Page 50 of Loving London

But London did happen, and now, I know what it feels like to be truly in love with someone else.

“I can’t do that to you.” I hold Sarah’s hands in mine. “I love you, Sarah…so much. I would do anything for you; you know that. But I can’t take away your chance at real love. I will never love you in the way a husband should love his wife. I could fake it, but that wouldn’t be fair to either of us. You’re a beautiful, wonderful woman with so much to offer. You deserve your happily ever after. I won’t take that away from you. You’ll find it. I promise.”

“But I already have my fairy tale. You and Evan are my life. I don’t want anything else.” Her voice quivers.

“If you think that, it’s because you’ve never truly been in love. I have, and I know the difference.”

“If life was so great with London, then why aren’t you with her now? If it were true love, then it would have lasted, Loïc. The longest-lasting relationship in your life is me.” She points her finger toward her chest. “I’m the one for you. Me.”

“I’m sorry,” I say softly.

“Why are you so stubborn?” she yells. “Why can’t you see what you have?”

“What do you want me to do here?” I groan.

“I want you to marry me. I want to be a real family.”

“We are a family already. I will always be Evan’s uncle. I will always be here for you, but I can’t love you like that, Sarah. I can’t.”

Sarah stands. “God, I hate you!” she cries.

I rise from the couch and pull her into my arms as she cries. “I wish I could give you more. I’m sorry.”

“Eventually, you’ll see. You’ll realize.” She sniffles into my chest.

If there were never a London, lots of things would be different. But London happened, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do to pretend she didn’t.

London

Eight Months Later

“I don’t care about yesterday. All I want is tomorrow and the day after that.”

—London Wright

I’m putting the finishing touches on my mascara when Kate pops her head in the bathroom.

“I thought you had this weekend off?”

“I was supposed to. The new girl, Ginger, was supposed to be covering this story. But, apparently, she flaked out and set sail on a booze cruise for the weekend.”

“What’s a booze cruise?” Kate asks.

I laugh. “Exactly what it sounds like—a cruise ship with lots of drinking.”

“And she just ditched her story?”

“Well, when Brad hires a woman just because he wants to sleep with her…what do you expect?” I roll my eyes.

“So, she’s not the best employee?”

“Hardly,” I scoff with a shake of my head.

“Well, he hired you because he wanted to sleep with you,” she reminds me.

“Obviously, I’m the exception to the rule.” I chuckle. “Anyway, he called and begged me to cover it. I shouldn’t be long. I’ll be back before dinner. Did you still want to try that new sushi place?”

Kate follows me to my room. “Yes, definitely. I have a book I’m dying to finish anyway, so I’m going to veg all day and read.”

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