The days slip by, faster than I would have thought. The club receives another favorable online review that leads to a flourish of new visitors, and after twelve or fourteen-hour days I’m not good for much except crashing out in front of the TV.I don’t see Elizabeth, who’s also busy, but we start messaging each other again, which is nice. Her Snapchats and messages are lighthearted and funny, making me smile when they pop up during the day.I don’t know when, or even if, I’ll see her alone again. I know she’s still organizing things for England. As far as I know, she’s still going in June. That’s only a couple of months away. But I try not to think about it, and do what I told Mack and leave it up to Fate.Que sera, sera,Huxley. If it’s meant to be, it will be.I’m turning into an old romantic. I never thought I’d see the day.Normally I work until midnight on Saturdays, but even though the club is busy and I’m there for the lunchtime rush, I’m not in the mood to stay late. I feel tired

ElizabethI eventually fall asleep, and when I finally awake, the room is filled with bright sunshine. I roll onto my back and stretch out an arm, and discover Nymph’s curly fur rather than the muscular body I’d been hoping to find. Outside, in the kitchen, comes the sounds of someone preparing coffee.Rising, I dress quickly, then click my fingers at Nymph, and she jumps off the bed.I go out into the living room and cross to the breakfast bar. He looks over from where he’s making the coffee. He’s wearing his track pants and a fresh tee, and his hair is all ruffled.“Morning,” he says, and smiles.“Hey. I’ll… um… just take Nymph out.”“Sure. Take the keys with you—they’re by the door.”I nod, collect the keys, put my shoes on, and take Nymph down with me to the garden. While she sniffs around and does her business, I sit on the wall where I took the photo last night, my stomach a jumble of emotions. Overriding them all, though, is the undeniable joy I feel at being here, with Huxley.

Huxley“What the fuck?” I say in a furious whisper as I frog-march Guy down to the corridor. “I told you never to come here. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”“I needed to see you,” Guy says miserably.I bang on the button to call the elevator, still holding onto his arm in case he tries to go back to the apartment. I’ve never been this angry. I can’t believe he just turned up, right when Brandy and Joanna were there.I also can’t believe Brandy told Joanna that I’m not her birth father. I feel hurt and shocked. Why didn’t she discuss it with me? She said she did it last year. So Joanna’s known for months? She’s never said anything to me. Why didn’t she talk to me about it?Fury boils in my veins. I made a huge sacrifice to be her father. I’m not going to have Guy waltz in now and ruin everything.And Elizabeth… I’ve worked incredibly hard to keep my secret over the years, for Brandy and Joanna’s sake. What is she going to think now?The elevator doors ping and open. I push Gu

HuxleyAround midday, I’m inspecting one of the boardrooms in the club with Victoria, trying to decide whether it’s worth getting a new set of chairs, when she glances over at the doorway and says, “Oh, hey.”I turn and see Mack leaning against the door jamb, hands in his pockets, watching us.“Hello,” I say. “You’re back.” He and Sidnie have been in Fiji for their honeymoon. Sidnie told him she didn’t expect him to take time off to go away with her, but he insisted. I thought he might only make a few days before he flew back, but he lasted the whole week, and now he looks tanned and relaxed. “Have a good time?”“Fabulous,” he says, and smiles.“Lots of sex?” Victoria asks.“Hardly got out of bed the whole time. Sidnie said she’s walking like John Wayne when he gets off his horse.” He chuckles, and we both laugh.He pushes off the post and comes into the room. “I’ve just spoken to Elizabeth.”I meet his eyes and my lips curve up slowly. “Ah.”He shakes his head slowly. “I knew it.”“K

ElizabethI haven’t replied, because I’m completely in shock.Huxley’s asking me to marry him?He’d wait for me? For two years?I can’t believe it. After all this time… after I’ve turned him down every month for ten years… He still wants me?I look down at him, and all at once the floodgates open and emotion bursts through me like water through a crack in a dam. “Oh my God, of course I’ll marry you, you idiot.”His eyes light up, and he rises slowly to his feet. “Seriously?”“And pass up the chance to wear this ring?” I tease. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I stare at it. The diamond is absolutely huge. I’ve never seen one so big. Jesus, I’m almost too frightened to touch it.Gently, he removes it from the box, picks up my hand, and slides it onto my fourth finger. It fits perfectly, and it glitters in the autumn sun.“It’s so beautiful,” I say breathlessly.“I’m glad you like it.”I look up at him then and laugh. “Of course I like it.” I throw my arms around him, and he hugs me, lifti