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When her eyes met his, he could have sworn he saw evidence that she could cry at any moment. But then she offered him a small smile and a laugh as she shook her head. “You’re ridiculous,” she muttered.
“Is that a good thing?”
She tossed her head back with another laugh. “Why did you do that?”
Lucas pointed to the stage. “Why did I just go up there and make a fool of myself? I’m pretty sure there is only one logical explanation.”
Her eyes glinted with humor and anticipation. That’s when he saw it. The doors had opened up again. She was allowing him into her heart. This was his moment.
Lucas released her hand and pulled her close. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m in love with you.” Everything he could think of to say didn’t sound good enough. Words weren’t good enough. He placed his hand gently on her cheek, his voice lowering. “It probably doesn’t mean much, but I want you to know that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever dated. There’s nothing that can come close to how I feel about you. The misery I’ve endured over the last week has been unbearable.”
Ella snickered and he stiffened.
“Hey… are you laughing at me? I’m trying to win you back.”
She reached up and caressed his face. “I’m not laughing at you. I think what you did was very brave. No one has ever done something like that for me. But you realize that song was a breakup song, right?”
His mouth fell open. “No, it isn’t.”
Ella pressed her lips together and stifled another laugh.
“It isn’t,” he said softer this time. “Is it?”
She laughed again. “It doesn’t matter. I… I came back to… talk.” Ella flushed. “I should have just stayed and worked things out. I’m sorry.”
“You’resorry? Ella,Iwas the one who refused to listen to you and your feelings. This thing with Taven—”
Ella held a finger to his lips. “It doesn’t matter.”
He pulled away. “Yes, it does. I shouldn’t have—”
“Lucas,” she chided, “I’m trying to tell you that I was blinded by my own past feelings. I know I don’t have to like him or spend any time with him. While I don’t like that you would choose to do so, I can’t stop you from doing so. And I should have never expected you to.”
“That’s fine, but I allowed myself to be blinded by my own guilt and allowed it to come between us. That, along with my insistence of keeping Taven as a friend, was unreasonable—”
“Lucas,” she started again with a laugh. “Okay, fine! We both have stuff to work on.”
The corners of his mouth pulled upward. “I can agree to that.”
“Good. Because I don’t plan on letting you go any time soon.”
“That’s fine by me. Because I… will always…” His smile broadened. “Love you.”
She groaned, rolling her eyes with exaggeration. “Another break-up song! Don’t you have anything better? Anything uplifting?”
He pulled her closer, sobering. “How about…”
“Go on,” she pressed.
“How sweet it is to be loved by you.”
“Better.” Ella drew closer to him, standing just a little taller.
“Have I told you lately that I love you?”
She snickered. “Enough already.”
“Nothing compares to you.”
