STELLA
Six Months Later
“ A ll of this wedding planning is starting to get stressful,” I admit.
As I lie beside Elio in bed, I can’t help but feel the warmth of his body next to mine. It’s a comfortable heat, reminding me of how lucky I am to have him. My hand rests on his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat steady beneath my fingertips, syncing with my own.
Elio shifts slightly, and I feel his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my back. The tenderness of his touch sends a wave of contentment washing over me, and I revel in this moment of closeness between us. I lean into his touch, feeling completely at ease in his embrace.
“Are you sure that you’re going to get it all done in four months?” He asks his breath warm against my cheek.
I sigh. “I’m not sure.”
“Stella,” he says playfully, brushing a lock of hair from my face, “Do you really need such a big, fancy wedding?”
I frown at the question. “You don’t want to give me a big, fancy wedding?”
“No, no, that’s not what I said,” he says quickly. “I want to give you whatever you want.”
“That’s what I thought, billionaire bully.”
“That nickname of yours could still use some tweaking.” He rolls his eyes. “But, I’m just saying that if the wedding planning is stressing you out more than it’s doing good, you don’t have to do it.”
My heart stops for a second. “You want to call it off?”
“Absolutely not!”
What else could he be saying then? “Oh? Are you suggesting we elope?” The idea surprises me.I’m open to entertaining this unconventional path, especially if it means being with Elio without any unnecessary fuss.
His eyes twinkle mischievously as he nods, confirming my suspicion. “Why not? All we need is each other, right? That’s if it’s what you want, though?”
As I consider his words, I can’t deny the appeal of focusing solely on our love for one another. The thought of escaping the stress of planning a grand event sends a thrill through me, and I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly. “Alright, Mr. Lombardi,” I say playfully, yet with a newfound sense of certainty. “You’ve convinced me. Let’s elope.”
“Really?” His eyes widen with delight, and I can see the relief wash over him.
“Really,” I confirm, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.
Elio leans in, his lips brushing against mine in the softest, most tender kiss we’ve ever shared.
I’ll never get enough of him.
The End