"Alex, when are we leaving?" I shout, barely containing my excitement. I never thought I’d actually get to travel—it still feels surreal. I dart around the room, stuffing the last of my new clothes into my suitcase, along with makeup palettes, glittering jewelry, skin serums, and a hundred other things Alex surprised me with over the last few weeks. Honestly, I don’t even remember half of what’s in these bags, but I manage to zip them shut without a fight.
I let out a triumphant little laugh. All packed in under an hour. Not bad.
Alex walks in just then, smirking as he watches me admire my packing victory. “Patience, my mate, patience,” he says, the warmth in his voice wrapping around me before his arms do. He presses a lingering kiss to my forehead, grounding me in his embrace before he
