Chapter 19

Normally my birthday was a day I just went out with my friends to get dinner and drink. Except for my twenty-first, some of my friends and I went to Vegas for that one.

I quickly learned that Archie loved birthdays.

I knew that he had so many birthday surprises planned for me but I think the trip he had planned for me was the biggest one. He refused to tell me where we were going but he did send me the weather so I knew what to pack. I was tempted to see what places had this weather but he seemed so excited to surprise me and I didn't want to take that away from him.

Archie put his arms around my waist as I applied my lipstick, "You're so fucking gorgeous, Lainey."

I put the tube down and put my hand on his cheek, "Oh stop it."

"Trust me, that dress is making me go crazy." he started to kiss my neck before I gently pushed his head away

"We both know you get carried away easily." I reminded him, "Later."

"Did we ever decide on a Christmas resolution?" I asked Archie

He nodded, "Celebrate together on the twenty-first, you fly to America on the twenty-third, we celebrate Christmas with our families, and I'm flying to America on the twenty-eighth. We just haven't decided where to spend the new year."

"Maybe our families should meet." I suggested somewhat sheepishly, "As much as I just wanna fly somewhere and be alone with you, I think this is important."

"You're right. I'll talk to them." he rubbed my shoulders, "But these next few days are all about you."

Archie kissed my cheek, "I know you still have a few more days until it is your birthday, but I hope your twenty-third year of life is the best one yet."

I turned around and faced him, "It already is because of you."

"I'm hard." Archie looked me in the eyes

I grabbed my buzzing phone, "Sounds like a personal problem. The limo is fifteen minutes away and everyone is already in there."

"Can you help me take care of this boner?" Archie put his hands on my hips

I bit my lip, "Take care of it yourself."

"Well, it is your fault it's there in the first place." Archie pulled me closer to him, "Fifteen is more than enough."

I just stared into his eyes. It was kinda fun seeing him so desperate.

"Do you know how beautiful you are? It's truly distracting." he whispered in my ear before kissing my neck. He absolutely knew it was my weakness.

"Shut up and take your pants off, I expect you to repay the favor later." I gave in

"Of course princess." he smirked

I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.

He knew me too well.

We somehow made it to the limo without anyone *hopefully* suspecting a thing. I finally got to meet Archie's best friends Christian and Leo, plus his favorite cousin George. They were all so much fun and expressed how happy they were to see Archie so happy.

Sydney, Emma, and Romona also came with their plus ones.

We just had a good time in the club and to make it even more special, it was the club that we'd met in.

I remembered like it was yesterday how it felt to see Archie from across the room and be instantly attracted to him. Plus I practically grinded on him the whole night.

Archie picked up the Amaryllis that was on the table and put it in my hair, "You're the best friend and lover a partner could ask for."

I knew that he was a little drunk because I was drunk. It was hard to deny free shots. But I also knew that Archie was a man of his word no matter what state he was in.

"Partner? Not a boyfriend?" I questioned Archie

He gave me a smile, "To call you my girlfriend would almost be demeaning in some ways. You mean way more to me than a word that children are using."

It's easy to be someone's girlfriend, hell most of us get our first boyfriend/girlfriend in junior high. But a partner was just different. It sounded way more official and real.

I held out my hand and he took it.

I just wanted to feel him.

Not even in a sexual way.

I wanted to hold his hand, hug him, have him cuddle me, all of that. I could stare at him for hours.

"I love it when you look at me like that." Archie beamed, "I can't wait until we're alone in - fuck - I almost let it slip."

"I love you." I squeezed his hand

-

On the morning of December 11th, I woke up in the beautiful city of Paris. A place I'd been wanting to go for the longest and Archie knew that. He had the biggest smile on his face when we landed and I finally got to look out the window.

I could hear the shower running from the bathroom and Archie wasn't in bed. I looked over at the nightstand to see a letter with my name written in cursive.

Alena,

Have you ever thought that for a second - even if it was the slightest one - that you were the youngest person on this planet? That thought blows my mind every year.

You always said your birthdays (minus the sixteenth and twenty-first) have been underwhelming and I wanted to make sure that your twenty-third was not.

There are no words that can describe how I feel about you.

From the moment I got to know you, I knew that we had something special. Since I have been with you, I have just been on cloud nine. You give me feelings that I have not felt since I was eighteen. You truly mean the world to me and the things I would do for you scares me.

I love you so much. I truly mean it when I say it. I love it watching you work when your eyes get really big when you are really into a movie, the way you have a heart of gold, I could go on and on.

