Page 175 of Love Unwritten

I reach over and start running my nails across the back of his head. He leans into my touch and groans, but Nico misses it thanks to an action scene playing.

Whenever I pull away, Rafael drags my hand back, and I spend the next five minutes scratching his head.

Nico eventually catches me and then proceeds to beg me to do the same. Like a cat, he leans into my touch with a silly smile. “That feels so good.”

He and Rafael spend the next thirty minutes vying for their turn. Nico asks me to brush my nails across his arm, back and forth, before determining that I give the best cosquillas ever, after which Rafael asks me to do the same so he could decide if that’s true.

Eventually, I tell them my hand is tired and to try again next time when we get back to Lake Wisteria.

I’m wondering if there will be a next time.

Any doubts I had about quitting were erased tonight because I can’t take this push and pull anymore.

I want Rafael Lopez, and I’m done pretending otherwise.

So later that night, before I go to bed, I text Cole two words that seal my fate.

I’m in.

Cosquillas: a light tickle done using the the tips of fingers.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Rafael

A side from Ellie being anxious during our red-eye flight home and me staying up with her for a couple of hours, talking about everything and anything, until she finally dozed off, we make it back to Lake Wisteria without any issues.

Ever since we returned to my home and the eight animals who are thankfully still alive, Ellie has been abnormally quiet, to the point that I forgot that she was even in the house. It wasn’t until she popped into my office around dinnertime to let me know that the food was ready that I realized she hadn’t taken Nico out to the pond or to the park in town.

As much as I want to spend time with them, I needed to start catching up on two weeks’ worth of work. I am so busy answering emails, checking Dwelling app analytics, and reviewing tasks with my assistant that I don’t get around to eating what Ellie prepared until long after they are done and their dishes are put away.

After spending fourteen days in Hawaii, sharing almost every meal together, the kitchen is unnervingly quiet today.

I despise it.

Distracting myself with work doesn’t lessen the loneliness like it used to, and tonight I can’t seem to focus on anything but the empty void in my chest that Nico and Ellie’s company seems to fill.

I miss Nico’s giggles and Ellie’s small smiles. Miss the way she loosened up a bit after a cocktail and shared interesting stories from her childhood and the time she spent living in Los Angeles. She always made the cutest half-snort, half-scoff sound whenever I made a snide remark, and her deep laughs—which don’t happen often—always filled me with unbridled pride.

I miss her like she isn’t currently in the basement with Nico, helping him practice his Strawberry Festival musical piece. Like I didn’t spend the last two weeks constantly around her and soaking up her attention.

In the past, it would have concerned me to care about someone outside my family like that, but I’m not afraid.

I’m motivated.

Starting tomorrow, I’m going to prioritize eating dinner with Ellie and Nico, even if it means staying up a little later to finish my tasks for work. I’ll even stock the wet bar with mango margarita supplies, since she loved them, and every single flavor of Hawaiian Sun since they’re Nico’s favorite.

After I finish my food, pack away the leftovers for tomorrow, and help put Nico to bed, I seek Ellie out. I remember her telling me that she wanted to go check on the animals once Nico fell asleep, so I head outside.

I walk over to the barn, only to stop near the entrance once I hear her talking.

“I’m going to miss seeing you every day.”

One of the goats bleats.

Miss them? Why?

“I just got back here and now I’ll be leaving again.” She sighs.