Page 82 of The Heartbreak Hotel

To Ella’s surprise, Winnie didn’t remove her shirt to run a victory lap around her as she fist-pumped the air. She just bobbed her head and took another swig from her bottle of fruit juice. “What about Riley?”

Ella told her Riley’s plan to speak to Senhor Arenoso the day after the ceremony and their plans to leave together, though her vague answers to Winnie’s questions were obvious.

“Wow. Are you sure you’re ready for all of this? Things are moving very quickly.”

Riley’s face popped into Ella’s head. Those kind blue eyes, her gentle heart. The dolphin tattoo between her shoulder blades. The way she made Ella feel more like herself than she had…ever.

“Yeah, Winn. I am.”

Winnie smiled, her eyes crinkling, then tugged at the scarf wound around Ella’s neck, letting out a happy cackle. “I knew you would be sure, with marks like that!” She let out another whistle and wiggled her eyebrows. “Damn, girl. Has Riley got any siblings?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ella

Under the deep indigo sky, Riley wrapped her strong, warm arms around Ella. The clear night had a slight bite to it, but the comfort seeping from Riley’s body chased it away as they lay together in the hammock. They swayed gently from side to side, Ella’s head against Riley’s chest, Riley’s legs snug around Ella’s torso, wrapped tight in their own cocoon.

The moonlight reflected off Ziggy’s collar as he curled into a ball on Ella’s legs. He’d tucked his head under himself, making him appear headless. His gentle snores said otherwise. Endless stars pierced the sky, white lights twinkling, glowing brighter with every glance. Ella’s gaze passed over the million dots, more appearing with every breath. She’d never seen so many.

She sunk further into the heat of Riley’s body and let out a sigh.

“I told you,” Riley whispered, her breath tickling Ella’s cheek. “There’s nothing quite like the stars out here.”

Ella yawned, catching the movement with the back of her hand. “If I’m a walking zombie at the fire ceremony later, though, I’m blaming you.”

Riley’s chuckle vibrated through her, and Ella smiled, wiggling so she could lay her ear against Riley’s chest and listen to the soft thrum of her heartbeat. Ziggy flopped over, so Ella scooped him with her arm to stop him from falling out of the hammock.

“Are you nervous?” Riley asked, her voice a low rumble.

“Yeah.” Ella chased the muscle of Riley’s shoulder with her free hand, her fingertips grazing down to where Riley’s own hand rested across her waist. She was anxious about the fire ceremony, the end of all of this…receiving her totem. But she was most nervous about her next steps with Riley. What if Senhor Arenoso made her change her mind? Winnie’s surprise arrival had put her conversation with Riley on the back burner, but now it pushed to the front, demanding attention.

“Wanna talk about it?” Riley’s breath danced away into the night, and Ella turned back to the sky, noting the faint orange light peering over the horizon. The light bled upwards, hiding the stars beneath the blur of colour. Ella’s focus was caught somewhere above them, and Riley leaned forward to nuzzle her lips into her neck, rocking the hammock. “Talk to me.”

Ella squirmed under her touch and let out a giggle that was loud in the quiet night. She sucked in a breath and exhaled, steadying herself. “What if you change your mind?”

“Ella.” Her voice was stern, possessive, strong enough to lift the hairs over Ella’s arms. “I want you. I’d follow you anywhere. Unless you didn’t want me to.” There was a heavy silence. “Do you want me to?”

“Of course I do.” She threaded her fingers through Riley’s. “It’s just a little hard to believe sometimes.”

“Do you need me to show you just how badly I want you, right here in this hammock?” Her warm lips found Ella’s neck, and she squealed. “We might scar Ziggy for life, but I’ll do it. Try me.”

Ella laughed and bit her lip, unable to stop the grin spreading across her face. “But what are we going to do? What about the big baby?” She looked down at Ziggy, sleeping peacefully in the crook of her arm.

“He’s my son. He comes with me.”

She traced over Riley’s knuckles. “And where will you both go?”

“I’m sure there are hotels in England while I find my feet. I’ve got my savings.” She squeezed her arms around her tighter, planting a kiss on her temple. “We’ve got time to figure it out. There’s no rush.”

Ella pressed back into her, feeling her skin, grounding herself. Then she spoke the words she’d been afraid to air. “What if it all changes?”

“It will change.”

Oh.

“Nothing can stay the same forever, Ells. It’s not how the world works. We’re always changing, evolving, growing, regenerating. The earth never stops turning. The sun always rises. No matter what.” Her smooth hand found Ella’s cheek, and she turned it towards her. “Time is a funny thing. I’ve felt more myself these few weeks with you than I have in three years. If we didn’t embrace change, we’d just be stuck. We’d never see the starry skies or the beautiful sunrises.” She grinned, dimples forming in her cheeks, and lifted Ella’s chin. “We’d never fall for the fiery redhead.”

Ella’s heart squeezed. “You’ve fallen for me?”