In Good Company: Chapter 54

“I have a gift I want to give you before we head out,” Cal announces, his arms wrapping around my middle as he brings my back to his front.

I stare at him in the mirror with a smile on my face. “A gift for me? What’s the occasion?”

“The occasion is you’re back, and I missed you.” He presses a kiss to the base of my neck, making my entire body shiver. He continues to trail kisses along my skin as I attempt to put my earrings in. His skin is soft against mine, something I’m not typically used to.

We’re going to Pembroke Hills tonight for their annual Black-Tie Event. From what I understand, the club goes all out for the evening, and I’m excited to experience it.

It’s my first time back at the club since returning to the Hamptons. After Cal surprised me by visiting, we spent a week getting everything settled for my parents. It was amazing having him at home with me, and I fell even more in love with him as I watched him create a bond with my parents. He eventually had to go to Manhattan for some work while I stayed in Virginia for another week, but we both arrived back in the Hamptons last night, and I can’t wait to see all our friends.

I already miss my parents, but for the first time in forever, I’m at peace being away from them. I know they’re okay, and I don’t feel the same weight I used to when it comes to them. We had a lot of open discussions, and my relationship with them is better than ever.

“What are you thinking about, baby?” Cal asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Everything,” I answer, giving him a soft smile through the reflection in the mirror. “I just can’t believe I’m back and that we’re here and everyone’s happy.”

“I’ve never been happier,” he responds, his hands splaying out along my abdomen.

I take time to soak in the moment with him. He’s never looked more handsome than he does right now. He wears a black suit that’s perfectly tailored to his body with a black tie that sticks out against the white button-up he’s paired underneath it.

“I like you in white,” he comments, catching me staring at him through the reflection. I can’t help but stare at him sometimes, still in awe that this man fell in love with me.

“Technically, it’s cream.” I smile, admiring the dress I picked out via FaceTime with Charlotte. I was all the way in Virginia and didn’t have time to pick out a nice dress, and Jude had asked her to be his plus-one for the event, so she was already out dress shopping. When she showed me this one, I fell in love. It’s a cream dress that almost feels like satin. It has a halter neckline and clings perfectly to the small curves I do have.

Cal playfully nibbles at my ear. “I don’t care what it’s technically called. I love you in white, and now I’m wondering how soon I can get you in a white wedding dress walking down the aisle toward me.”

I roll my eyes at him. “We’ve had one night officially living together. You can’t already be wanting to marry me.”

It was sad to give up my place attached to Mr. Fred’s store, but it was time for me to let someone else rent it. Plus, I was giddy about moving in with Cal.

“Oh, I knew I wanted to marry you from the moment we first kissed,” Cal states matter-of-factly.

“Cal,” I respond, shaking my head. “No, you didn’t.”

He confidently nods in the mirror. His hands move from around my waist, and I miss the warmth from them immediately. I watch him through the mirror as he pulls a small rectangular box from his tuxedo pocket.

I gasp, recognizing it as a jewelry box.

He laughs at my reaction, his eyes finding mine in the mirror. “Don’t worry, Lucy baby, it isn’t a ring…yet. Although, you tell me when you’re ready for a ring, and I’ll buy one immediately. Better yet, we could just skip the engagement altogether and just go straight to being husband and wife.”

“Let’s live together for at least a year before we talk about that,” I tease. I love how much he loves me out loud. He says exactly what he’s thinking, never once making me guess how he feels about me. It’s incredible to be loved by him. I can’t wait to feel it for the rest of my life.

“A year?” he asks, his arms coming around me as he holds the box in front of my face. “I was thinking we could maybe discuss it after…a month?”

I take the box from his hands and turn to face him, not bothering to hide how I roll my eyes at his comment. “Babe, you’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love with you,” he easily responds, a cocky smirk on his lips.

God, I love this man.

He taps the box in my hands. “Open it.”

I look down at the gift, wondering what’s inside. He already told me it isn’t a ring, but it’s got to be some kind of jewelry by looking at the box. I run my hands along the top, excited to see what’s inside. Softly, I pop open the lid, my breath hitching.

It’s a necklace. The most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen.

“Cal,” I whisper, my hands shaking as I run my hands over the giant diamond pendant. “This is beautiful.”

I stare at the large diamond that’s in the shape of a heart. The diamond itself is massive and pink, and it sits on a sparkling chain.

“This pink is my favorite shade of pink,” he tells me, his voice thick with emotion. “The same pink your cheeks turn when you blush.”

I look up at him, my eyes welling with unshed tears. I don’t know how he’s so good at giving gifts, but I appreciate it beyond words. It’s so thoughtful I don’t even know what to say to him.

Luckily, he saves me from attempting to come up with the right words to properly show how much I love and appreciate the gift.

He gently lifts the necklace from the box and holds it in front of my eyes. The diamond sparkles underneath the closet light, showcasing just how stunning the piece of jewelry is.

