Breakfast was pretty calm, but every ti I looked at Isabella, there was this strong feeling between us—it was like I wanted to take care of her.
I made sure she ate well and stayed close enough to notice every bite, every little sigh, and even those monts when my fingers brushed against her arm.
I didn’t just want her to be here—I wanted her feeling safe with . That no one would touch her without kno── I ant... she’s mine now. She soon will be.
After clearing the plates myself—no one else was going to be around her—I motioned toward the sitting room. "Co," I said softly, guiding her with my hand on her back.
Once we were on the couch, I rested my forehead against hers, letting the quiet say everything that needed to be said. She didn’t resist when I tangled her fingers with mine.
The clock ticked on too fast.
Four o’clock ca, and I could tell the reluctance in her eyes. She wasn’t ready to leave. Neither was I willing to let her go.
"It’s ti," I murmured, hating the words. My thumb gently stroked her skin, lingering on the warmth. "I’ll have the car brought around."
I looked at her face, the arch of her cheek, the little pout of her lips, and I hesitated. I felt a sudden draw to tell her to forget it and just tell she was staying.
I pulled my phone from the table, as soon as I waved bye to her and went back in my study.
Dialed Caron.
He barely let the line ring twice before he picked up.
"Adrien. What’s up?"
"I told her," I said,
"Told who what?" Caron’s tone sharpened, instantly suspicious.
"Isabella. I told her I love her."
There was a pause. Long enough for to think maybe I’d misheard the silence.
Then Caron’s sharp laugh cut through. "You’re joking."
My jaw tightened automatically. "Do I sound like I’m joking, Cam?"
"Bro, you’re serious? I an... I knew you liked her, but actually saying it? How does that even feel?"
"Honestly? Like I just dropped a ton of bricks off my shoulders."
"I swear, I called this ages ago. You always had it bad for her."
"So what happened next? Did she laugh? Cry? Run out of the room?"
"shut it."
"aww. Co on. Im just curious." He wined like a little child.
"she said it back."I said, a slow smirk tugging at my lips as I recall the mory.
"Wow. I’m actually impressed dude. Didn’t think you had it in you."
"Thanks. Really. I’m so glad I could entertain you with my romantic woes."
I can practically hear his eyes roll through the line. "Pfft. You know you love . So, what’s the plan here? You gonna, like, ask her to move in with you? Get her a promise ring? Paint ’mine’ on her forehead?"
"Shut. Up. I want to make it official."
"Official? As in, you’re gonna post matching selfies with ’My everything with love emoji’ captions?" Caron’s voice was dripping with amusent.
"No, you idiot." I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Official as in... I’m going to ask her to be my girlfriend."
Caron groaned dramatically. "Oh, that kind of official. Boring."
"It’s not boring."
"Alright, man. I’m genuinely happy for you. Just... try not to scare her off with the whole ’you’re mine now and forever and sealed with blood’ vibe, okay?"
"I don’t have a ’sealed with blood’ vibe," I grumbled, though the early part of the day had indeed been saturated with that very feeling of claiming her. "I just want to make sure she feels secure with . That she knows this is serious. That she is serious."
"Yeah, yeah, got it. Empress Isabella, Queen of Adrien’s Heart. Just... breathe, man. You just told her you love her, and she said it back. Sounds like you’re already pretty official in her eyes. This is just the cherry on top."
"It’s the foundation," I corrected, my voice firm. "It’s the start of everything."
"Okay, foundation layer," Caron conceded.
"Just shut up and listen, you oaf," I growled. "I need to figure out how to do it. It has to be... right."
"Alright, think. What does Isabella like? Is she into grand gestures? Small, intimate things? Does she have a favorite flower? A specific type of expensive cheese you can arrange into the shape of a question mark?"
"Expensive cheese? Are you serious?"
"Hey, you gotta work with what you got! Does she like art? Buy her a painting and slip the question into the artist’s statent. Is she into... I don’t know... puzzles? Get a custom jigsaw made! The final picture is the question!"
I massaged my temples. "Cam, these are... uniquely you ideas. I need sothing... less ridiculous."
"Less ridiculous? Asking soone to be your girlfriend after telling them you love them for the first ti sounds like the peak of ridiculous drama to , but fine. Let’s tone it down. How about... dinner? Classic. Candlelight. Smooth music. Maybe a small gift? Not a promise ring yet, definitely too soon for that unless you want to scare her. Sothing thoughtful."
"A dinner... yeah, okay, that’s a starting point," I admitted. It wasn’t revolutionary, but it was solid. But didn’t feel... enough. "But just dinner? It needs... more."
"More what, Adrien? A marching band? A skywriter?"
"Just... sothing that captures..."
Caron was silent for a mont, and I could picture him finally shifting into slightly more serious mode. "What about... taking her sowhere? Sowhere that ans sothing to you? Or maybe sowhere that could beco ’yours’? Like a place you’ll always go back to. Make the place itself significant."
"A place..." I repeated slowly, consideration knitting my brow.
"Yeah. Could be simple. A park bench with a view. Hell, if you’re feeling extra, your private jet flying over sowhere pretty,"
"Not the jet. Too much," I dismissed, though the thought had fleetingly crossed my mind. "Don’t worry, I will figure it out myself."
"Adrien, my man, you’re treading in dangerous, syrupy territory here. Who even are you anymore?"
"Soone who knows what he wants," I said firmly.
"Well, damn. Okay. I’m... genuinely happy for you, dude. And also maybe a little terrified. Just, please, don’t start wearing matching sweaters."
"Shut up, Cam."
"Okay, okay. Just be yourself, but like, the other version of yourself that’s less brooding and more charming. And make sure you actually say the words. Don’t just assu she gets it. Won... they like the words."
"Right," I said, "Okay. I gotta... make so calls. Get things arranged."
"Go forth and conquer, lover boy." Caron’s amusent was back in full force. "And call after. I need all the details. All the gooey, romantic details."
"Don’t count on it." I warned, and hung up.
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