Page 95 of Unspoken Words
“Connor, stop.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re making me feel uncomfortable.”
I raised my hands in defeat. “Okay. I’ll keep my compliments to myself.”
“Thank you.”
As if he couldn’t have timed it more perfectly, Anthony approached once again, this time with a large pizza tray. “Buon Appetito,” he said, placing it in the centre of the table.
He stood back and scrubbed his hands together with pride.
“Yummmm.” She licked her lips. “This looks great!”
The sight of her tongue, wet, silky, and smooth made me adjust myself for a second time. I wanted to lick her lips too. It had been so long, and I’d almost forgotten what they tasted like.
Reaching forward, I manoeuvred a slice free for her. “Here.”
“Thanks.” She shovelled it into her mouth, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What? I’m starved,” she mumbled.
“Even beautiful when mowing down a pizza like a warthog.”
One of her eyebrows cocked and she stopped chewing.
“Hey!” I raised my free hand in defence. “That wasn’t a compliment. Warthogs are hideous.”
The pizza crust she’d just been gnawing all of a sudden became airborne before it plummeted to the plate, her shoulders bouncing, emerald eyes once again sparkling like they had many years ago. Everything but Ellie in that moment stopped: the world around us, time, my heartbeat. It all just ceased to be at the sight and sound of her laughing, and I used the moment to take it all in, gasping when I realised it was time to breathe.
Ellie’s laughter died down, and she sighed. “Connor, why are we here? Why am I here?”
I broke eye contact and picked up a slice of pizza. “Because this album is great, really great, and with your help, it’s going to be fucking amazing. I just know it.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Honestly? For now, yes.”
“For now?”
Rocking back on my chair, I eyed her with intent. “Yes. For now, I want to work with you, our talents side by side.”
“I see. And after?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
She pursed her lips and rubbed her temple.
“Look, the last thing I’m going to do is lie to you. You deserve better than that. So, yeah,for now, that’s why you’re here.”
“In that case,” she said, picking up a piece of pineapple with her fingertips and popping it into her mouth, “yes, I will work with you.For now. As a trial.”
I smiled, or perhaps smirked, because if I played my cards right, for now would become ever after.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ellie
