“Of course it’s your business. That is, if you want to be in a relationship with me again after I fucked up so supremely. All I want is to know is why you really ran. Ellie, you’re so much more than I could have ever dreamed of deserving. After the shit I pulled, I wouldn’t be surprised if you made me work for it, but if you still want me, if you still want this, I will work for it with my every breath. I should have told you I didn’t want you to leave. I should have said a lot of things to make you stay, but I didn’t want you to feel like you had to. I didn’t want you to feel like I was your only choice.”
“I don’t fit in your world, though. I’m just Elia.” My words are so soft that a passing siren could carry them away. There is something so intimate about bearing your insecurities to someone. My heart slams against my ribcage, rattling within me. I can barely meet his eyes, expecting there to be pity written on his face. When I do finally look up from the counter, all I see is love in his eyes. Love and anger and a touch of determination. The muscle on his jaw ticks as he grinds his teeth, and I have to wonder how they’re not just ground to dust after this morning. Looking at his face now gives me hope.
“I swear to God, I’m going to kill this motherfucker for everything he put you through. You’re everything to me. This apartment, my job, it all means nothing without you. I told you, there is no circumstance in which I wouldn’t want you. I will love you until the earth is ash. I will never stop loving you or wanting you. I’m not going to give you another reason to doubt me, to doubt us.” He reaches out and takes my elbows, pulling me to him. His touch is light, trying to be gentle with my feelings as well as with my bruises.
“I will go at whatever speed you want right now but I’m not going away. You’re safe here and you’re welcome as long as you want to stay, even if you don’t want to be with me.”
I swallow hard. “I do want to stay with you, to be with you.” I give him a tender kiss on his hands. “So, if you didn’t hit him, how did this happen?” I ask, holding up his hands.
“I went to your place to get your things. The asshole was still passed out on your couch. He had no idea you were even gone. I may have punched the door frame and he woke up. He told me I had no right to be there and I told him he could report me to my friend, who’s a cop. I offered to make the call for him. I reminded him that I’m wealthy enough to make any problem disappear, including people.”
“I wish I could have seen his face.” I laugh.
Charlie kisses my forehead. “I can neither confirm nor deny that he pissed himself.” He pauses and smirks. “Who am I kidding? I absolutely am confirming that.”
We walk back out to our guests, who are still chatting.
“I’m happy to play intermediary between you and Jack so you can get some stuff,” Charlie says to Vivian. He sits on the couch and pulls me onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck and nestle into his embrace, already comforted just by being with him.
“You spoke with him?” Vivian asks, looking up. She is holding her champagne glass so tightly that I’m afraid she might break it.
“I did. I told him it would be best if he started to look for another job. I did actually go for a walk, by the way,” he reassures us. We’ve all been wronged by Jack in ways that will leave a lasting mark.
“Before or after you beat the shit out of this guy?” Ainsley asks, pouring a fresh mimosa for Charlie.
“That is slander. I have two lawyers in the room; can’t one of you provide a legal defense?” Charlie’s hands are clasped at my hip, tugging me close every so often to remind himself that I’m here.
“Pass. I’m a mediator and she’s a litigator. We don’t do criminal law.” Ainsley sets her empty glass on the table, her eyes playful. “Let’s go,” she says, holding her hand out to Vivian, who takes it and stands.
“Where are you going to stay?” I ask, my heart hurting for Viv. “Charlie has the guest room if you need.”
“Wehave a guest room. For as long as you need,” Charlie amends, tugging me closer.
“She’s actually going to crash with me,” Ainsley says, and Vivian nods. “I have an empty guest room with her name on it.”
I wish that Jack hadn’t pitted me and Ainsley against each other all this time. I think I would have really liked her and it would have prevented so many problems. But I’m glad I have the chance to get to know her now.
“Let’s go get boozy,” she says, just to Vivian. “I have a case of prosecco waiting for us.”
I stand and hug Vivian tightly. “I’m so sorry about Jack.” For all his faults, I didn’t intend to break them up.
“It’s for the best,” Vivian says, obviously trying to make herself feel better. I can tell this is going to take some time. This is the second fiancé she won’t be making it down the aisle with.
“Honestly, you saved me from needing a divorce lawyer,” she says with a thin smile.
“NowthatI could have helped with,” Ainsley volunteers as they pull on their jackets.
I hug Vivian again. “I love you,” I tell her, my voice stern.
Vivian bites her lip, tears springing to her eyes. She spent the day comforting me when her heart was broken. I don’t know what I did to deserve such a friend.
Charlie and I spend the rest of the day in bed, just cuddling and playing with the kittens. His hand never strays far from me, needing reassurance that I am not going anywhere. All day, his fingers trail along my arms and legs, stroking me just to have skin to skin contact. His phone rings and his eyes darken when he sees his dad’s name on the screen. He sends it to voicemail, sitting up and looking at me.
“Before I answer that call, I need an explanation. What was the offer from my father that Jack was talking about?”
I sit up, crushing the kittens’ crinkle ball in my hand, not looking at him at first. When I do, his eyes are patient, but hard, expecting the worst.
“Your father offered me a blank check to get out of your life. This was, oh, about a week before the gala. We just never had a chance to talk about it. I never would have taken it. But I had his words already echoing in my head when I overheard your argument about losing Ainsley’s family as investors. Then Bryan showed up and it felt like a sign. Like, I just didn’t belong in your life. My insecurities took hold.”