Page 42

Max

Today was my final day with Lara before she left for Paris, and I planned on savouring every single second of it.

I felt bittersweet about it all.

So proud, so very proud, but my best friend, my sister, was leaving.

I’d no longer hear her laugh echoing through my apartment, no more takeaways on the sofa talking about absolute nonsense.

I exited the bedroom after my shower to a knock on the door, her knock.

I couldn’t help my smile, despite the ache in my chest knowing it would be the last time I heard it.

Connor opened the door, and I was greeted with Lara’s beaming face and arms full of breakfast pastries and coffee from Melinda’s.

He gave her a smile and me a soft kiss on the forehead before heading out to the gym.

“Morning, sunshine!”

She sang cheerfully, smiling back as she brushed past Connor into the kitchen.

“We’ve got a busy day ahead, and we’re starting with carbs, sugar and caffeine.”

I laughed, shaking my head fondly at her endless enthusiasm.

“You’re way too excited for someone who’s moving halfway across the world away from me tomorrow.”

She shrugged, grinning mischievously, “Maybe.

But first, you’re mine for one more full day.

I plan on making the absolute most of it.”

She handed me one of the coffees as I sat beside her at the table as we ate, chatting aimlessly about Paris, her job, the small apartment she’d secured, and how ridiculously beautiful French men supposedly were.

She laughed, throwing a playful pastry crumb at me when I suggested she might come back fluent in the language of love and married to some handsome stranger.

“Not likely,”

she snorted, sipping her coffee.

“Though, if it happens, you’ll be the first to know.”

Her smile softened as she watched me.

“Speaking of love, you and Connor seem happier than ever.”

I smiled gently, warmth flooding to my chest at the mere mention of him.

“I think he might be it, Lara.

I’ve never felt anything like this before.”

She reached across the table to take my hand in hers.

“Good.

You deserve this, Max.

After everything we’ve been through, after everything you’ve carried for so fucking long, I’m glad you’ve finally found someone who sees you, all of you, and still chooses to love you fiercely.”

My throat tightened, eyes misting over slightly.

“I’m going to miss you so so much.”

She squeezed my hand, her voice wobbling slightly, betraying her own emotion, “Me too.

But no crying, okay? We’re spending today happy.”

We spent the afternoon wandering through the town, revisiting all of our favourite spots whilst reminiscing and laughing.

We browsed the boutiques, ate far too much ice cream, and sat in the sun watching the world pass us by.

Eventually, Lara dragged me into a salon, insisting that I deserved to be pampered.

“Tadaaaa.”

She squealed, strutting over to me as the nail technician carefully painted my nails a deep, sultry shade of red.

My eyes widened, taking in my best friend, “Holy fucking shit, Lara.

You look incredible.”

Gone was her bleach blonde hair, replaced by a coppery orange that made her sea-blue eyes pop.

She looked absolutely beautiful, radiant even.

Her smile lit up her face as she tossed her hair, “New country, new me.

I look even sexier as a red head.”

She winked.

I laughed, “Maybe you are my type after all.”

“Too late bitch, I don’t do long distance.”

She responded, flipping me off.

I chuckled to myself as the nail tech finished up.

Lara teased me relentlessly, stating that if Connor hadn’t already fallen head over heels, he would after seeing me now.

We left the salon as the sun dipped low in the sky, walking hand in hand back to my apartment building.

I pulled Lara into a hug, holding her close, memorising the moment, knowing it would have to carry me through until our next reunion.

“Call me the minute you land, okay?”

She nodded, hugging me tightly before letting go.

“Always.

And max? Tell Connor to take good care of you—otherwise, he’ll have me to answer to.”

I laughed softly, watching her walk away, tears blurring my vision slightly as the reality of goodbye finally settled over me.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into my building and headed to my apartment, smiling despite the pain that lingered in my chest.

Pushing the door open, I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

My apartment was transformed into something out of a romance movie.

Soft candlelight flickered, casting a warm, golden glow around the room.

Beautiful bouquets of black roses lined the path from my doorway into my living room, the sight stealing my breath away entirely.

Soft music played—”Iris”

by the Goo Goo Dolls— filling the space with a beautifully haunting melody.

And standing in the centre of it all was Connor, looking incredible in a sharp, dark suit.

His eyes never left mine as I stepped further into the room, closing the door behind me.

“What...

what is all this?”

I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion as my heart thundered against my chest.

He stepped forward, taking my hand in his, his thumb gently caressing my knuckles, “Max, before you, my life felt empty—like I was just existing, not living.

You changed that.

You changed everything.”

He breathed.

“You showed me what it meant to love, to truly love someone with every single fibre of my being.”

The tears in my eyes threatened to fall as he slowly lowered himself to one knee, pulling out a small velvet box from his pocket.

He carefully opened it, revealing the most breathtaking ring I had ever seen.

A glittering black diamond that caught the candlelight perfectly, sat on a white gold band with black vines spreading along the sides.

I gasped, staring down at him, his eyes reflecting the candlelight, making him look even more breathtaking.

“Maxine,”

his voice wavered slightly, raw emotion flooding every word.

“You are my everything.

I can’t imagine my life without you, nor do I want to.

Your darkness doesn’t scare me, it excites me.

Because it’s the only thing that’s ever matched my own.”

He took my hand in his, “You’re not just in my thoughts; you are my thoughts.

Every breath, every heartbeat—they all belong to you.

Will you be the Dianna to my Samkiel? Will you marry me, travel the world with me and spend forever with me Maxine Pochon?”

Tears streamed openly down my cheeks now, my heart overflowing with joy as I nodded, “You’re the only person whose darkness feels like home Connor; I’m not a fragile woman.

But for you, I’d break myself open, let you see every fucking twisted part—and trust that you’d love me anyway.

Yes, yes a thousand times yes.”

He rose swiftly, capturing my lips in a kiss filled with so much passion and promise that my knees weakened.

He paused before sliding on the ring, “I got it engraved for you.”

He showed me the inside of the band, the engraving reading ‘Forever, my little fox.’

“Why do you call me that?”

I asked as he slid the ring onto my finger.

"Because when I watched you for the first time in that basement, I knew exactly what you were.

Beautiful, smart, intelligent, and a predator.

Just like a fox.

I knew then, that I would make you mine.”

He smiled gently.

“I love you, Connor.”

“I love you too, Max.

More than anything.”

After a long, content silence wrapped closely in his arms, I tilted my head up to meet his gaze.

I felt truly happy, truly free, for the first time in what felt forever.

“Let’s leave soon.

Start our life together, see the world.

Tony said he’d watch the apartment, and I don’t even want to think about my father’s house right now.

Let’s just go— no plans, no obligations, just us.”

Connor smiled down at me warmly, his eyes shining with pure love and excitement.

“Whenever you’re ready, I’m yours.”

I grinned up at him, heart swelling.

“Good, because I was thinking...

let’s leave in a few days.

First stop, Paris.

I have a best friend to plan a wedding with.”

I giggled, wiggling my ring finger at him.

He laughed softly, pulling me in close against him, his lips brushing against mine.

“Deal.

Wherever you go, I’ll follow, Max.”

I closed my eyes, breathing him in, his warmth, his scent, letting the final fragments of my past fall away.

I was finally ready to live— not just exist.

And I was going to do it with the man I loved more deeply than I’d ever thought possible, holding my hand every step of the way.

Together, we would leave the shadows behind and find the light.

Together, we would live.