Cal focuses on the necklace as well, his lips turning up in a half smile. “It’s a heart because, like my heart, it’s yours to keep forever, Lucy baby.”

I try to blink to stop my tears from falling and ruining my makeup, but it’s no use. A single tear runs down my cheek as my heart swells with love for the man standing in front of me.

“It’s perfection,” I manage to get out through my clogged throat. I look at him and hope my face conveys how thankful I am for him and the gift. “I love you so much, babe.”

This makes him smile even wider. “I love you too. Now, turn around so I can put this on you, and you can show everyone tonight that my heart is yours.”

I do as he instructs, turning to see our reflection in the mirror once again. He slowly places the necklace around my neck and fastens it.

For a few seconds, we both just stare at the piece of jewelry on me. It’s cold and heavy against my skin, proof of just how large the diamond is. I have no idea when he bought this, but I don’t even want to think about how much he spent on it.

“It’s beautiful,” I marvel, carefully touching the diamond. I feel like I shouldn’t be allowed to wear something so nice.

“You’re beautiful,” Cal responds, his hands finding my hips. “There’s one more thing,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

“Yes?”

“Our friends have been waiting in the driveway for ten minutes.”

I gasp, hurriedly turning toward him and looking at him with wide eyes.

“What?” I ask in shock, my eyes scanning the closet for the purse I want to bring tonight. Of course, I have to go with the small Chanel bag he bought me not too long ago. I begin to stuff lip gloss and other touch-up items in the bag. “How come you didn’t tell me that? They’re going to be upset we’ve made them wait.”

He laughs, handing me my phone that I was just about to start looking for. I make sure I don’t have any missed calls before stuffing it into the bag as well. “They’re not going to be upset, I promise. The limo probably has the nicest champagne possible, and I’m sure they’re just enjoying everyone being together again.”

I hope his words are true as I take one last look in the mirror before running as fast as I can in heels to the front door. Just like he said, a long black limousine is parked in our driveway.

“Finally!” Charlotte calls from the sunroof.

Emma’s head pops out next to hers. “Were you guys getting in a pre-event quickie?” she yells.

I blush, shaking my head at how unfiltered Emma is as I make my way to the limo. I can feel Cal following me closely.

“Someone didn’t tell me you were waiting for us, or I would’ve finished getting ready quicker,” I toss out, looking over my shoulder and giving Cal a playful look.

All he does is shrug. “You can’t rush perfection.”

His words make me smile. I turn back around, nearing the limo. As soon as I get close, the driver opens the door for me.

I slide inside, smiling at all of our friends waiting for us. Cal was right—most of them are holding champagne flutes, careless smiles on their faces as we get in.

“Sorry for making you guys wait,” I mutter sheepishly, sliding into the seat next to Jude.

He swats at the air. “No big deal. We were having fun.” His eyes find Charlotte as she stops hanging out of the sunroof and takes her spot on the other side of him.

“Let’s do this!” she cheers excitedly, clapping as the limo begins to pull away. “I can’t wait to experience this Black-Tie Event as a guest.”

I give her a smile, feeling equally as giddy as she does.

Everyone breaks into their own side conversations as the limo heads to the event. I probably look crazy to anyone looking at me, but I can’t wipe the smile from my face as I look around.

I swallow back happy tears as I think back to the beginning of the summer. My only friend was Charlotte. I worked all the time and didn’t know what it was like to find a family outside of my own. My eyes skirt over the people that I’ve gotten to know as summer passed by. Some I’m closer with than others, but they’re all people who contributed to the best summer of my life. Charlotte, Jude, Beck, Margo, Emma, Preston, Ryker, Camille, Winnie, Archer, all people I’ve grown closer to.

I’ve never had close friends like this. We’ve already discussed plans in Manhattan once the summer ends, and for the first time in my life, I’ve been so excited about what the future looks like.

My future is my own and not dependent on things out of my control, something that feels like a huge relief.

My eyes find the man sitting next to me, gratitude overwhelming me at how things have changed throughout the course of the summer with him.

When I first saw Cal at Laurent Hughes’s dinner party, I wanted nothing to do with him. Now, I don’t want a life that doesn’t include him in it.

He’s my home.

My love.

My teammate.

Callahan Hastings.

My former boss and my ex’s older brother.

My heart.

Mine.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt like I’ve had to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. I wanted to be the perfect daughter for my parents and make sure they were taken care of. I didn’t want to mess up, and I wanted to do everything in my power to make life easy on them, knowing they’d already been through so much. I hadn’t realized how much carrying that weight was getting to me or how hard it was for me to let someone in because of the weight I was carrying.

It wasn’t until Cal loved me fiercely and with no need for anything in return that I learned to let someone be there for me. He taught me that love can make us stronger and that it’s okay to need someone else.

Loving him is the best decision I’ve ever made.

I smile, realizing our life together has only just begun. This summer has been the best summer of my life, and I can’t wait for many more. I’ll be in good company with him by my side for all of it.