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My dad crossed his arms over his chest. “You need to get serious, not have a distraction.” He drew his attention away from me, looking over at Ella, who just looked… sad. “I don’t think you’re good enough for my son.”
“Dad.” My grip tightened on Ella’s hand. “Don’t talk to her like that. Don’t talk to the woman I—”Love.Fuck.I knew exactly how I was going to finish that sentence.
“She just wants you for your money.” My dad crossed his arms over his chest, addressing me.
“What?” Ella gasped. “How could you think that?”
“No, she doesn’t.” Because she had no idea how many zeros come after my name. I winced.Because I didn’t tell her.“You don’t even know her, Dad. You can’t possibly know how hard she works, how fucking incredible she is. Ella doesn’t need me to achieve her dreams. But you can be damn sure that I’m going to stand by her side, proud as hell as she does.”
And I meant it. Ella didn’t need me, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t needher.I’d follow her anywhere, if she let me. I’d fight her battles for her, not because she needed me to—but because I wanted to.
Ella turned to me, her voice low. “I should… I’m sorry. I should go.” She tightened her arms over her chest, rubbing her arms even as my jacket remained draped around her shoulders.
“No.” I narrowed my eyes at my dad. “Stay. He should go.”
“Cam.” Her voice was pained. “I just… I need a minute.”
“Wait for me outside, please?” I pleaded with her, because if she ran away, it would break my heart.
She nodded, hurrying out the doors.
I turned back to my father. “What the hell, Dad? She’s not a distraction. If anything, she’s inspiring. Because I see how hard she works every day. So you don’t get to talk to her like that. I love her, okay? I love her, and I plan on being with her for a long time. You can’t have this both ways. You can’t think I should marry someone to have on my arm when I’m a partner at your firm one day and also think that my girlfriend—who has her own dreams and ambitions—is a gold digger or out for my money just because she has a non-traditional career path. In it for the money?” I laughed bitterly. “She doesn’t even know how much money I stand to inherit—with or without taking over your precious firm one day, Dad. So you can say whatever you want, but know that you’re losing me in the process. Because I’d pick her over anything. She’s my everything.”
“Son…”
“I’m done.” I put my hands up. “I’m done trying to make you happy. To do things to impress you. I’m sorry, but I can’t doit anymore. I’m going to live for me. And if you can’t handle that, then I’ll walk away.”
I shoved my hands into my pockets, not even bothering to spare him one last look before strolling out of the restaurant.
Knowing my girl was waiting for me outside.
And that I needed to make it all okay.
I caught her outside on the sidewalk, her eyes shining with unshed tears and her hands scrunched up in the arms of my coat. It was huge on her, engulfing her frame, but I couldn’t focus on that right now.
My asshole of a father had made her cry, and I needed to put a stop to that right now. Needed to make her understand everything was going to be okay.
“Talk to me,” I begged.
She sniffled, shaking her head as she wiped at her nose with my coat sleeve.
“You need to let me in, Ella,” I said, crossing my arms.
“I have!” She furrowed her eyebrows at me. “Of course I have. I’ve let you into my life, into my body, into my h?—”
“But not yourmind.” I frowned. “You don’t tell me what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling. You shut me down, and you run away. And I can’t—I need more.” I could beg and plead all I wanted, but I wasn’t a mind reader. If she didn’t tell me what was wrong, I couldn’t fix it, or even be there for her. “Tell me what you’re thinking. Please.”
She just shook her head. “I can’t do this right now?—”
“Ella.” My voice strained as I stood next to her. “Please, Ella. Don’t run. Not from me. You can run from everything else, but stop running away from me. Runtome.”
“I wasn’t running,” she mumbled, not making eye contact with me. “I just… I needed a minute.” Her hands came up to her face, those fists balled up inside my jacket sleeves. “What was he talking about? Your dad?” Her voice shook. “Money?I mean, I didn’t exactly think you were poor, but…”
“Fuck. This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “Not tonight. Not when…” I’d wanted to tell her how I felt. But now it would feel cheap, not genuine.
“Cameron.” She held out a hand, squeezing mine when I took it. Like it was me who needed the reassurance, nother.“It’s okay. But I think I have a right to know. If you meant what you said earlier.”
“I did. Every word. I never want to be without you, Princess. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I wiped a tear away from her eye, rubbing over her cheekbone. “You really never looked me up, huh?”
