One Year To Forever

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"No, you can't force her, but you can fight for her."

My grandfather's blue eyes stare into my matching ones.

"And if you truly love her,"

"I do." I cut into his sentence.

"Then you'll work for her love until you've earned it."

"I should go to London, tell her, and ask her to come home." I think out loud.

"Why are you still standing here then?" He looks away from me to pull out his phone. "I'm already calling

Tim."

Before he even gets Tim on the phone, I'm rushing out the penthouse door.

"Mr. Hayes?" Daniel answers his phone on the second ring.

"Daniel, pull the car around the building. We're going to the airport."

Once Daniel has the car pulled around, I dial a number I've called every other day for the past week.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Her sleepy voice makes me grin instantly. "Sorry, I know it's late."

"Yeah, it's midnight." I hear her shift and her voice becomes slightly panicked. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, were all good. I guess I just miss... Simba." I want to beat my head against the cars window. I

miss her. I mean I miss the Simba too but not nearly as much as I miss Paisley. Why can't I just tell her?

She doesn't say anything at first but then she responds. "He misses you too." I hear her yawn. "I better

go to bed. I'll talk to you later? I have something I was excited to tell you."

"Sure," I don't tell her it will be sooner than she thinks and in person. "Get some rest."

"Goodnight."

"Sleep night." The call clicks to a close. I take a moment to stare at my phone screen. There's a photo of Paisley and I laughing at my grandmother's birthday dinner last month. My eyes are on her as her hand

holds my tie and she laughs into my chest. We were both laughing at something Hailey said.

I didn't even notice the car had stopped until Daniel calls me. "We're here."

"Thanks Daniel." I lean forward and clap him on the shoulder. "I'll keep you updated."

"Give Miss. Paisley my best wishes."

Getting out of the car is see Tim, our family's pilot, waiting for me.

"London, England." I call, sprinting up the air stairs.

"Yes, Mr. Hayes."

The twenty hour flight to London gave me a lot of time to think. Paisley isn't the type of woman who likes

expensive gifts. So, flowers it is.

"The nearest flower shop please." I tell the taxi driver. "Actually, no, the best one here in London."

Twenty minutes later were pulling into the parking lot of a small shop.

"This is the best?"

"Mate, this is the best shop in London."

"I'll give you an extra hundred if you keep the car running." I tell him shoving the car door open.

He chuckles. "You got it."

Walking towards the register, I ring the small silver bell three times.

"Hang on you galah!" A short old woman come out from behind curtains.

"What can I get for ya son?"

"I need a bouquet of lavender peonies." I tell her, looking at the different assortments of flowers.

She simply nods and walks back behind the curtain. A second later she comes out with a bouquet of a

dozen peonies.

"How does this work? It's twenty-five dollars."

"Perfect." I take the bouquet and hand her a fifty in pounds. "Keep the change." I shout over

my shoulder, bustling out the door.

"Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel." I tell the taxi driver. "Hurry please." The longer it takes to get to Paisley, the

more anxious and uncertain I become.

After a short drive the car stops. "The Radisson Blu." The driver tells me.

"Thanks." I grab the flowers and hand him a few hundred dollars. "I'll give you more if you stay here and wait."

He looks at the cash wide-eyed and grins. "That's no problem."

"Great." I head inside the hotel and walk towards the elevator.

Surprise her with flowers, inviter her to dinner, tell her I love her. It's a simple plan.

"679." I mutter, pressing the button for the sixth floor. "679. 679. 679." I continue repeating until I'm

standing in front of the door with those exact numbers.

I take one deep, calming breath and straighten my suit jacket. I can't stop the grin that comes to my face

when I hear Paisley laughing inside the hotel room. She be watching something funny. Maybe reading,

she always had her nose in a book.

My knock on the door causes her laughter to stop. After a moment of silence, footsteps make their way to the door.

I see the door-knob start to twist and everything goes into slow motion. First, I'm hit with the peppermint scent she's determined to wear year-round. Next, I see Simba sitting on his cat tree next to the door.

Finally, I notice a shirtless a*s standing in the doorway. What the f**k?

"Um," I look at the door behind me. Maybe she's in 680... "I think I have the wrong door."

"Well, are you looking for Paisley?"

"Yeah..."

"Then you've got the right room." He glances at the flowers. "Who are you?"

"I'm Sebastian." My stomach churns and my hands tighten around the flower stems. "Who are you?"

"Sebastian?" His brows furrow. "Oh, the fake husband, right.. I'm Toby, Paisley's boyfriend."

Boyfriend... She's only been gone a week... I look him up and down, assessing what he has that I don't.

He looks like he works out but not as much as I do. His hair is a lot darker than mine... Does Paisley prefer dark hair? Maybe it's the accent. Chicks dig guys with accents.

"Can I talk to Paisley?" I ask the guy standing up straighter.

"Um," He grins and rubs his chin. "She's a bit busy."

"Here's the thing." I push past him and into the room. "I'm not exactly asking. I want to talk to my wife."

"Sebastian." Paisley's shocked voice comes from behind me and I spin around. She's standing there in nothing but the t-shirt the d**k behind me should be wearing. "What are you doing here?"

"I came here for you." I say, feeling my blood start to boil the more I look at her. "I'm in love with you." I probably could have told her that a bit more subtly.

Her eyes widen and a shocked look crosses her face. "Sebastian..."

"Paisley," I reach out for her but she steps closer to the d**k by the door. "I love you."

"I- I don't... Sebastian, I don't love you." The a*s' arm wraps around her and she grins. "I love-"

"Oy, mate!" Paisley's grinning face fades and suddenly I'm back outside the hotel room.

"What?" I blink rapidly, trying to figure out why this guy is standing here without his shirt. Where the f**k is his shirt?!

"I asked who you're looking for?" The shirtless man repeats, glancing at the flowers in my hand.

"Um."

"Toby, what's taking so long?" Paisley's voice calls.

"I'm definitely at the wrong hotel room." I lie, and i***t starts laughing.

"Happens to the best of us mate."

"Toby, who are you talking to?" Paisley calls again.

"Some tall poppy is at the wrong room. Chill, you yobbo." He calls behind him and grins. "Two minutes

and she's got her knickers in a twist."

"Yeah," I force myself to chuckle. "Better get back to your lady."

"Alright, mate, take care."