Page 81 of Loving London

“Supernatural, exquisite, freaking fantastic,” I stammer out.

“Well, now you’re just giving me a big head.”

“Oh, you’re right. I wouldn’t want that. Gotta keep you reaching for perfection.”

“Exactly.”

I roll toward the center of the bed, placing my face against Loïc’s chest. “Do you remember our first Twenty Questions game?” A surge of gratefulness and nostalgia passes through me.

“You mean, on the plane?”

“Yeah.”

Loïc laughs softly. “Of course. You were a persistent and nosy little thing.”

My lips turn up into a giant smile. “You were acting all broody, angry, and closed off.”

“I was all those things.” His fingers lightly trace circles across my back. “But you wouldn’t back off, no matter what. My little tenacious firecracker.”

“Hey, I know what I want,” I say without apology.

“That quality is one of my favorite things about you. I love your spirit,” Loïc says. Although I can’t see his face, I know he’s smiling. “I loved opening my email to see your questions every day during deployment.”

He sighs, and I know his mind is now elsewhere.

“Ask me a question,” I say cheerfully, looking up toward Loïc’s face.

He kisses me on the tip of my nose. “I think we know all there is to know about each other, don’t you?”

“No way. I’ll never be ready to stop discovering new things about you.”

“All right. Well, you go first. I have to think of a question.”

“Okay. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?”

“That’s easy,” he answers. “Wherever you are.”

“No, that’s cheating. If I weren’t in the picture and money and jobs weren’t factors, where would you live?”

“It’s not cheating if it’s the truth,” he says with a grin.

“Just answer.” I playfully poke him in the side.

“Fine. If it were just me and nothing else was a factor…” He pauses. “I honestly can’t think of a specific place. I think the main thing is that I would want to live somewhere beautiful, somewhere where I’d prefer to spend my time outdoors instead of inside. I think endless locations could qualify. Maybe here?”

“It is gorgeous here. We should go explore today,” I suggest.

“Yeah, that sounds awesome,” Loïc agrees.

“Did I mention that I love it here?”

“Yeah, once or twice.” His deep chuckle makes something within my heart twist.

Loïc’s cell rings from the bedside table. Extending his free hand, he grabs it. “Hello?”

I give him space as he sits up.

“Yes, this is he.”

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