For Both Are Infinite (Hearts in London Book 1) (45 page)

“So, which of these is your style? I’m curious if I’d pick the right one.”

I leaned in front of him so he couldn’t see my face and he nudged me, taunting me to choose. “I don’t know…which would you pick?”

“You’re evading my question.”

“No, I know which I’d pick, but I don’t want your choice affected by that.”

“Well,” he pursed his lips and eyed the rings. “I’ve seen Aaron’s ring, and it was stunning…very modern and elegant… I don’t know why but that wouldn’t be the route I’d choose. At least not for this Ellie,” he squeezed my bicep.

His answer intrigued me and it didn’t escape me that Rhys was aware I was a different person than I’d ever been. I adored that he noticed, again proving he knew me better than anyone.

“So which would it be?” I asked, and he hummed to himself as he glanced from each ring to the next, leaning in closely and then farther away, studying them. Then, decidedly he pointed at the glass.

“I think I would choose that one,” he said proudly, looking at them and then at me. Rhys pointed at a rose-gold band covered in tiny pave diamonds that held a large pear-shaped diamond. It was outrageously large, but gorgeous and edged in tiny diamonds as well. The ring was stunning, different from anything I’d ever seen, and I actually loved it.

He was watching closely and smiled proudly. “Did I choose correctly?”

“Why that one?”

Rhys furrowed his brows in contemplation. Within seconds he explained, “I like the shape because it’s traditional, common among older generations, but it’s also a got a uniquely modern take. That rings reminds me of you the most…there’s parts of you from your past, but you also have changed for your future. I think whatever you wear needs to be different, like you.”

“That’s a great answer,” I smiled bashfully.

“Answer my question, do you approve of my choice?”

“I approve of
any
choice you make for us.”

Tilting his head playfully, “That’s not really an answer.”

I pulled his hand to continue walking, “But it’s the truth.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

M
y last hours with Rhys were bittersweet. We’d gone home that night and lay in bed awake for hours, talking and making love till we passed out, only to wake up and start again. Rhys had to be on set by 1:00 p.m. and my flight was at 4:00 p.m., so I went with him to meet the cast and see the studio, and then a driver escorted me to the airport. I refused him taking me, worried that I’d have a breakdown there if I had to walk away from him at the gate. He didn’t like it, but understood that I needed to do it my way.

My visit with him left me feeling lighter and more confident in us, but it had left Rhys in an opposite state. He texted me in between my flights, saying that he missed me in the apartment, that the counter looked empty without my makeup and the bed felt too big without me in it. I told him not to text me details, to just tell me he missed me, because as I boarded my second flight I gradually fell apart. Rhys’ optimism had slowly withered away since he left London and I admit it worried me, but we only had a little over three weeks left, and I was confident the worst was over.

By the time I arrived in London, an entire day had passed and after picking up food and showering, I texted Rhys to let him know I was safe before passing out. Wednesday morning I returned to my classes extremely jet lagged but pushed through it. My students said they had missed me, and that helped, though I wasn’t excited about the papers I had to grade. On my way home from work Rhys called me, and even though I had held him just a day before, I already wanted him around me again.

“Hey!” I said, thrilled to hear his voice.

“Hi, love. I don’t have long to talk, I’m on set…but I wanted to ask you will you be home tomorrow night?”

“Yeah, why?” He didn’t answer right away and in a moment of lunacy I considered he was coming home. “Oh my god, will you be here this weekend? Please say yes!”

“No, darling, not yet. But…I do have a very special package being delivered for you.”

“I’d prefer your package…” I joked, trying to mask my disappointment.

“Don’t be cheeky, now! Trust me, you’ll love what I’m sending your way.”

“All right,” I said, disheartened it wasn’t him.

That night I was exceedingly lonely, so I tried calling Anne, only to get her voicemail. I called my mother after and told her about my trip and how miserable I was. Then I graded papers in bed to wake up the next morning with reports all over the sheets.
Three more weeks
, I told myself.

∞

Thursday passed unhurriedly since I’d been obsessing over what Rhys could be sending. Each day that passed was another without his taste and smell or his touch. After work I rushed home, but there was nothing at my door, not even a note. I texted him hoping for an explanation.

Me: I’m home, but there’s nothing here.

He didn’t answer me for over an hour and since I was stuck waiting it felt like forever.

Rhys: Be patient. ;)

I was tempted to send him a piece of my mind about patience, because I was trapped and bored and I had barely heard from him since returning. It became isolating and though I knew he was working, the distance still killed me. Part of me still hoped I would find him outside my door at some point in the night, but I knew he wouldn’t lie about coming.

In an effort to pass time, I started making dinner and was cutting onions when I heard a loud bang on the door. I almost cut my finger and shouted, “Just a second,” hoping they wouldn’t leave with the package thinking I wasn’t home. But then they banged again, louder. “I’m coming!”

I wanted to avoid the peephole because I didn’t want to confirm it wasn’t him, but then I thought it unsafe. When I looked I saw the next best thing standing outside my door and screamed as I opened it.

“Surprise!” Anne yelled, throwing herself at me.

“What are you doing here?” I shouted back. We were so loud my neighbor came out to look at us before we went into the apartment.

Anne threw her bag on the floor and said, “Rhys flew me out to spend a few days with you.”

“Shut up…did he really?” I asked, the words fumbling out clumsily.

“Yes. He called me before you visited him and asked if I was interested in an all expenses paid trip to London…obviously I said
hell yes
.”

“Obviously,” I laughed.

“I have been dying to visit and he mentioned you’ve been down in the dumps. It was totally his idea.”

“He is unreal,” I nodded, adoring that Rhys couldn’t be with me, but sent me my best friend in his place.

