Page 29 of The Art of Loving You

I swallowed hard, panic rising in my chest. “Ella, I can handle this. I can handle all of it. I just need to know that you’re with me.”

Her eyes softened briefly before she looked toward the car again, shaking her head slowly. “Lucas,” she said quietly, “what are you really doing here? Where are you going?”

I couldn’t answer for a moment—not because I didn’t know, but because the truth felt like it wouldn’t be enough. LikeIwasn’t enough. Then I thought about what my mom had said:

Starting over doesn’t mean giving up.

I forced a smile. “Like I said before. I’m going to New York. To help with my mom’s gallery. To build something for myself. For us—for you and Bess, if you’ll let me,” I explained.

Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. I held my breath, waiting for her to respond, but she just stared at me, her lips slightly parted.

“Ella,” I said softly, stepping close enough to touch her. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Her gaze locked on mine, and I thought she might say something to ease the ache in my chest. Instead, she stepped back, folding her arms like a shield. “I don’t know if it’s that simple, Lucas.”

“It doesn’t have to be simple,” I replied, closing the distance again. “I’m not asking for easy, Ella. I’m asking for real. For you.”

Her expression wavered, her eyes softening for a second before she shook her head and let out a sign. “This isn’t about what you want. It’s about what’s best for Bess—for both of us.”

The mention of Bess sent a pang through me. I’d thought about her almost as much as I’d thought about Ella these past few days. I wasn’t naïve—I knew Ella’s life revolved around her niece’s well-being. But hearing it aloud, hearing that I might not be part of what’s “best” for them—it stung.

“Do you really think I’d let anything happen to either of you?” I asked, keeping my voice calm despite the turmoil inside. “I’m not my father, Ella. I’m not dragging you into his mess.”

“It’s not just your father,” she said, her voice rising slightly. “It’s everything tied to him—it’s too much.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but she raised a hand, stopping me cold. “And it’s not just about you protecting us, Lucas. It’s about what I’m willing to risk.”

Her words hung heavily in the air. I swallowed hard, searching for something to say. She wasn’t wrong—my life was messy, my family’s shadows impossible to escape. But that didn’t mean I was giving up.

“I can’t change what my father’s done,” I said quietly. “But I can change what I do next. And I want you to be part of that.”

Her gaze dropped to the pavement, her brow furrowing as if searching for answers. When she finally looked up, her expression held hesitation—maybe hope. I couldn’t tell.

“Lucas,” she said, her voice gentler, “I don’t know if this can work. But I don’t want to walk away without trying.”

It wasn’t a promise, but it was enough. Enough to keep me grounded, to hold onto the faintest hope.

“Then don’t quit on us,” I urged. My hand brushed hers. “Let me prove it to you. Whatever it takes, Ella. Just don’t give up on us.”

She curled her fingers around mine, her breath shaky. “Bess is at my mom’s tonight,” she said softly, glancing at me. “I need to check on them, but… maybe after that, we could talk. I’ll ask if she can spend the night there with Mom and Dad.”

Her words caught me off guard, and her suggestion offered a glimmer of hope. “At your place?” I asked, my voice cautious.

She nodded, her fingers slipping away from mine. “I’ll text you when I’m ready for you to come over.”

“I’ll wait,” I said, steady despite the storm inside.

She nodded faintly, turned, and walked to her car. I watched her go, the weight of the conversation settling over me. This wasn’t over—not by a long shot. But for the first time in days, I felt like we might be moving toward something real.

As her car disappeared, stars began to dot the darkening sky. Peace still eluded me, but the hope she’d left behind was enough for now.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ella

The streets of Miami stretched out in front of me, a blur of familiar landmarks barely registered in my mind as I drove. Usually, this drive to my parents’ house felt like a warm hug, a reminder that some things stayed constant no matter how chaotic life got. But tonight, the city’s neon lights and palm tree silhouettes couldn’t cut through the turmoil I was feeling.

Marshall’s words echoed in my thoughts, looping like a song I couldn’t turn off. With every mile I drove, the weight of his revelation sank deeper into my chest. I had promised to keep his confidence and assured him his trust was safe with me. But how was I supposed to face Lucas, knowing what I knew, and say nothing?

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