Page 151 of Broken Saint
A knock on the door startles me.
I should have known it was coming. If I weren’t so up in my own head, then maybe I would have been waiting for it.
She doesn’t wait for me to say anything. Instead, Letty knows exactly what I need and invites herself inside.
“Ella,” she breathes, stepping up to me and wrapping me in her arms. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Silence falls between us as she holds me. But I don’t need words. Her silent support is everything.
Minutes pass, and with her strength, I manage to find a little of my own.
Pulling out of her embrace, I wipe the smudged makeup from beneath my eyes and stand tall.
I give her a double take when she holds her cell out for me.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Just read this one,” she says with a soft smile.
Hesitantly, I reach for it and stare down at the screen with my heart threatening to run away with itself again.
Has Colton Rogers finally scored?
My hand trembles.
After they were spotted getting hot and heavy in his car earlier in the week, the woman who seems to have stolen our beloved Saint’s heart stepped into the team hotel tonight looking like a knockout in a figure-hugging dress. No wonder our number forty-two is so enthralled. Here’s hoping her presence leads usto an epic win over the Saints rivals this weekend as we see the Rogers brothers go head-to-head.
“See?” Letty says, taking her cell back. “Nothing to worry about. You belong here, Ella. You deserve to be standing by Colt’s side through all of this.
“I can’t promise you that it’s going to be easy. We’ve all had our fair share of bad press and jealous, bitchy reporters try to take us down. But you’ve got to remember, you’re the one who makes Colt smile like he does. You’re the one he’s whispering naughty things to.” My cheeks blaze. “They’re all on the outside; their opinions on something they have no idea about do not matter. Apart from this one, because she’s right. Look at you,” she says, turning her cell back around, having clicked on what is arguably the best picture of myself that I’ve ever seen.
And while the dress might be incredible and the hair and makeup perfect, those aren’t what catch my attention. It’s my eyes. For the first time in a very, very long time, I feel like I’m actually staring at myself.
Right there before me is the version of Ella Myers I’ve coveted over the past few years.
All I have to do is be brave enough to take life by the balls and embrace her again.
My eyes lift to Letty’s, and she instantly smiles at what she sees.
“Let’s do this,” I say confidently. “Let’s go watch our men beat some Chiefs' ass.”
39
ELLA
This time when I walk into the stadium, I feel every ounce of excitement for the impending game.
Last time I was here, everything was a bit of a blur.
I was so terrified about Colt’s reaction to me being here that I didn’t stand a chance of really experiencing it like I should have.
But this time…I soak all of it up.
The chanting of the crowd, the sea of Saints blue and yellow, the electricity in the air, the anticipation.
“This is insane,” I breathe as we find our seats.
Macie left us soon after we had lunch so that she could watch the game from the visitors’ end of the stadium with the wives and girlfriends of Leon’s teammates. Probably wise, seeing as we’re surrounded by a sea of Saints jerseys.