Page 32 of Unconditionally With Me
She turns her glare on me before saying, “Hush.”
“Babe, we got a great vacation out of it.”
“Well, that’s true, and it isn’t over yet.” Her lips curve before she strides back to the head of the table, like it’s her meeting. In her office.
I grin as I find my place at her side—exactly where I want to be.
Chapter 12
~Eleanor~
I’m quiet for the rest of the afternoon after seeing Erik. Shadows of my past temporarily overlapped with my vision of the future. And then, after we left the lawyer’s, the sun began to filter through the clouds, and every decision became so clear.
I knew the one place I wanted to go.
Now, as quickly as I needed to get here, I want to fly home and watch the sunrise on the right coast—all the better for doing it in Julian’s arms. I’m impatient to put the experience we just had at the lawyer’s behind us, and I can explain the only thing I need unconditionally in my life is him. I don’t want to live here—though I wouldn’t mind exploring more of the world with Julian—but I want our life. Together.
Feeling like I could fly, I reach into my bag and find my phone. There’s missed texts from Trina.
Are you okay?
I text her back.Erik showed up.I don’t have long to wait for her reaction.
What??? I’m freaking out over here, Elle.
I quickly type back,He apologized. After all these years, he apologized.
Little dots move back and forth across the bottom of our chat.Does he think that fixes everything? I guess it’s one of life’s little ironies—the people who play dirty keep winning while others struggle honestly.
I quickly respond.They did you wrong, T. Nothing fixes that—not by a long shot. But even Julian said he was genuine in what he said.
Her response of the scrunched-up face emoji almost makes me laugh as we wait for the car to arrive. Julian is on the phone, likely with Jonas.
He sent a letter for you.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to read it,she types back.
No, I can’t imagine she would after what happened, but I need to let her know,He said there’s a check inside for you.I wait for her response.
I don’t have to wait for long. My phone begins buzzing in my hand.Trina Cell.
I step aside. “Aren’t you in the middle of the lunch rush?”
“Who cares?” Then she bellows, “What the hell do you mean there’s a check inside for me?”
“I don’t know, T. All Erik said was after Rachel died, he began to wonder about us. Then they had their own child, and he realized he was a damn hypocrite trying to teach her to be a good person. He and Will talked a lot about the shame they were feeling.”
“They can’t write a check to wipe away their guilt,” she grates out harshly.
“I agree. But honestly…” I recall the remorse on Erik’s face when he talked about what he learned about Trina’s life before she married Jonas. “I think you should read the letter with Jonas and make a decision. One day, you’re going to have to be able to answer questions about Will for the kids.”
There’s a long pause on the other before Trina starts cursing a blue streak. Drolly I remark, “I can only be grateful now I didn’t wait to call you at home. God, imagine if the kids heard you like this.”
“Yes, damnit. Do you think I talk like this around them? Chris would get himself kicked out of second grade for sure instead of grabbing the little girls from behind and kissing their cheeks.”
I grin. “Tell Jonas to get a handle on that.” Then I let out a moan when Julian wraps his arms around me and pulls my hair to the side. He presses his lips to the space between my neck and shoulder and works his mouth against my skin.
Trina snickers in my ear. “Right. Because Aunt Elle wasn’t just interrupted by Uncle Julian.”
