Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
That was three days ago. Graham and Eleanor thought they would have to leave. There was no use for them now. But, surprisingly, Sera asked them to stay. Since then, they've stayed at my place in the spare room, and things are…
Not healed. Not fixed. But my Sera has a good heart. I can tell she's seriously considering forgiving them. I can see the toll that harboring resentment has taken on her.
"Thank you for inviting us," Eleanor says. "It means a lot, Sera, truthfully, wholly. It means more than you could ever know."
"It's fine," Sera replies, looking stunning in her sleek business jacket and black pants, her hair tied up, pencil slotted through her bun. "I mean – it's not fine. But I know how sorry you are. I know you were prepared to help us catch Damien."
"We can never make it up to you," Graham says with genuine sincerity. "But thank you for giving us the chance to try... and thank you for inviting us on this trip. It was very kind."
Sera smiles tightly. "I know how much you love Vegas, Ellie. I figure, if Luke and I have a business meeting, why don't you tag along?"
"It's very thoughtful," Graham says. "More thoughtful than we deserve, perhaps."
"You said you would do whatever it took to prove how sorry you are," Sera says.
"We are, sweetness," Eleanor says, her voice tired... but she's pushing past her exhaustion. "Anything."
"Then I'm willing to give you the chance to do that. I love you, Ellie. Your fear was clear. I know you had your reasons. It won't be easy, but if meeting my Luke has taught me anything, it's that even the craziest, most impossible-seeming things have a way of coming true."
When she smiles at me, my heart swells with love.
"What's the meeting about?" Graham asks. "I've been hesitant to ask..."
"In case we think you're planning more sabotage?" I say with a laugh. When Graham frowns, I say, "Graham, I'm willing to put this behind us. You did this for your wife. There's nothing I wouldn't do for my future wife. Let's try to move on." He nods, and I continue, "The meeting is about reorganizing my keynote speech, with the same CES branding... Only this time, I'll have my Sparkplug at my side."
"I'm proud of you," I tell Sera that night, holding her in my arms.
"It's their last chance," Sera whispers. "If they show me even a single sign that they're not truly, deeply sorry, then it's over. But I have to admit, so far, I'm impressed. Do you think Ellie seemed tired?"
"Yeah," I say. "But she didn't want to show it."
"Thank you for arranging travel care for her."
"I did it for you."
She moves closer, kissing my bare chest. "It feels good being back in Vegas... where it all began."
"It does," I agree. "And even better, knowing Damien is going to be locked up for a long time. I still can't believe I proposed in front of all those people. I didn't plan it. I was just so full of adrenaline, of purpose."
"It was beautiful," she whispers. "I spent so long dreaming about what it would be like to be wanted, and you showed me. The whole world is jealous of us, of what we have."
"Being here almost gives a man crazy ideas..."
"Crazier than the first time we were here?" she says, laughing.
"We could get married," I say. "I could make it happen like that." I snap my fingers. "Victor could fly in. We could be husband and wife tomorrow."
"Yes," she says excitedly, peppering me with kisses. "I don't need a big, fancy wedding. I just want you."
"We'll have a party later, don't you worry."
"I mean it. If you were dirt-poor, I'd still want you. Still need you."
I call Victor, then hold Sera until she falls asleep, remembering what it was like the first time, knowing we were on a ticking clock, wondering if I would ever get to see her again.
Not even twenty-four hours later, I'm standing at the altar of a Vegas chapel, Victor and Eleanor in the crowd, watching us, as I wait for my woman to walk down the aisle. To others, this might seem rushed... but there's no such thing for us. To others, it might seem cheesy, but we embrace cheesy.
Vegas is where we fell in love. It's fitting that we solidify our love here.
Graham walks her down the aisle, a look of profound humanity on his face. Regret, gratitude, pride, love. It's all there in his expression, in the furrowing of his eyebrows.
Seraphina wears a beautiful pale green dress, her hair flowing to her shoulders, naturally gorgeous. I meant it when I told her we were going to have another party, a bigger one, where we may even renew our vows.
But deep down, I know this is the one I'll always remember. In a world of helicopter rides, private jets, and hiring out entire restaurants, it feels special to do something normal, something humbler, something that lets our love shine rather than having it outshone by the grandiosity of my position.