“Why don’t you call him while I investigate your apartment? Sorry,” she paused and turned around. “Flat, I need to speak like the natives while I’m here.” She started walking around, speculating every surface area and turned quickly. “This is where you belong…I love it,” she mumbled. “Now stop staring at my lame ass and call him!”

I laughed and went out into the hall, not expecting him to answer, but overjoyed that he did.

“I can’t believe you did that for me.”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” he played coy.

“Stop it, you’re unbelievable.”

“I’m glad you’re happy. If you want stay at my place…unfortunately I can’t talk now.”

“Okay, just thank you so much. You’re spoiling me you know.”

“That’s what men do for the women they love.”

“Love you too.” And then we hung up.

Anne was only able to stay for three nights, so we made plans for the rest of the weekend, opting to stay in that evening. It was so fun having her in my flat and knowing I was going to show her around the city I now called home. She seemed excited too, and begged me to take her to Rhys’ house at some point. It felt exploitive, but she claimed he had told her it was okay, and he had told me the same.

We’d been sitting on the sofa watching
Mean Girls
when Anne said, “So I have a bit of a confession to make…”

“What?” I said, noticing the way she paused and looked at me. She looked uncharacteristically awkward.

“I’ve been seeing someone for a few weeks,” she mumbled.

“That’s great. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it’s an odd situation…”

“Oh god, are you someone’s mistress?”

“Is that what you think of me?” She threw a pillow at me. “No, you fool! It’s just someone you know.”

I was a little drunk after finishing a bottle of wine with her, so I processed her words slowly. “Who?”

Anne stared at me with wide eyes, hoping I would figure it out and then shot out, “I’m seeing James!” before burying her face into a pillow in mortification.

“Wait,” I leaned up. “Like Aaron’s best friend?” She nodded. “The guy you loathe, James? The one who gave me shit for being with Rhys, James?”

Anne nodded again. “Yes! I do believe he’s all those people.”

I leaned back and laughed so hard my stomach and jaw hurt. She wasn’t pleased with my giggling and threw another pillow at me. “Ellie, this isn’t funny!”

“Yes. It. Is.” I said through laughter. “When did this happen?”

“Well, I ran into him two months ago—”

“Two months! I don’t understand how you of all people kept this from me.”

“Well, shut up and I’ll tell you.” I sat back beside her on the sofa. “I saw him at the store after Thanksgiving and he looked
good.”
She raised her brows suggestively. “He’s been going to the gym a lot, and he said we should get dinner and bury the hatchet. I thought he was being fake, but then he called and persisted so I gave in. It’s been really nice…” She looked directly at me. “He’s kind of great. Are you mad I didn’t tell you?”

“No, there’s things I don’t tell you right away.”

“Like what?” she squinted her eyes.

“Rhys and I had sex…the night of the awards.” I looked away because I knew she was reeling with emotions.

“That was almost two months ago, too…” she whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was nice holding onto it for a bit. Sorry…”

“That’s okay,” she laughed mischievously. “I slept with James too.”

My jaw dropped. “Already?”

“Well, we’ve known each other for years, and I don’t know, it just works…”

“No, I get it.” I paused and fiddled with my pillow’s tassels. “Some things are just natural and don’t require explanation.”

“Like you and Rhys? I see how you look at him, he’s it isn’t he? He’s more your person than Aaron ever was…” she nudged me, “right?”

“Yeah,” I whispered guiltily as I glanced at Aaron’s picture. “It’s weird saying it aloud.”

Anne sensed my discomfort and said, “I know Aaron is part of your soul, babe, but he wasn’t your soul mate. He’s a love in your life, but I think Rhys
is
the love of your life. That man, he is so genuine, it’s like he’s always known you. I think Aaron loved you while he was here, but I think you had to have him and lose him in order to find Rhys.”

I was quiet for a few minutes and worry washed over her face. “Do you hate me for saying that?”

I shook my head as my eyes watered. “No, you’re just vocalizing things I’ve had in my head for weeks. I will always love him, and he was my best friend, but he wasn’t what Rhys has become for me.”

Anne fumbled on the couch to grab me for an embrace. “You know,” she said holding me tightly. “It’s okay to feel that way, it just means you’re just seeing things clearer.”

“I miss him so much, I don’t know if I can do this all the time.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be worth it in the long run if he makes you this happy?”

“I guess so, yeah.”

After another beat in silence, Anne let me go and said, “So if you tell me about sex with Rhys, I’ll tell you all about James,” she winked.

“No thanks,” I laughed. “That’s beyond weird.”

∞

We spent the rest of the weekend touring sights like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. I also took her to my office on campus and to Rhys’ house because she said she wanted to see pieces of my new world. She loved his house and winked suggestively when she saw his big bed. After seeing the entire property, she suggested she could picture me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen and I ignored her. Anne had insinuated marriage all weekend, as if Rhys was about to drop down on one knee and I was glad I hadn’t told her about the rings conversation. That would’ve only added fuel to her fire.

What was odd was seeing evidence of her infatuation with James as she texted him constantly. When she told him I knew about them, he messaged me.

James: Cat’s out of the bag…she drives me insane, but I can’t resist. ;)

It made me laugh and when I showed her, she smiled so happily I swore she was already in love with him.

Me: I’m happy you're happy…take care of her or I’ll kill you.

James: LOL, will do.

I expected to feel sad when Anne left that Monday, but I’d had such an amazing reunion with her it left me recharged. We’d talked about life, love, and she brought me to an inner peace over Rhys and I. Time had passed quickly, and in only two weeks Rhys would be back. Bruce picked her up and it was nice seeing him after time apart as well. Anne hugged me when she left, saying, “You know you’re my idol, right?”