Page 15 of What if I Told You

ELLA

“Auggieeeeee!” I squeal as I run toward him after stepping off the escalator. I swing my backpack off my shoulder and drop it on the ground before leaping into my best friend’s arms. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck in a hug so tight I worry I might squeeze the air right out of him.

But judging from the grip his strong arms have on me right now, I’m guessing that’s not going to happen. God, he feels good.

Like comfort.

And happy.

And everything is right in the world.

“Hey babe,” he murmurs into my ear as I bury my face in the crook of his neck. Hugging Auggie has always been one of my very favorite things. The number of bad days I had growing up that ended with me rushing to his house for a comforting hug were more than I can count. He’s always been my source of happiness. My emotional support. My safe place.

A light chuckle rises from his chest. “Ella?”

“Hmm?”

“Did you eat a cinnamon roll on your flight?”

Shit.

How does he always know?

I finally release him and he lowers me until my feet touch the floor. With a cautious wince, I nod. “One before my first flight, one during my layover, and cinnamon roll bites on this last flight.”

His brows peak and he chuckles again with a grin. “Shit, Ella. Do I make you that nervous?”

I’m crazy, I know.

I like to eat cinnamon rolls when I’m nervous.

It’s a habit now.

I can’t help it.

“Not exactly. I mean flying makes me nervous too but…” She shrugs. “I haven’t seen you in over two years, Auggie. What if you took one look at me and decided your offer was a terrible mistake? What if we no longer have anything in common whatsoever? What if you don’t want me here but you were just trying to be nice in offering me your place to live? Also, damn.” I place my palms on his chest. “How the hell did you somehow get even bigger and harder than the last time I saw you? Are they force-feeding you protein powders everywhere? Sneaking it into your swole juice or something?”

He laughs, circling my wrists with his hands, which surprisingly also feel bigger and stronger. “They’re feeding me just fine, babe. It’s my job to stay fit. Plus we’ve been in preseason workouts.” Still holding my hands, he steps back so he can get a better look at me. “And you look great too. This is a great look for you,” he says, nodding to my leggings and crop top. “I half expected you to come down the steps in your pink sweatpants and Jonas Brothers t-shirt. And also,” he tugs on the zippered hoodie I’m wearing that just happens to be his old hockey sweatshirt from freshman year of college, “where the hell did you find this?”

“It’s been in my closet for years, remember? You leant it to me that one night after that concert on the quad when that drunk asshole spilled his beer all over me. I tried to return it to you but you told me to keep it…so I did. Now it’s just become one of my comfort pieces. When I’m missing you, I just throw it on and pretend it’s you.”

He smiles with a shake of his head and pulls me back into his chest, wrapping his arms around me again. “Well, you won’t have to pretend it’s me anymore because I’ll be right by your side. You’re here now. Right where you should be. And for the record, there is zero chance in hell I would ever turn you away or not want you here, alright? If I didn’t want you here, I wouldn’t have offered in the first place and you’d still be living in Indigo Bay.”

“Okay.” I sigh, allowing myself to breathe him in.

August Blackstone.

My person.

“I believe you.”

“Good,” he says. “Because I’m really fucking glad you’re here. Now let’s go get your luggage.”

“Seriously,what do they put in the water out here?” I take another glorious bite of the pepperoni pizza August bought for dinner. “This has to be the best pizza I’ve ever eaten.”

“Mmm.” August shakes his head as he swallows his bite. “That’s because you haven’t been to Chicago. Wait till we play the Red Tails this year. I’ll take you out for the real deal. Chicago has the best deep-dish pizza in the world as far as I’m concerned.”

“Yeah?”

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