Page 110 of The October Arrangement

“That is not true.” She laughed.

“It absolutely is. You dragged me to a fall festival. You invited my father without asking me. You steal my sweatshirts, and you leave cabinet doors open. You also make me eat dinner later than usual because you’re working. You’ve disrupted my entire life, Bella Castle. And you know what? I don’t want it back.” I smiled.

“Simon.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“I used to step off that elevator and love that the penthouse was quiet. Now, if I get home before you do, I fucking hate it.” A single tear fell from her eye. I gently wiped it away with my finger. “Don’t cry, Bella.”

“I’m not.”

“The tear on my finger suggests otherwise.” I smiled.

“Go on. I’m sure there’s more,” she said.

This shouldn’t have been so fucking hard. I’d negotiated deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars without breaking a sweat. But this woman sitting on my lap had my heart pounding like I was about to jump off a building.

“I told him.”

“Who?”

“Christian. I told him I was in love with you at the game that day.”

“And you waited this long to tell me?”

“I was afraid.”

“That you’d melt?” A smirk crossed her lips.

I laughed. “Maybe. I don’t know, sweetheart. I’m a better man since you crashed my life.” I cupped her face in my hands. “I love you, Bella. You’re my girlfriend, not a temporary roommate, and you’re not going anywhere. This is your home, and you’re right where you belong.”

“I love you so much, Simon Montclair.”

“And that makes me incredibly happy. Now, how about that movie?”

“Are you kidding?” Her brows furrowed. “Fuck the movie.” She gripped the bottom of her sweatshirt and pulled it off.

Chapter Forty

Six Months Later

Simon

Six months ago, before I professed my love to Bella, I’d stood at Daisy’s wedding and wondered why the hell anyone voluntarily put themselves through all of it. The planning, money, flowers, seating charts, vows. And standing in front of a room full of people and promising one person the rest of your life. To me, marriage was nothing but a legal contract in a relationship with a party thrown in to make everyone feel better about it. I’d spent my adult life convinced I was smarter for staying out and away from it.

Then something happened that night at the wedding. Somewhere between the ceremony and the end of the night, a thought entered my head that had no business being there. What would that feel like? That stayed with me these last six months, and I understood why. I didn’t want to keep calling Bella my girlfriend anymore. I wanted to call her my wife. I wanted the one thing I’d spent my entire life swearing I’d never want. I wanted to put a ring on her finger and have my name beside hers. I wanted the promise that neither of us was going anywhere. For the first time in my life, the thought of spending forever with someone didn’t feel like losing my freedom. It felt like knowing exactly what I wanted to do with it.

I walked into my father’s office and shut the door. He looked up at me and smiled.

“Good morning, son.”

“Are you busy?” I asked.

“Well, considering you’re standing in my office, I’m guessing it doesn’t matter. Have a seat.” He gestured. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened.” I furrowed my brows.

“Is Bella okay?” he asked.

“She’s fine.”