Page 40 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

“You . . . remember?” she whispers.

“Yep. I understand why you acted the way you did. I was an asshole the next day, and the days that followed, and you didn’t deserve that. I shouldn’t have kept coming back, but I was drawn to you.”

“You know nothing happened between us, right?” There’s a hint of wariness in her voice.

“Well, not in the way you’re implying, but therewassomething. I opened up to you. Showed you the dark that was haunting me. And did you run away? Nope. You comforted me. You held me while I cried. You saw something that I didn’t show anyone, and I treated you like you didn’t exist the next day. For that, I’m sorry.”

“You’re right, I didn’t deserve the cold shoulder I received. Why didn’t you say something while we were texting?”

“Because this was a conversation I needed to have in person. I had to make sure I knew exactly what I wanted, and that I was ready.” I look her over again, and she winces when she tries to move. “Press the button,” I tell her with a nod towards it.

“Ready for what?” She ignores my request.

“You, Ella. I wasn’t ready for all the emotions you make me feel. I wasn’t ready for forgiveness. I wasn’t ready to move on from my self-pity. I just wasn’t ready.” I can’t finish. If I keep going, I will confess my love for this girl, and I don’t think either of us is ready for that.

It’s quiet for a while as we just stare at each other, silently relaying what neither of us can say. Suddenly, there’s a shift in her gaze as she lets her wall down.

It literally takes my breath away.

“Ella, you are the most beautiful, infuriating woman I have ever met. I have never known someone who can piss me off and turn me on in the span of thirty seconds. You fight with me, you prank me, you don’t care what I think—you just do you. I hate your unicorn slippers. I hate your slogan T-shirts. But I wouldn’t change a damn thing because they are you, and you are perfect.”

Tears well in her eyes again and spill over. I wipe one from her cheek.

“Arden.” Her voice is soft, but it tells me everything I need to know. However this plays out, I’m just thankful she hasn’t thrown me out of the room yet. Right now, though, there is one thing I want to do. “I’m going to kiss you now, Ella.”

I wait for her to object and when she doesn’t, I move closer, careful not to hurt her.

I press my lips to hers and get lost in her gaze. Everything changes. There’s a spark that lights in her eyes, showing me she’s feeling this too. This beautiful, brave, strong woman just went through emergency surgery and, right now, I wouldn’t even be able to tell. She lets out a small moan, and I pull away. As much as I want to lose myself in our second first kiss, I can’t. She’s in pain and needs rest. There will be plenty of time to kiss her the way I desperately want to, but healing comes first.

“Wow,” is all she says, before grabbing her stomach and groaning.

Shit, she hurts badly.This, I know how to help with.

“If you don’t press that damn button, I will.” I level her with a look that shows I’m not messing around.

“Will you stay with me?”

It kills me to still hear some of the uncertainty there. I promise myself I will do everything I can to prove to her I’m different.

“For as long as you want me to . . .and just so you know, I’m not signing those damn papers.”

She scoots over in the bed to make room for me to lie down. I kick off my shoes, climb onto the bed, and carefully stretch out beside her. She slowly snuggles into my side, then presses the button. I wrap my arm around her and stroke her back soothingly, offering a distraction until the pain relief kicks in.

“What if I don’t want you to leave?” she whispers.

This makes my heart skip a beat. I already know Ella is my forever kind of girl. But I never considered that she would think of me as a forever kind of guy.

“Then you’re stuck with me. As long as you stop stealing my bow ties,” I deadpan.

She chuckles softly. “I can’t make any promises.”

I wouldn’t have it any other way. I secretly hope that Ella doesn’t stop doing stuff to annoy me. It could make for some really great foreplay.

I kiss her forehead while she drifts off to sleep.

Too little time passes before there’s a soft knock on the door and a surgeon comes in.

I move to get up and Ella stops me—she’s shaking. “Please stay.”

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