Page 145 of Christmas off Script
‘I’m so proud of you, love. For everything you’ve made of your life. And the way you’ve looked after Michelle. You’re a saint.’ He pulled her in for another tight hug. ‘I’ll do my best to make you as proud of me as I am of you.’
The floodgates opened, and Ella sobbed into her father’s chest.
‘Don’t cry, sweet pea, you’ll ruin your make-up. Don’t you have to be on stage in a few minutes?’
Drawing back, she nodded, wiping her eyes and seeing the black streaks of mascara. ‘D-do I look like a panda?’ she asked shakily.
Ronnie smiled. ‘A very pretty one. But you’d better get back inside and fix it.’
‘Okay.’
They walked together towards the manor, but her father hung back as they saw Zach in his wheelchair, just outside the back door. ‘You go in, love. Leo’s got my number, so you can get in touch whenever you want. I don’t want to push you. It’s on your terms.’
Ella threw her arms around him. ‘I love you, Dad.’
He froze. ‘I love you too,’ he replied gruffly, before drawing back. ‘Now go on… Go!’
She jogged towards Zach. Just before she reached him, she glanced back over her shoulder.
Her father had gone.
‘Hey, Ells. You okay?’ Zach asked. ‘Who were you with?’
‘My dad.’
‘Shit. Did he hurt you? What—’
‘No! I’m fine. Honestly. He’s changed.’
Zach made a scoffing noise.
‘He has,’ Ella repeated firmly. ‘You’ll see.’
There was an awkward silence, then Zach sighed. ‘Okay.’
Ella held the door open so he could wheel back through. ‘I’ve got to get back and sort my make-up out.’
Zach didn’t move. ‘Ells…’
‘Please don’t call me that.’
‘Er, why not?’
Because that’s what you called me when you were my boyfriend? Because I don’t like it?‘I prefer Ella.’
He nodded. ‘I’m sorry. I—’ He took a deep breath. ‘Look, I’m just going to come out with it. I want us to get back together.’
The words hung in the air.
Zach must have taken her silence as tacit approval as he continued. ‘We were so good together. The best. And I know I fucked up, but being back in Foxbrooke with you has shown me just how much you meant—meanto me. Whatever you want, Ella, I want to give it to you.’
I want Leo. She sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Zach. But I can’t go back. I—’
‘Are you still in love with Oliver?’
‘No.’ It might take a long time to fully recover from the depth of his betrayal, but Ella knew any feelings of love for her ex had been completely extinguished. Both by his behaviour, and how irreversibly in love with Leo she was.
‘Then would you give me another chance? Giveusanother chance?’
