I narrow my eyes. “Crazy?”
He laughs, probably thinking it’s wisest not to respond, and squeezes my hand instead.
The corners of my mouth lift. “Oh, I was just thinking about this book I read.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. It was about a woman whose boyfriend called her crazy. They found him buried in the garden underneath her prize-winning plants. Apparently, all the shit he was full of was acting like the golden egg of fertilizers.”
Reed’s brows shoot up, and the corners of his lips pull down as though he’s trying to stop himself from laughing.
“Really?” He clears his throat, his free hand curling into a fist that he raises to his lips. “Maybe the boyfriend called her crazy as a compliment.”
I purse my lips. “Well, he was stupidly intelligent, with some ridiculously high IQ. So I’m not sure he could use that in his defense.”
“Maybe he’d gone crazy himself. Because of how much he loved this woman.” Reed manages to keep his face perfectly calm and composed, looking ahead as we walk across the hotel lobby. “Maybe…” He pauses. “Maybe spoken words aren’t enough, and he sings to her when she’s asleep. Sings songs that tell her how she’s the reason the sun rises in his world every morning.”
I tip my head to one side, considering his words.
“Or maybe she only wants him tothinkshe’s asleep. Maybe she’s pretending, and actually, hears every single word of those songs. And they’re the reason the stars shine inherworld every night.”
Reed nods slowly, rolling his lips as I glance at him. “And yet, she still buried him underneath her plants.”
“She really likes plants,” I whisper, biting my bottom lip.
His fingers tighten around mine and he side-eyes me with a glint. “I think the boyfriend should consider himself lucky being buried beneath her flower garden every night.”
My shoulders shake and I press my lips together to suppress my laugh. “Really?”
He smirks. “I’d die a happy man buried beneath yours, Harls.A happy fucking man.”
“I’ll remember that next time you call me crazy.” I catch his eye and we smile at each other, holding each other’s gaze for an extended time. Content in the present. Not in the past. Never in the past.
Just here. Now. Together.
Reed dips his head and presses his lips to mine in a gentle kiss.
“Come on. Or we’ll be late to this charity party you insisted we come to. I could have been home, fucking you with my tongue instead,” he growls into my ear before standing up straight.
“The charity fundraiser you’ve been arranging for weeks with Tom’s help, you mean?” I pop a brow at him. “You know you’re looking forward to it.” I trail my fingers up the front of his shirt and straighten his bowtie.
“Maybe.”
“I’m really proud of you, you know,” I breathe. “Tonight means a lot to people.”
“I know.” He gifts me with an achingly beautiful smile, his eyes shining.
“Come on, then.”
We walk to the ballroom entrance. My long, pink gown, designed to look like the skirt is made of soft petals, swishes along the marble floor.
The cream and gold intricately carved French renaissance style doors are wide open, welcoming us in.
Oh…
I’ve seen the ballroom of The Songbird hotel filled with people a million times.
But never like this.