Chapter 84

Cecilia

We went back to the movie, but I found my attention drifting. I kept thinking about that look on Arthur's face during the call—the one that suggested he wanted to be here instead of at the office.

Time slipped away from us. One movie turned into two, and then we were halfway through a third when I heard the sound of keys in the lock.

I glanced at the clock. 5:30 PM. Arthur was home early.

Alice immediately started gathering her things, shoving her phone into her bag and standing up with the kind of haste that suggested she knew exactly what was about to happen.

"I should go," she said, leaning down to press a kiss to my cheek. "Thanks for letting me hang out today. I had fun."

"Thank you for coming," I said, squeezing her hand with my good one. "I really appreciate it. You made today so much better."

"Anytime." She kissed my other cheek, then straightened just as the door opened.

Arthur stepped inside, his suit jacket already off, his tie loosened, and his eyes immediately finding me on the couch. Then they tracked to Alice, still standing there, and something flickered across his face.

"Alice," he said pleasantly. "Thank you for keeping Cecilia company today."

"Of course!" Alice's smile was bright and entirely too innocent. "Someone had to, since you were busy working all day."

I bit back a laugh at the pointed emphasis on 'working.'

Arthur's expression didn't change, but I saw his jaw tighten slightly. "I appreciate you stepping in."

"Oh, it wasn't stepping in," Alice said, her voice taking on that particular sweet tone that meant she was absolutely messing with him. "I was happy to spend the whole day with my dear sister. Unlike some people, I actually made time for her."

"Alice," I said, trying not to laugh.

"What?" She looked at me with exaggerated innocence. "I'm just saying, I was here. All day. Taking care of you. Making sure you were comfortable and happy and—"

"Okay, I think we get it," Arthur interrupted, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice now, mixed with that possessive edge I recognized all too well.

Alice grinned, completely unrepentant, and headed for the door. "See you later, Ceci! Call me if you need anything!"

She was gone before I could respond, leaving me alone with Arthur, who was now looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"She's a menace." He crossed the room and sat down beside me, immediately pulling me against his side. "Did you have fun?"

"I did, actually. It was nice having company." I tilted my head to look up at him. "But I missed you."

"Good." His arm tightened around me. "Because I'm not leaving you alone again."

I laughed. "Arthur, you have to work. We can't survive on love alone."

"We could," he said seriously. "I have enough money to support us for several thousand years. Give or take."

"Several thousand years?" I repeated, trying not to smile.

"At minimum. Probably more if we're conservative with our spending."

I shifted so I could face him properly, my good hand coming up to rest on his chest. "Well, that's good to know. But what if I want more than just survival? What if I want to live in obscene luxury?"

"Then I'll give you obscene luxury," he said without hesitation.

"What if I want a private island?"

"I'll buy you ten."

"What if I want a yacht?"

"I'll commission one and name it after you."

"What if I want—" I paused, pretending to think. "A lifetime supply of really expensive chocolate?"

"Done." He was smiling now, that real smile that transformed his entire face. "Anything else?"

"Hmm." I tapped my finger against his chest thoughtfully. "What if I just want you to come home early more often?"

His expression softened, and he leaned down to press his forehead against mine. "That, I can definitely do."

"Good." I closed my eyes, breathing him in. "Because I really did miss you today."

"I missed you too." His hand came up to cup the back of my head. "Every single minute."

We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, until I felt him shift slightly and realized he was looking at something over my shoulder.

"What?" I asked.

"Alice left her hoodie," he said, gesturing to where it was draped over the arm of the couch.

"I'll text her to come get it tomorrow."

"Or," Arthur said, his voice taking on that particular tone that meant he was about to suggest something I wouldn't like, "we could donate it."

"Arthur!"

"What? I'm just saying, she has plenty of hoodies. She won't miss one."

I swatted his chest with my good hand. "You're being ridiculous."

"I'm being practical." But he was smiling as he said it, and I knew he wasn't serious.

"You're jealous," I accused.

"I'm not jealous."

"You absolutely are." I poked him in the chest. "You're jealous that Alice got to spend the whole day with me while you were stuck at work."

"That's not—" He stopped, seeming to realize that denying it would be pointless. "Fine. Maybe a little."

"A little?"

"A moderate amount," he amended. "Is that so wrong? I come home and find my fiancée having the time of her life with someone else. I'm allowed to feel some type of way about that."

"You were smiling," he said. "When I called earlier, you looked so happy. And I realized I haven't seen you smile like that in days. Not since the accident."

Oh.

"Arthur." I shifted in his arms so I could see his face properly. "I smile like that with you all the time."

"Not lately. Lately you've been in pain, or tired, or frustrated with your injuries. Which is completely understandable," he added quickly. "I'm not blaming you. I just—" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I'm glad Alice could make you happy today. Even if part of me wishes I'd been the one to do it."

"You do make me happy," I said firmly. "Every single day. Alice is wonderful, and I love spending time with her, but she's not you. She could never be you."

"I know." He pulled me closer. "I know that. I'm just being—"

"Possessive?" I suggested.

"I was going to say 'human,' but possessive works too."

I laughed and kissed him, soft and slow, until I felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.

He kissed me again, deeper this time. "And I'm taking tomorrow off."

"What? Arthur, you can't just—"

"I can, and I am." His tone left no room for argument. "I've been leaving you alone too much. So tomorrow, I'm staying home. I can keep you company, take care of you, and do everything you need or want me to do."

"You're being ridiculous," I said, but I was smiling.

"I'm being a good fiancé," he corrected.

"You're being a jealous fiancé who can't handle the fact that his girlfriend had fun without him."

"Fiancée," he corrected. "And yes, that's exactly what I'm being. Do you have a problem with that?"

I pretended to consider it. "Well, I was planning to invite Alice over again tomorrow..."

The look on his face was so comically outraged that I burst out laughing.

"I'm kidding!" I said between giggles. "I'm kidding, Arthur. Of course I want you here."