Honestly, I'm in love with you.

The way you make me feel is almost indescribable but it is definitely not forgettable. I want to kiss you in a way that makes you never want to kiss anyone else ever again, love you in a way that no one else ever could, and the list goes on and on again.

Thank you for loving me. I know it isn't easy with the press and this whole royal world. I just can't thank you enough for all that you have done.

I hope your twenty third is everything you could imagine.

Happy birthday my love.

Forever yours,

Archibald *a lot of fucking middle names* Clifford

I'd been alive for twenty-three years and never got a letter that made me tear up until now. I loved how it was in his elegant writing from the years of his private tutors making him write over and over again and most of all, how the letter was so truthful.

He made me so so so happy.

I climbed out of the bed and knocked on the bathroom door.

The water turned off, "Darling, it's always unlocked."

I opened the door and Archie was standing there with a towel around his waist.

"I still can't believe you did all of this for me, but the letter Archie," I began as his cheeks turned a shade of red, "For someone the media calls stone-cold, you're such a hopeless romantic."

He let out a small laugh, "I think I used to that of myself too. Then I met you. I actually never thought I could feel like this, but you proved me wrong."

Archie used a towel to dry his hair, "Happy birthday, my love."

He put his hands on my waist and pulled me closer to him. I put my hands on his cheeks.

"Thank you." I looked him in the eyes, "I love you."

Archie gave me a kiss, "Get dressed, I have a full day planned for us."

I got dressed and scrolled through my text messages and Instagram to respond to the birthday wishes.

Archie took me to an amazing place to have breakfast. The view and vibes were amazing. I would forever be in love with European architecture.

After breakfast, we went to The Louvre then to Palais Garnier. Archie was so good with the history of everything, it was extremely impressive. I loved walking down Champs-Élysées plus the stores weren't too shabby either.

I treated myself to some new clothes and Archie and I were that couple that got matching Adidas tracksuits.

We made it back to the hotel at around five in the evening to get ready for dinner. My whole family called to wish me a happy birthday and it was nice to hear their voice. I couldn't wait to see them for Christmas.

"Do you want your presents now or over dinner?" Archie plopped down on the bed as I put my heels on, "Well one, I'm saving for dinner. Now that I'm thinking this through, I think you should open one now."

I let out a small laugh, "Ok."

He walked over to the closet and pulled out a Chanel bag.

"Shut up." my jaw dropped

He put the bag on the bed and walked over to the closet and got two different sized boxes that were covered in pink wrapping paper.

"These are for dinner the Chanel is for now." Archie sat next to me

I pulled out the Chanel box and opened it to reveal my dream bag that I wanted since I was a little girl. A black classic flap bag with gold hardware.

"How did you know?" I asked him in shock, "You're not the person I normally talk about my dream handbags to."

"I know but luckily you have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to what you want and I asked Peyton." Archie answered my question

I kissed his cheek, "I can't believe you. I love it so much, thank you, Archie."

"No problem, let's go before we miss our reservation." he gave me a smile

We put on our coats and headed to a restaurant that was a Parisian steakhouse. I loved the restaurant the picked out it was very classic and intimate.

Plus the steak was amazing.

"Ok, the first gift." he walked around to my side and put the medium-sized box in my lap. I opened the box to see a book with an A written on the front.

I flipped opened the front page to see a picture of the club we met at then it was then his party. It kept going on and on and as time went by more pictures of us appeared.

"It's going to be the story of us, kind of like a scrapbook. I put all of the big moments up to this point." he explained to me as I flipped through, "Plus every page has an affirmation at the bottom."

I looked up at him with the biggest smile on my face, "You are the most thoughtful person I know. I swear this is the best birthday ever."

He handed me the other small present, "It's not over yet."

I kept looking at him, "You're really spoiling me."

"Open it." Archie beamed

I unwrapped the present to see a small velvet box. When I opened it there was a gold ring that had diamonds on the inside.

"I know you like jewelry and the necklace doesn't go with everything so I decided to get you that. Look on the inside." he instructed me. On the inside, there was 'A²'. "For Archie and Amaryllis and Alena."

I love this man. I'm in love with this man.

"Archie." my eyes watered up. He took the ring and slipped it on my right ring finger. I wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you so much. I love you, Archie."

"Happy birthday, love." he whispered into my ear

He eventually made his way back to his seat.

We both held up our wine glasses.

"To us." I offered a toast

"And to many more birthdays together." Archie added before we clinked our glasses