is one of those things I really don’t want to talk about this late, Connor.”
“Me…either,” Lily yawns and begins to scoot underneath the covers.
“Wait,” Connor says, stepping forward. “I need you to answer me, please.”
I only hesitate because of the please. Connor rarely pleads for things, not like that. I shake my head as I try to pick through my emotions on the matter. “I don’t know…” I do know. “I mean, we’re not looking forward to it.”
“Why?” Connor wonders.
“You know why,” I snap, frustrated and tired. “Connor, I don’t know if this is the time when you do your best thinking, but the rest of us—the average people—sleep now.”
Connor stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I needed a time where Rose wouldn’t be awake to hear us.”
“Is this a riddle?” Lily asks sleepily.
I don’t even know.
“What if I told you that you don’t have to get married?”
Now he has our attention. Lily’s eyes snap open fully, and my back straightens like a board. “What?” we both say in unison.
“You don’t have to get married,” Connor repeats. “Not in one month. Not in six months or seven. You choose the time, the date, the place, everything on your terms, no one else’s.”
“This is a dream,” Lily says under her breath.
He shakes his head like it’s not.
When I look at her, I see tears just streaming down her cheeks. “This is a dream…” she repeats as though to convince herself that it can’t be real.
I feel something wet slide down my face. Good things don’t happen to bad people. Lily used to tell me that all the time. This does seem too good to be meant for us.
“My father…” I start, not able to finish. I lift my knees and rest my elbow on one, pinching my eyes to dam the waterworks.
“I talked with Lily’s parents and briefly with Jonathan.
Everyone agrees that the reality show helped improve your reputations. It’s hard for any media outlet to deny that you’re in love, and so the wedding, at this point, isn’t as important as it once was.” He continues, “Lily will regain her inheritance since the wedding won’t be a stipulation anymore.”
Neither of us really cares about the money. I drop my hand.
“Won’t it seem suspicious if we suddenly cancel the wedding?”
He takes a deep breath. “I want to marry Rose on that day, if you’ll let me.”
My mouth opens in surprise. “What?” I breathe.
Lily is nodding repeatedly, overwhelmed with so much emotion that she begins to sob in her hands. I hug her to my side.
It’s like someone finally gave us a break, and then went one step further, clearing a dark storm into a bright blue sky.
I am about to ask if he loves Rose, but the expression that washes over his face—it says it all. Connor is smiling, his gaze far off as he’s picturing that future already, glowing with something innately human.
Hopefully one day he’ll accept how much love has actually overcome him.
And then he looks back to me, and I nod at him. “If you’re serious—”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life,” he says. Connor rarely exaggerates, so I’m flooded, once again, with the power of his words.
“Yes,” I say. “Marry Rose.” I let out a short, stunned laugh and shake my head. I can’t believe this is real. “If you survive your wedding day, that is.” Rose not in control…how is that going to blow over? “She’s going to be pissed that she only has one month to fix everything.”
Lily calms a little and wipes her eyes with the blanket.
“She’s so particular,” she says.