Page 119 of What if I Told You

She scoffs. “She’s going to forgive you, dumbass. Even if you don’t deserve it. She’s going to forgive you because she’s Ella and that’s what she does. She’s freaking female Jesus!”

“I know, Paige. I’m sorry, alright? I was an absolute dick last night. I don’t have a good excuse because I knew better.”

“You should’ve been there for her, August! She’s all alone out there.”

“She’s not alone, Paige. I promise. She has me. She’ll always have me.”

“You better fucking mean that.”

“I do. Look, I have something I have to take care of and then I promise I’m going straight home to Ella.”

“Okay,” she huffs. “The next time I call her she better be smiling.”

God I hope she will be.

I pull into the drive of the building and park my car. Keenly aware that I look like hell walking inside in these ridiculous gray pajama pants and a t-shirt, I smile at the woman at the front desk who asks how she can best help me. Her eyes light up and she smiles at me and says, “Whoa! You’re August Blackstone!”

“I am. So, I’m guessing you’re a hockey fan.”

“Of course! My boyfriend and I have season tickets.” She homes in on my shiner. “Your eye okay? We saw what happened last night.”

“Yeah. I’m good. But that’s kind of why I’m here.”

“Oooh,” she nods her head sympathetically. “Mandated volunteer hours?”

“What? No.” I shake my head. “Though I’m sure those are in my future and I’d be more than happy to fulfill those here if you need help, but I’m actually looking for the perfect gift for Lumin…I mean Ella. The girl, our mascot. She’s my girlfriend. My absolute best friend and I hurt her last night and I really need to apologize to her and I was hoping you might be able to help me with that.

Her smile helps me breathe a little easier. “I would love to! Let’s go have a look.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ELLA

“Studio two-bedroom. Fitness center, pool, washer dryer. Thirty-five hundred.” I cringe. “That’s a little rich for my blood.” Scrolling through a few rental properties in the Anaheim area has been eye opening. I have no idea how much August pays for this place but it has to be upwards of ten to twelve thousand per month given where we are and the amenities included. By all means this isn’t what I wanted to be doing today but I have yet to hear from August and something in my gut is telling me if he hasn’t been in touch yet, there probably isn’t much hope that he’ll come around.

This entire day so far has been spent cuddled in my bed covered in fluffy blankets. I’ve only left my room to go to the kitchen for a drink and a snack and then it’s right back to bed. I’ve taken two naps in between calls with Paige. After chatting with her, I decided maybe I do need to at least look around for a new place to live. So here I am scrolling through my iPad and noting any rentals that seem clean, inexpensive, and are in a safe part of town.

“One bedroom townhouse…no, that’s not a great area.”

Scroll on.

“Three beds, three baths with a balcony. Ugh, not for sixty-eight hundred a month. Do I even make sixty-eight hundred per month?”

Scroll on.

“One bedroom, two floors with pool and balcony for two thousand.” I cock my head reading all the rental details and then click the option to save the listing as a favorite. “Maybe? I don’t know.”

Scroll on.

“One bedroom with walk-in closets…”

I hear the front door open and wonder if it could actually be August.

Do I say hello?

Do I just walk out there?

Should I stay here in my room?

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