Page 70 of Loving London

Loïc’s face beams. “Really? That’s awesome.”

“What?” I huff in mock annoyance. “I like outdoorsy stuff,” I say before throwing in the word, “sometimes.”

“Says the girl who barely made it through a short kayaking trip on one of our first dates.”

“Oh, I made it through just fine. Don’t exaggerate.” I stick out my tongue.

Loïc grabs me and tackles me to the sand as I scream in a fit of giggles. After a minute, the lighthearted mood ends. Loïc’s arms hold me close to him, and he buries his face in my neck and breathes me in.

“Loïc?”

“Yeah?” he exhales against my skin.

“You okay?”

He raises his head and peers into my eyes. His eyes are so full of emotion. “Sometimes, I can’t believe we’re finally here. I’ve been so lost for so long. I never knew to dream of this happiness because I never knew such joy existed. You’re better than a dream come true, London.”

My eyes well up with tears. “I know exactly what you mean. Thank you for finding me, Loïc.”

He shakes his head. “It was you who found me, babe.”

“You’re lucky I’m a persistent girl.”

“That, I am.”

“Are you ready for me to show you my surfing skills?” I ask.

“Are you going to be able to get up on the board?” he teases.

I scoff. “Am I going to be able to get up on the board?” I repeat his question. “Oh, please. Just watch me.”

I jump up from the sand and grab my board. Blowing him a kiss, I run out into the water. Loïc follows right behind me.

Loïc’s wrong though. It wasn’t just me who found him. If anything, we found each other. I thought I was happy before, but just like Loïc, I never knew such joy existed. I don’t think everyone is fortunate enough to find magical love, but I’m thanking my lucky stars that we were.

London

“The seconds right before my greatest dream comes true bring a moment of pause, so I can take it all in and be thankful.”

—London Wright

I finally find a parking space a few blocks down from our apartment. It’s a shitty end to a shitty day. Everyone at work seemed to take a dose of crazy before coming to work today. It was quite the madhouse. But, soon, all will be better because I’ll get to see Loïc.

It’s funny because, the first year of my job, it was normal for me to get home at nine o’clock every night. I loved being at work. Yet, now that I have Loïc waiting for me at home, I find that I’m tons more efficient, finishing my articles in record time, so I can be home by dinner every night.

Loïc always has a delicious meal prepared for me when I walk in the door. Thank goodness I’m dating someone who can cook. I’ve come to accept my limitations. Cooking will never be one of my strengths.

I reach the front door of our apartment and find a large wicker basket with a pink ribbon tied around it. It’s completely empty. A laminated piece of stationery is attached to the handle.

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE A BEAUTIFUL GIRL WITH SOME FLAWS.

I pick up the basket and open the door. Inside, I find a path of candles; there must be hundreds of them. The path is covered with an assortment of flower petals. Atop the candlelit path of petals, every foot or so, there are…

Packages of gummies?

I pick up the first bag of gummy bears. Attached to the package with a pink ribbon is a square piece of laminated stationery.

FLAW #1: YOU HATE BEING CORRECTED AND LOVE BEING RIGHT. I LOVE THIS BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT YOU ARE STRONG AND SELF-CONFIDENT—TWO ASPECTS OF YOUR PERSONALITY THAT I FIND EXTREMELY SEXY.

---