Page 139 of Broken Saint

“What? Just telling the truth. It’s exactly what I’ll say when a reporter asks, too.”

Her grip on me tightens, and she presses her face against my chest.

“Hey,” I say, concern tingling at my senses.

“You really want this?” she asks against my skin. “Me?”

Threading my fingers in her hair, I drag her head back so she has no choice but to look up at me.

“Yes, Ella. I want this. I want you.”

Her eyes flood with tears and my heart knots, knowing that I caused them.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve dreamed of hearing those words from your lips?” she asks weakly.

“I’m sorry I made you wait so long. I was an asshole.”

She shakes her head. “You just needed time. We weren’t ready back then. We had things we needed to experience before we could get to this point.”

“That sounds much better than me being an asshole. I’ll take it.”

She chuckles. “I mean, you had your moments.”

“Trust me, I’ll have plenty more. I’m going to need you to be patient with me. I’ve never done this before.”

“We’ll figure it out together.”

“Sounds good, Bombshell. But why don’t we put it off until tomorrow? I’ve already got plans for the rest of the night,” I confess, rolling onto my back and dragging her with me for round two.

36

ELLA

Istep out of the car and pause, staring up at the colossal hotel beyond.

Flashes go off around me. I should panic. Rush inside. Do something, anything. But I can’t. I’m frozen.

My man is inside that hotel.

It’s the one the team stays at for every home game.

The hotel where I’ve seen him pictured with numerous girls over the years.

But now, it’s going to be the hotel where we hang out with our friends—our family—officially as a couple for the first time.

An eruption of butterflies takes off in my belly as I think back to last night and everything that transpired between us.

Colt told me he loved me.

I couldn’t do anything but say those words back.

Because I do love him. I have always loved him. Even when I hated him—hated myself—he was the only man I ever truly wanted. The only one I’d ever willingly open my heart to.

And I told him that I’d stay. In Seattle.

Lifting my hand to my chest, I suck in a deep breath.

It was so easy to say the words I’d been obsessing over while he’d been at practice.