Page 221 of Sebastian's Baby

His mouth drops open. “Really?”

“Yes. She has no idea. Harrison gave me the name of the jeweler he used, and I’ve got an appointment this afternoon. He’s my alibi.”

“Oh wow. Want some company?” He grins at me.

“Sure. You have to keep it a complete secret, though.”

“Do you even know me, Sebastian Fox?” he scoffs.

Of all my friends, he and Harrison are probably the most trustworthy when it comes to keeping things secret, so I laugh as he says it.

He sends his bodyguard Jesse home and gets in the black SUV with Daryl and me. We drive to the upmarket jeweler in downtown Chicago and are let inside before we’re led to a desk and introduced to Dominic, who is apparently the jeweler who designed Heather’s engagement ring.

“How can we help you today, Mr. Fox? You said that you want to propose? Congratulations.” He smiles at me.

“I do. I don’t want a ring, though. Lita is heavily pregnant and can’t wear one anyway, let alone the attention that a ring will bring on her.”

“Of course, sir. What are you thinking instead?”

I’ve given this some thought, and I know exactly what I want to propose with. “I want a gold necklace with a gold airplane pendant with diamonds on it.”

I first told her that I loved her when we were on an airplane, so this seems very fitting. Dominic gets a tablet and shows me some examples for sizing before he does a few rough sketches and what he has mocked up looks amazing.

“I love it,” I assure him as I approve the design concept.

“The only thing it’s missing is the Cruise Control symbol,” Hayden teases me.

I turn a stare at him for a second before I grin at him. “Brilliant.” I turn back to Dominic. “I want you to engrave the Cruise Control symbol on the bottom of the plane. Also, the initials SF and LC.”

“Of course, sir. I really look forward to working on this. It’s such a unique proposal gift!”

* * *

A week and a half later,I head back to the jeweler and pick up the amazing pendant.

“It’s even better than I imagined,” I gush as Dominic shows it to me.

“Thank you, sir. I’m honored to have been involved.”

I flip the airplane over and smile at the tiny Cruise Control symbol there. The thing that means so much to me and brought Lita and me together. Dominic carefully places the necklace in a flat, rectangular, silk-lined box and hands it to me in a bag with the jeweler’s name on it.

When we get in the car, I say to Daryl, “Can you keep this safe and hidden from Lita until I can hide it in my safe at Galena, please?”

“Of course, sir.”

He smiles and takes the bag, which he stashes underneath the floor in the trunk of the car before we pick up Ben and head to the hospital. Lita is being discharged today, and we’re going straight to Galena. I’m excited to officially be sleeping in a bed with her again from tonight. I’ve missed having her in my bed.

We make our way to her room through a relatively small group of paparazzi, but by the time she’s discharged and Ben takes Lita’s luggage down to the SUV for her, he warns us that there is a massive crowd of paparazzi outside. Both he and Daryl escort us out of the hospital.

All of my friends, as well as Heather and Ariana, have been photographed on their visits to see Lita. Even our parents have been photographed whenever they’ve come to visit. The internet is going wild with rumors that Lita has given birth early.

The reporters all begin taking pictures and videos as soon as we appear in their view.

“Why were you in hospital, Lolita?” one calls.

I squeeze her hand tightly as we make our way through the crowd. I’m so glad that I can hold her hand like this again. I’m so much calmer getting through this while having this connection with her.

“Is everything okay with the baby?”

---