Page 59

“I would do anything to help you achieve your goals. Because you deserve to be happy. Not a bullshit happy for someone else, but really, truly, genuinely, happy. Nada es demasiado para ti, mi esposa.”

“How have you had time to purchase propertyandlearn Spanish?” She teases me. I wipe her tears once more before turning her body around in my arms so she can take in the full space around her.

“I spend more time on the language app than I do working most days,” I whisper in her ear.

Her head falls back onto my chest and I soak in the feeling of her body wrapped in my arms. “I don’t know what to say,” she breathes.

“Camila, this place was yours from the moment you stepped foot in here. We both knew it. You just needed a little push. And like I said, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to help you. But the truth is, you don’t need me. You’re the most deserving, capable, kind, and creative person I know. So if you’d let me, I’d love to be by your side and watch all the great things you come up with.”

Her shoulders shake under me and tears plop onto my forearms.

“What are you thinking?” I ask against the top of her head.

“I’m just trying to wrap my head around this.” She turns back around, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I don’t know how to thank you. Not only for this but for believing in me enough.”

I kiss her lips tenderly. And a sigh of relief passes through me.

Camila

The bath wateris silky with oils and slightly pink with some discarded petals from a rose bath bomb. After the last few days of nonstop manual labor, this bath is calling my name. It’s been a week since Miles brought me to the property he bought me and I immediately hit the ground running with ideas. I think a part of me wanted to busy myself so I couldn’t focus on the slightly overwhelming feeling that he bought this space for me, and the more overwhelming feeling that I would now definitely have to talk to my parents. Some days it feels like things are moving too quickly and maybe they are. But at the same time, nothing has ever felt more right.

Miles

What are you wearing?

Me

Paint.

Miles

Mmm sexy.

Me

I think you might be the only person to think that.

Miles

Then everyone else is foolish!

Me

You’re crazy.

Miles

For you? I’m out of my goddamn mind.

It's easy to get caught up in this world with him. In this world, I can go to my studio every day and feel a sense of pride in my work and in myself while I create a space worthy of the artists in this city. I can come home to Miles and we can live in this perfect little bubble together. In this world, I’m falling in love with my life and I can't imagine living it any other way. But the reality is, at some point, I’m going to have to talk to my parents and deal with the potential reality of disappointing them.

Miles

I gave Rosa the night off, I’ll send Wills to pick you up and I’ll meet you for dinner.

Me

I noticed she wasn’t here. I wasn’t joking about the paint though, I’m about to get in the bath.