Page 118 of What if I Told You

“For what it’s worth though, August, I heard her say to Furbling that she chooses you. And that even if and when you hate her guts, she’ll still choose you. Because she loves you that much.”

My chest tightens, my cheeks burn, and I drop my trembling chin to my chest. “I don’t fucking deserve her,” I say, pressing a palm over my lips to keep from crying.

“You do deserve her, August,” Scarlett tells me with a sympathetic smile. “She’s your person. She’s always been your person and from the sounds of things, no matter what has happened or will happen in the future, she’ll always be your person. You just have to talk to her.”

“How? What could I possibly say that would fix everything I said to her last night. I called her a whore, Scarlett,” I say, shaking my head. “I said so many fucking terrible things to her. There’s no way she should forgive me for that.”

Scarlett shrugs. “Maybe she shouldn’t. You’re right.”

I raise my eyes to meet hers because that was not what I expected to hear. “But that’s the difference between most women and the one you are in love with. Ella Montgomery is not most women. She loves you with her whole heart and I have a feeling a simple sincere apology would be an excellent start.”

“Do you really think that?”

She nods. “Yeah. I do. I really have no doubt that she’ll forgive you, August. So maybe an apology followed by something that would make her happy. A nice gesture. Anything. Is there something that comes to mind?”

I have no idea why the universe chooses this moment to toss a thought inside my head but a memory of a conversation we had before she ever moved here comes to mind. I nod to Scarlett and sit up a little more hopefully.

“Actually, yeah.”

I spring up from the couch. “I need my keys. Who has my keys.”

Harrison leans back over Griffin’s kitchen counter and grabs my keys, tossing them to me.

“Thanks. Do you have my phone too?”

“Yep. Right here,” he says, pulling it from his jeans pocket.

“Thanks. I’ve got to go. I’ll touch base later.”

“Wait!” Griffin calls. “Where the hell are you going?”

I pull his apartment door open and turn back. “I have something I need to do. Scarlett, thank you. And thank you guys. I’ll figure out my shit, I promise. But Ella comes first.”

Bear gives me a smile—a genuine smile—and gestures with his chin. “Get out of here. And keep us posted.”

I’m walking out the door when I hear Ledger shout, “Might want to change your clothes!”

“No time!” I call back with a smile on my face. I break out into a run until I reach the elevator. I’m hyper aware that I could simply walk to my building right next door and maybe find Ella, but I have to make a stop somewhere first so I make a beeline for the parking garage.

Driving down the streets of Anaheim, my phone rings and I press a button on my steering wheel to answer it.

"Blackstone."

"August Blackstone, what the ever-loving fuck did you do to my best friend?”

My brows furrow for a moment and then I see the name on the screen. “Paige?”

“Yeah, it’s Paige. Listen, I just got off facetime with Ella and she’s a hot mess. Do you know what she’s doing right now?”

“Is she home?”

“That depends, asshat! Does she even have a home?”

“What?” I ask with a scowl. “What’s the supposed to mean?”

“You told you her you never wanted to see her again. Do you really think she’s going to stay in your apartment when you want nothing to do with her? How could you be so fucking cruel? She’s not a fucking whore, you bitch-ass little prick. She’s fucking ELLA! Your best friend and?—”

“Paige! I know alright? I fucking know! And to answer your question, yes! Yes, Ella has a home. And that place is with me. I’m trying to fix this, alright? I don’t blame her one bit for being mad and I wouldn’t blame her if she doesn’t forgive me but I have to try and I’m trying. I’ve got one stop to make and then I’m going home to her. I want to work this out. I need her to forgive me so I can fix this.”

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