Page 154 of Love Unwritten
“Like?”
“Why ruin the surprise?”
“Keep talking like that, and I may consider something like that romantic.”
His lips curl at the corners. “Maybe I want it to be.”
My heart pauses before picking back up again.
Cole clears his throat. “As entertaining as it is to watch you flirt, some of us have things to do and songs to write.”
I turn with bulging eyes to find him grinning.
He winks.
The lawyer clasps her hands together. “Well, Ellie. You provided me with a lot of information about Ms. Rhodes, and while it is a very interesting situation legally…”
I’ve been through three rejections already, so I recognize the beginning of another letdown. I told myself not to get my hopes up this time, and I should have known better.
After spending so many years in the dark, I like to hope. It may make me naïve, but I’d rather be a dreamer than a pessimist any day of the week.
“I’m very sorry that you’ve been taken advantage of like that. By both Ms. Rhodes and Mr. Larkin.” Ms. Copper’s red lips press into a thin line.
I tense against Rafael’s side and prepare for the next blow.
“Given the information you shared, along with the logs and detailed notes you kept of your writing sessions, I think we can start looking into establishing a case,” she continues, but I’m not listening.
Oh my God.
After a year of trying and failing to find someone to represent me, I’m finally going after Ava for what she did to me. I don’t even care if I win the settlement or prove that I helped write her songs.
I just want a chance to fight.
I don’t even realize the meeting is over until Rafael shuts the computer after promising I’ll return the lawyer’s email as soon as possible.
“Elle?” He waves his hand in front of my face.
I blink a few times. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for asking me to join you.”
I look up at him. “I don’t know if I could have done it without you.”
“You would have. I have no doubt about it, but I’m glad you wanted me to be here anyway.”
My heart threatens to tumble straight out of my chest. “I was about to have a meltdown before you came in here.”
“But you held yourself together. All I did was hold your hand.”
He did more than that, and we both know it.
He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Ava mistook your kindness and silence for weakness, and I can’t wait for you to prove her wrong.”
“What about Darius?”
“Don’t you worry about him.” I’ve seen smiles like Rafael’s before, and they always spell trouble.
Rafael tells me to take some time to unwind after the meeting, and I had planned on it, but then I was inspired to finish the song I was working on for Cole. After all he has done for me, I want to give him something in return.