The Perfect Hold

Chapter Two

The café bustled with the comforting noise of conversations, clinking cutlery, and the hum of life just outside the windows. Celeste sat with her group of friends, the lively chatter around her a stark contrast to the thoughts swirling in her mind. Yasmin was talking animatedly to Xavier about something, while Mark and his boyfriend Rafael shared a quiet laugh across the table.

Celeste smiled at their banter, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation she needed to have with them. The move. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about it since Silas brought it up—how quickly things were happening.

Taking a breath, she leaned forward, her voice louder than intended, cutting through the laughter. "So... I've got news."

The table quieted as all eyes turned toward her, curious and expectant. Celeste hesitated, feeling the weight of their attention, then pressed on. "Silas and I... we're moving. To the countryside."

Yas was the first to react, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Moving? Already?" She set her coffee cup down, her gaze narrowing slightly. "But you've only just settled in London. It's barely been two months!"

Celeste nodded quickly, anticipating their reactions. "I know, I know. It's not permanent or anything. We're moving to Beaulieu, in the New Forest. It's only about a two-hour drive from here."

"Beaulieu?" Liv echoed, her eyes widening slightly. "That's... well, that's pretty rural, isn't it?"

"It's beautiful, though," Celeste offered, trying to sound more certain than she felt. "Silas has been offered a remote position, and he thinks it'll be a good chance for us to reset. You know, get away from the city for a bit."

Xavier leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression a mix of amusement and surprise. "Reset? You've only just started your life here."

"Yeah, love," Yas added, her tone softer now. "You've been in London for, what, eight weeks? Are you sure you're ready to leave already?"

Celeste glanced down at her coffee, her fingers tracing the rim of the cup. "It's just for a while," she repeated, more to herself than to them. "Silas thinks it'll be good for us to be somewhere quiet. I'm not sure how long we'll be there, but we'll be back."

There was a pause, then Mark, ever the diplomat, leaned forward with a smile. "Well, it sounds lovely, really. You'll have peace and quiet... space to breathe."

"And it's close enough," Liv chimed in. "You could always come into the city for a weekend or something. It's not like you're moving to the other side of the country."

Rafael nodded, his French accent making the words sound even more thoughtful. "Exactly. Sometimes, getting away for a little while can help clear your mind. You've been through a lot with the move and settling in... maybe the countryside will give you some perspective."

Celeste felt a small wave of relief at their reactions, but the unease in her chest didn't quite dissipate. She appreciated their support, but the idea of leaving London, leaving this life she had just started to build, felt heavier than she wanted to admit.

Yas tilted her head, a curious smile on her lips. "And Silas is all for this move, huh? What's his plan to whisk you away to some fairy-tale cottage and live the quiet life?"

Celeste smiled at that, the image of Silas immediately filling her mind—his tall, commanding frame, those glistening green eyes, and that ever-present soft smile that always made her feel both cherished and watched. "Something like that," she replied softly. "He wants us to spend more time together... just the two of us."