Page 21 of Finally a Bride: Best Friend's Brother

And I went of the pill months ago due to some spotting issues.

“McCabe?”

“Uh, huh.” He nuzzles into my neck.

“I… I’m not on the pill.”

He stills. “Oh… I’m sorry, baby.”

“I’m not.”

“What?”

“I’ll never be sorry for being with you.”

“Your bad boy.”

I laugh. “But you’re also a good boy.”

He lifts his head. “That makes me sound like a golden retriever.”

“I don’t think I’ll get pregnant, but I don’t want to ever lie to you.”

“And I won’t lie to you.”

He pulls out and I miss him. He rolls out of bed and goes into his half-bath of his bedroom and comes back with a washcloth to clean me up.

I slip back into my clothes and under the covers, I roll into his warm body. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Doing exactly as I asked. I felt… respected and like my needs mattered.”

“Do you think that’s why you’ve always been the bridesmaid?”

“What do you mean?”

“That you put everyone ahead of you. That you recognize their needs before yours.”

I bite my lip. It’s hard to admit that I was scared to put myself out there and after seeing Mallory today, it’s almost justification, but I need to stop being scared.

“I’ve wanted you since I was a teenager, McCabe. Maybe a little before that. I crushed on you so hard and now I know that I was right. You’re amazing.”

The only answer I get is a snore.

I’ve always loved you.

And you’re leaving…

EIGHT

McCabe

I roll over and the other side of the bed is cold. I sit up and look to the bathroom and see the door closed. I lay back in the bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I wait and wait some more, but Ella never appears.

“Ella?” I call out to nothing. “Ella?”

But nothing.

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