Page 89 of Let Me Love You
“She said she wants to talk to you. Alone.” He squeezes my fingers one more time, bringing them to his lips and kissing my knuckles.
Panic claws at my insides, eradicating whatever semblance of hope I’d felt from his declaration, and I jerk away from him. “What?”
“Eleanor’s outside. She wants to talk to you.”
My head shakes back and forth as I push myself up from the mattress and press my back to the headboard. “Colt, if she told you she wants to give you another shot, I have nothing to say—”
“Yeah, well, she does. And I think you need to hear it from her.”
“Colt,” I plead. I don’t even know what I’m begging for. Solace? Understanding? A scapegoat?
His smile softens. “Trust me, Ash. I wouldn’t throw you to the wolves.”
“She has to hate me, Colt.”
“If Jaxon’s mine, Eleanor isn’t going anywhere, but you’re not going anywhere, either, which means you gotta sort this shit out. But trust me,” he repeats. “I think you’re gonna wanna hear what she has to say.”
“Colt…” My voice trails off as he stands up, offering his hand. And because I’m insane and a sucker for the man in front of me, I take it.
Helping me to my feet, he prods, “Go.”
32
ASHLYN
My nerves feel like they’re connected to a live wire. Like even the tiniest circumstance—a look or a pause—could set me off at any second, but I force my legs to move anyway.
After my conversation with Colt, I grudgingly piled my hair into a messy bun on top of my head, and Colt grabbed me a change of clothes from the closet, offering them to me. Once I’d changed and looked halfway decent, I took the stairs, as ready as I’d ever be, while trying not to puke.
Again.
This feels weird. Talking to Eleanor. Knowing I’m the reason she’ll never have her happily ever after with the father of her child while being too drained to care anymore. Especially after she informed Colt she’d be willing to give things another try with him. How awkward. Do I ignore it? Do I tell her to go to hell? If only I could figure out why she wants to talk to me and why Colt thinks this will be a good idea. But he’s right. I need to trust him, and Idotrust him, which is the only reason I’m not running in the opposite direction right this second.
When I reach the main floor, I take a deep breath and walk outside. The late morning sun is high in the sky and kisses my cheeks, warming me. Spurring me on.
A Range Rover is parked out front, and Eleanor’s hazel eyes meet mine through the windshield.
She’s even prettier than I remember.
More put together than at our previous meeting. Like she had time to get ready for her coffee date instead of rushing out the door. Or maybe it’s only my imagination. My insecurities strangle me, but I force myself to swallow as I walk toward her.
The driver’s side window rolls down, and she tilts her head toward the passenger door. “Hey. Climb in.”
“Do you mind if we go for a walk instead?” I counter.
She shakes her head no. The window rolls back up, the engine quiets, and she unfolds from the car. She’s taller than I remember too. Like a willow. Long and lean.
I’ve never been more intimidated in my entire life, despite Colt already making his stance clear. Because she wants him. She said so herself, didn’t she?
“Where to?” she asks.
“There’s a pond.” I turn on my heel and head toward the gorgeous open space in the center of the complex. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with this place. One of the reasons Colt put money down after our little tour of the apartment. Because he knew I loved it. The quiet. The mature trees. The geese and ducks waddling along the trimmed green grass. The bike path and benches. All of it is my favorite. But even the familiar ambiance refuses to settle my nerves.
Muffled footsteps follow behind me as I take the winding path without waiting for Eleanor to catch up.
This is awkward.
More awkward than the paternity test.