Page 185 of Love Unwritten
“Yes. You’re stuck with me forever.”
His bottom lip wobbles as his gaze swings from me to Ellie. “You promise?”
“On my life. Nothing could keep me away from you.”
“I don’t want you to go.” Nico hides his face behind his hands and sobs.
Ellie looks over at me in a panic, so I kneel beside her.
“Hey.”
Nico’s shoulders shake from his ragged breathing.
I lift his chin. “It’s okay to be sad.”
“It hurts.” He taps at the spot over his heart.
Ellie dabs at the corners of her eyes.
Something cracks inside me. “I know you’re scared Ellie won’t come back, but she will.”
“But she won’t have a reason to anymore.”
“I’ll make sure she always has a reason to come back,” I say with an even voice.
“I’m looking at my biggest reasons right now.” She gives both our hands a squeeze, and it eases some of the heavy weight pressing against my temples, shoulders, and chest.
I wrap my arms around the two of them and drag us into a group hug. “This isn’t us saying goodbye.”
She nods against one of my shoulders with a sniffle. “It’s not.”
Nico hides his face against the other. “I’m happy for you, Ellie, but I’m also sad for me.”
“Me too,” I say earnestly.
Ellie pokes her head out of the crook of my neck. “Me three.”
Nico wraps his arms around our necks. “I don’t want another nanny.”
“Then we won’t get one.” My original reason for having one doesn’t matter anymore because Ellie is plenty for Nico, whether she is in his life as a friend or more.
“Can Ellie visit every day? When she’s not in Europe?” he asks between sniffles.
She laughs. “You’re going to get sick of me.”
“Impossible.” I offer her a smile.
“Yeah. What he said.” Nico nods.
“You can visit as often as you want. Multiple times a day if you’d like.” I wink.
“I mean, it would be a good idea for me to check on the animals. They’re practically my children.”
“Absolutely. Plus, I’m getting some new additions next week that need names.”
“God forbid you name them pigs one, two, and three.”
“What about chickens?” Nico asks with an excited smile.