Forever Yours

CHAPTER 14

It's just lingerie!

Emily and Henry were cozied up on her bed, watching Fast and Furious 5 on her laptop. The movie had just ended, and Emily stretched lazily, her eyes still glued to the screen's closing credits.

"Where's somewhere you've always wanted to travel to?" Henry asked, breaking the comfortable silence. He glanced at her, curious to hear her answer.

Emily thought for a moment, then smiled. "I've always wanted to visit Italy. Rome, specifically. There's just something about the history there that fascinates me. What about you?"

Henry leaned back against the headboard, shrugging. "Anywhere with good company sounds like a good destination to me." He flashed her a grin that made her heart flutter. "But speaking of travel... I was wondering—" he hesitated, scratching the back of his neck nervously, "Would you be interested in coming on a trip with my family?"

Emily's face lit up immediately. "Seriously?" she asked, excitement bubbling inside her. She loved how Henry always asked for her input, never making decisions without considering her first. "Of course! Where are we going?"

Henry hesitated again, this time looking a bit sheepish. "Uh... Paris."

"Wait—what? Paris?" Emily gasped, her eyes wide in disbelief. "How... I mean, how did you afford tickets for everyone? Especially mine?"

Henry chuckled at her reaction. "You know I'm not a big spender. I've been saving up for a long time. I always wanted to do something special for my family, and now I get to share that with you too." His expression softened as he looked at her, sincerity shining in his eyes. "Plus, I think this trip will help you bond with them even more."

Emily was at a loss for words. The thought of Paris—the city of love—overwhelmed her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she imagined strolling through the romantic streets, hand in hand with Henry. "Henry, you really—oh my god." She couldn't help but tear up from how thoughtful he was. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

Henry smiled into her hair, holding her close. "I'm glad you're excited. I want this trip to be something unforgettable for both of us."

After a few moments of embracing, Emily pulled back slightly, wiping away a stray tear. "Wait a minute... my work! How long is this trip? I need to plan my leave."

Henry chuckled softly. "One week. And don't worry about your job... I may or may not have a connection."

Emily's brow furrowed, confused. "What do you mean?"

Henry scratched his neck again, looking a little embarrassed. "Your boss—George? We were classmates back in the day. He actually owes me a favor."

Emily's eyes widened even further. "Wait—George? How do you even—why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"It didn't come up until recently," Henry explained. "We ran into each other at the garage. He gave me his business card, and that's when I realized he was your boss." He quickly added, "But if you don't want me to interfere, you can still use your annual leave. I don't want you to feel like I'm controlling anything. I just... really want you there with me."

Emily's heart swelled at his words. Henry always knew how to balance his care without making her feel pressured. She leaned in, kissed him softly, and they ended up making out for a little while, Henry being the gentleman he always was, not rushing or pushing her into anything more.

As they pulled apart, Emily's face burned with nervous excitement at the thought of being alone with him in the city of love.

The night before their flight, Emily's room looked like a war zone of clothes. Her suitcase lay open on the bed, half-packed, while she sat on the floor, staring at the mess, feeling completely overwhelmed. How do you even pack for Paris?

A knock at the door broke her thoughts, and Henry's head peeked in. "You good in there?" he asked, grinning as he took in the sight of her chaotic room.

"No," Emily groaned. "I have no idea what to pack! Do I pack for cold weather? Warm weather? Casual? Fancy? I'm totally overthinking this."

Henry stepped inside and surveyed the scene. "You're definitely overthinking it," he said with a chuckle. "Come on, let me help."

Emily looked up at him, relief washing over her. "Thank you. I really don't know what I'm doing."

"Relax," Henry said, rolling up his sleeves. "It's just a trip. We'll figure it out together." He started pulling clothes from her closet. "You'll need something casual for the daytime and maybe something nice for dinners. Paris is all about fashion, but you don't have to stress. Just enjoy yourself."

He held up a simple, elegant dress. "This one's perfect. You'll look amazing."

Emily smiled. "You think so?"

"I know so," he replied with a wink, tossing it onto the bed. "Now, let's get the rest of your outfits sorted."

They continued packing, joking and teasing each other as the suitcase slowly began to fill. But when Henry reached into a drawer to grab another set of clothes, his hand landed on something soft and lacy. His eyes widened as he realized he'd just touched a set of lingerie.

He froze, his face turning bright red. "Uh—uh—wow, I didn't mean to—" Henry stammered, quickly tossing it back like it was on fire.

Emily burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. His flustered reaction was priceless. "Henry!" she teased, still giggling. "It's just lingerie."

Henry rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks still flaming. "Yeah, I know... but I wasn't expecting to run into that while helping you pack." He looked so embarrassed that Emily couldn't stop laughing.

"You're adorable," she teased, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Relax, it's not a big deal."

Henry sighed, still embarrassed but starting to laugh at himself. "I'll just... stick to packing the safe stuff, okay?"

Emily giggled. "Good plan. Now, let's finish this before I make you blush even more."

As they finished packing, Emily's phone buzzed. It was a message from Trisha: Have you done packing? I can't wait?! "

Emily smiled as she replied, "More like I'm panicking.. but your brother is a great help!"

"Don't worry too much!" Trisha's supportive words made Emily's heart swell.

"You ready for this?" Henry asked, closing the suitcase with a satisfied grin.

Emily nodded, her excitement now bubbling over. "More than ready. Paris, here we come!"

Henry pulled her into a tight hug, kissing her forehead. "I can't wait to show you the city."

Emily's heart raced as she imagined what awaited them—the sights, the experiences, and most of all, the time they'd share together in the city of love.