Page 189 of Come Break My Heart Again

Her honesty is what I always want, but I still wince. She’s right. Technically, we had our first date about seven weeks ago.

Elle notices. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I asked.”

“I also used to practice writingElodie Jamesin all of my high school notebooks. I’ve got four years’ worth of a fake signature.”

I smile. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Her hands slide up to the back of my neck, tracing circles there. “With lots of flourishes.”

She’s not drawing circles, I realize. She’s writing it on my skin.

“I thought this would be us,” she whispers. “Before everything happened … it felt inevitable. I love Keira, and I’m so happy for her, but …” She lifts a shoulder, then lets it drop.

“It felt inevitable to me too,” I tell her. “I didn’t believe in much. But I believed in us.”

Her hands pause. “Do you still?”

“More than ever,” I reply, hoping she can hear the sincerity in the words.

“Then, you should ask me.”

“I’m going to.”

“When?”

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out.”

Elle pouts. “No fair.”

“Well, I’m the one asking the question. That’s the scary part.”

“Not when you already know my answer.”

“Don’t spoil it,” I say. “Keep me on my toes.”

“That’s a good idea,” Elle says, pressing closer against me. Her hands leave my neck and run down my back as her breasts rub against my chest.

“Lo …” I groan.

“What?”

“You know what.”

“People have sex at weddings all the time, Ry,” she tells me. “It’s a great place to meet single people.”

“That’s great.” I tighten my grip on her hips. “You’re not single.”

Her giggle makes me smile and my slacks even more uncomfortable.

She whispers, “Prove it,” and I know I will.

Because there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this girl.

39

As soon as I step out of the conference room, my phone buzzes with an incoming call.

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