Page 18 of Unconditionally With Me
Her violet eyes ignite. Then her face changes to a look of surprise before it scrunches into one of confusion. “Why do I expect less for myself?” she finally asks.
I pull her against my heart. She nestles in trustingly, repairing a piece of my soul I’m not sure merits being forgiven just yet. “I don’t know, babe. But considering you deserve everything, we need to figure out why.”
She lifts her head. “Will you help me?”
In three years, it’s the first thing Elle’s ever asked me for. When I can finally swallow enough to be able to speak, I answer without hesitation, “Yes.”
“Then let’s have breakfast and make some plans.” She pulls back out of my arms and quickly does up my shirt.
I help set the table. And although I don’t normally pray, I send up a quick blessing before I take a single bite: for this woman, for her forgiveness, and for the strength to guide us both to where we need to be. Hopefully that’s with each other.
Then I dig in to a sumptuous meal.
While I have a mouthful of food, Elle declares, “I think going to Seattle will be good for me. I want to get to know myself again.”
My heart constricts slightly. “And you don’t think you can do that here?”
She shakes her head while chewing. After swallowing, she continues. “To be honest, I’ve been to Seattle for all of a few hours. I would love to go back and visit it for longer. Would you…”
“Would I what?”
“Would you like to come with me?” Elle reaches over and lays her hand on my arm. “Just you and me for a few weeks.”
I think about all the things I want to learn about Elle Bruder, the opportunities I missed. And I feel like this is the answer to everything. “Yes. When do you want to leave?” I answer without hesitation.
“Can we look for tickets after breakfast?” she asks excitedly.
“Don’t you mean lunch?” I tease her.
She leans over and smacks a kiss against my lips. “Yes, that. What about time off? Will that be a problem?”
“Not for me.” I think back to my conversation with Karlson and Jonas yesterday. “What about for you?”
“No. I told Trina I’d need a few weeks.” Elle’s face takes on an animated look I’ve never seen. “We’re really doing this? We’re going on vacation?”
I lean over and kiss her for much longer. When I pull back, her eyes are heavy-lidded, and her smile is dazed. “We are.”
“We are what?” comes her dreamy reply.
“We’re going on vacation. You, me, and a whole new city to explore.”
And when the excitement hits her eyes, I wonder what put it there. I hope it’s the idea that I’ll be with her to do the exploring.
* * *
Three days later,I’ve worked magic and we’re waiting in the first-class lounge at JFK to board a plane to head on a direct flight to Seattle. Elle’s curled up against my shoulder, sipping a cup of complimentary coffee when I ask, “What’s your favorite color?”
She immediately answers, “Brown.”
I bob my cup, almost spilling the steaming hot brew across my lap. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
I pull her tighter against me before questioning, “Why?”
She ponders the answer before telling me, “The first day I met Trina, we were working with chocolate. I was burning mine left and right and was ready to throw in the towel. She was so patient, letting me ask questions. She wasn’t like the other students in our class—super competitive.”
“Pastry school was competitive?”
