Page 58 of Blindside Love

“Okay, yes. He saw my studio. I actually showed him my art the next morning.”

“He slept over?”

“I don’t think we slept, but yes, he was over until the morning,” I smirk, gladly opening Pandora’s box as she squeals with excitement that I finally fucked someone besides Tom.

“Tell. Me. Everything,” Natalie says, ordering another round of margaritas to celebrate.

We spent the next hour going over every single detail, Natalie squealing anytime I told her something exciting. She knows how incredible that night was for me because, for the first time, I felt heard. I felt understood, and even though he obliged and pulled my hair and tossed me around, I still felt cherished.

It isn’t until I’m home, climbing into my bed, that I realize Natalie was right about something else tonight.

“You realize you like him, right? Like more than just his cock. I haven’t seen you smile like this in ages. I love it.”

At the time, I shrugged her off, telling her that we agreed it was a one-time thing. But when she sent me the picture we took tonight, and I could see myself glowing, my eyes bright with happiness, nothing fake about my smile, I knew she was right.

I am happier, and it’s because of him.

Chapter 21

Trevor

Iam not a planner—never have been, never will be. It’s just not my thing. But the Trevor of last week thought it would be a great idea to plan an entire day for Ellie’s birthday, and of course, I wanted to make it a surprise, which only made it that much more stressful since I couldn’t get her input.

But I had to do something. It’s her birthday, and the only thing I wanted was to make her feel special. Make sure she knows she’s important to someone. She made it very clear that Tom never did anything for her birthday, not even at the beginning of their relationship. I mean, unless you count his assistant sending her a card, although he even managed to fuck that up and always sent them on the wrong day. When she told me that last little bit, I wanted to go find him and put my fist through his face.

Growing up, my parents always made a big deal about our birthdays, so they’ve always been important to me. I love celebrating those I care about. Although even I can admit that today is a little above and beyond what I’d do for Rex. I mean, yeah, we go out for wings and beer to celebrate, but I’m not usually planning full days for him.

I started her day by having twenty-seven long-stemmed, bubblegum pink roses delivered this morning. That’s something special just for Ellie. I’ve never been this guy, but for her, it just comes naturally. Secretly, I’m loving it, and it’s all because of her and that smile she gets over the littlest things.

She’s all I’ve been able to think about lately, and not just because I like it when she touches my cock. I mean, of course, I like the way she does that, but that’s just fucking obvious. It’s more than that, though. She’s the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about as I close my eyes… and pretty much every waking moment in between.

I like her. I’ve been trying to deny it, needing her to come to peace with the fact that there’s actually something between us before I made my move, but it’s becoming unbearable not touching her.

But that’s not what today is about. Today is about Ellie and making her feel like a birthday princess, which is why I’m standing in the lobby, waiting like an idiot for her to come meet me because walking the two steps from my apartment to knock on her door felt way too casual.

Now, I have my car parked in valet waiting for us so I can take her around the city. It seems like a date, and it feels like a date, but I can’t call it a date, or I might freak her out. She’s not there yet and I respect that.

She’s gone through a lot with her ex—she still is, and it’s not my job or my right to tell her how long it takes to heal. All I can do is hope that when she’s ready to take that step, she’s willing to do it with me.

Her freshly dyed pink hair is the first thing I notice as she steps out of the elevator. Her bare legs, which are barely covered by a short black dress and matching thigh-high boots, are a very close second.

Holy shit. She looks fucking incredible.

Remind me again why I can’t touch her. Pick her up and carry her back up to my apartment. All I can imagine are those boots wrapping around my head.

She pauses as she steps off the elevator, looking around, her whole face lighting up when she finds me waiting. As she makes her way over, her long strides making quick work of the distance, and lord help me, she looks fucking smoking hot, a black leather jacket finishing off her look.

She’s a total fucking MILF, and I love it.

“Happy birthday, kitten,” I say, opening my arms once she reaches me. She leans into my hug without pause, pressing her cheek against my chest as her arms wrap around me.

“Thank you, Trev,” she says, looking up at me with stars in her eyes while we hug in the middle of the lobby, ignoring everyone else around us. It’s like we’re in our own little world, just the two of us, where nothing else matters except what we are doing. “You know you don’t have to do this, right? It’s just a birthday.”

I press one finger to her lips, shushing her. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she manages to hold in her giggle—barely. “I’m doing this because I want to. Because I believe you deserve to be celebrated, and I feel lucky that I get to spend it with you. Besides, making you smile is easily one of my favorite pastimes.”

“You’re only saying that because you want to get into my pants,” she murmurs. “Why are you so good to me?”

“Because you deserve it. You moving in next to me has been one of the best things to happen to me in a long time, and before you even say it, no, it’s not just because you let me get in your pants. I mean—you did score some friendship points for that one.” I wink, hoping I’m not crossing whatever invisible boundaries she’s set up for us. It’s hard to navigate her at times, as she slips between fighting the tension between us and giving in.

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