My tears fall again. “Oh God. What have I done? He wanted me to choose him over Andrew, and I didn’t. I don’t think he’s going to take me back. I think I really messed it up.”
There is silence at the table again. I look around at all the stone faces.
“What?” I say, wiping my face.
“Ella, that man spent every weekend for an entire year helping you fix your house," Meagan says.
"And don't forget, he bought her bakery.”
Everyone hums in agreement with Destiny.
“You may have to do a little groveling, but trust me, he’ll take you back.”
Although I laugh with the others at Destiny’s words, I don’t feel as reassured as she does. I know I hurt Mitchell. And to be honest, I wasn’t even sure if I deserved to have him back.
Truth
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mitchell
Staring down at the phone in my hand, I quickly place it back on my desk and flip it over. The missed call from Ella still lingered in my mind.
How the hell can a person go from being the happiest they’ve ever been to absolutely distraught. Every ounce of me wants to call her back and tell her I’ll play her game. I’ll hide like a fugitive as long as I get to keep her. But pride is a bitch, and it won’t let me take that proposition no matter how badly I want to. I needed her to choose me.
I rub a hand over my chest. There isn’t an open wound there, but I swear I can feel the ache in my heart.
The phone on my desk buzzes. I picked up the receiver, accepting the call from my receptionist.
“Yes, Tina?”
“Valerie is here to see you,” I can tell by Tina’s tone Valerie has pissed her off.
“I don’t even know why you need to call him. I’m the mother of his child. I should be able to go straight back.” Val’s shouts into the background of the phone.
I rub the space between my eyes. “Send her back.”
Placing the phone back on the receiver, I lean back in my chair, waiting for my ex to come through the door.
It takes Val only a few seconds to walk into my office. Her denim skirt is tight and short and it’s paired with a silk and lace camisole top. Her flowery perfume precedes her into my office.
She shuts the door after she enters. When she flops down in the seat in front of my desk, she crosses her legs, places her purse on top of my desk, and leans back in her seat.
“You came all the way over here to stare at me?” I ask when she doesn’t speak. “Where is Jacob?”
Her grin is wide, showing off her teeth. “With my mother. I came to check on you.”
Not in the mood for the bullshit, I stood to my feet. “I’m good, Val. You can go.”
Her laughter stops me from going over to the door to open it for her.
“This is so funny to me. Jessica told me about you and Ella getting caught.”
My back straightens. Jessica is Jack’s wife. When I was married to Val, we often hung out and did couple things with the guys and their wives. Jessica and Val kicked it off quickly. However, Jessica never did quite take to Ella.
“I knew it.” She sneers. “I’ve always known you were in love with her. The day she showed up going on and on about taking care of you, I had a prickling feeling something was going on. But I tossed it aside. I didn’t think she had it in her. Then, the night you came to confront James, oh, I felt it then. But I kept thinking you two wouldn’t be that dumb.” She cackles like a witch stealing ruby slippers.
“I can’t believe you tried it. Now you finally got a taste of Ms. Perfect. And what did she do? Toss your ass to the side like I always knew she would. I mean, the moment Andrew found out, she got rid of you.”
