Page 64 of Love You Always

She’s also asking what I’m doing with a hot amazing man who is never going to be my future. I try to ignore her as I brush my teeth. Then, I ignore her some more and slide back in bed with the man I can’t resist.

CHAPTER 31

Archer

Ella’s phone rings,but she ignores it. I tip my head in the direction of her purse. “You want to get that?”

She shakes her head and snuggles into my chest. “Not if it means getting up.”

“I’m not gonna argue with that, princess. You stay right here.” I kiss her temple and tip her chin up so I can claim her lips. She tastes like ripe berries and honey, addicting me with every new time I sink against her mouth. I’ll never get tired of this feeling of her curled against my body.

Her phone rings again, a new chorus of beeps and bells, which sounds more insistent this time. “Someone really wants to reach you.” I bristle at the idea that it’s Callum, even though she’s made it clear they’re finished. I can’t help thinking that if I were him, I’d try harder to get her back. And they haven’t announced their breakup officially, so I don’t think I’m simply paranoid.

She sighs as the phone beeps with a voicemail. “Seems like it, huh?”

Shifting in my arms, she seems resigned to getting the phone, so I reluctantly loosen my grip. My skin feels cold and my chest protests with a hollow ache when she rolls off the bed. She compensates with a waggle of her perfect ass, and my senses settle down, knowing she’ll be back in my arms in a moment.

“So, uh, has Callum reached out at all?” I ask, needing her to spell it out.

She stops moving, phone in hand. “What?”

“He just let it go that easily, the arranged marriage? What about his image and his tour and all that?”

“That’s his problem. He should’ve thought about his image before he slept with his tour manager. And God knows who else?”

I nod and look away.

She sits back on the bed. I feel her hand beneath my chin, guiding me to look at her. “What aren’t you saying?”

A knot of stress in my chest loosens a little bit at her touch, but I’m still wound up. “I guess I wonder…if he hadn’t cheated, would you have broken up with him? In other words, would this pull between us have been convincing enough to make you choose me?”

Her eyes soften and she shakes her head. “I can’t rewrite the past. But I know how I feel, and I’m in love with you. I choose you now. Without question.”

My heart floods with love for her and I tip my face down to kiss her hand. “I choose you too.”

Ella looks down at her phone and her eyes go wide. “It was my lawyer.” She dials without listening to the message. I can hear the phone ringing as she settles into the crook of my arm and tucks her knees against me. “Everything okay?” I whisper.

“I hope so.” She nods as the person on the other end picks up.There’s a lot of “uh-huh” and some excited questions on Ella’s end. “Really?” “Just like that? “When?” “What do I need to do?”

When she hangs up, she rolls over in my arms with a grin that spans her entire face. I get the full effect of America’s sweetheart, all sparkling eyes, pink cheeks, and dimples, only it’s not made for the silver screen. I’m the only lucky son of a bitch in the world with a front-row seat, and it’s in that moment that I realize I don’t want to give it up. I want her for more than something temporary. So much more.

From the gleefully shocked look on her face, I can tell there may be a hiccup in that plan.

“You’re not going to believe it, but I think I’m going to adopt a little girl.” Her face can barely contain the span of her smile, and it floods my heart with warmth to be here with her as she digests the news.

“Tell me.” I brush the strands of hair from her cheek so I can see her face better.

“My lawyer wants me to come to her office in the morning…there’s a baby. I didn’t say anything before because it seemed like such a long shot and I didn’t want to jinx it, but I can’t…I’ve been waiting so long for this.” Her eyes fill and she blinks back the tears, swallowing hard.

“That’s amazing.” I really do mean it, though it feels like the first step in her path away from me. Even if she and Callum are over, there isn’t necessarily room in her future motherhood scenarios for a guy who doesn’t want kids. But I push those thoughts aside. This is too important to her, and I want to be one hundred percent here for her.

“I mean, I guess I didn’t really believe it would happen, which is why I didn’t say anything to you, but I have this friend with a sister who’s an obstetrical nurse.” She goes on to tell me about Tatum’s sister Becca, who let her know about the baby who’d been surrendered to the hospital.

The fact that she didn’t mention it shouldn’t be a big deal. Shejust said she didn’t think it would happen, but it still feels like a blow. Like she’s taking back tiny pieces of herself and her future one moment at a time. And in total, they’ll add up to her leaving and going on with her life without me. Of course she will.

Two months ago, I wouldn’t have cared. We were having fun. I didn’t want more than that. But now…I want more. A lot more. And I see the writing on the wall telling me I can’t have any of it.

“What happens now? I want to hear everything.” I hope she doesn’t notice how my voice cracks on the last word as I try to maintain joy and enthusiasm for what is probably the most exciting news of her life.

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