Page 91 of Let Me Love You

My chest squeezes, and I kick a pebble, watching it skitter across the asphalt. “He mentioned it,” I force out.

Her steps slow, and I stop walking, wanting to end this conversation as quickly as possible. Because I’m too overwhelmed. By everything. The results. Eleanor’s walk down memory lane.Everything.

“You seemed so…stand-offish during the paternity visit. I didn’t know where you stood or if you even wanted to stay with Colt anymore. It’s why I brought it up. The possibility of Colt and me trying to work things out,” she clarifies. “But I want you to know I wasn’t trying to step on your toes or anything—”

“It’s fine,” I lie.

It isn’t. At all. But what else am I supposed to say? Of course, she’d want to work things out with Colt. He’s Colt fucking Thorne. He’s perfect. I can’t blame her for wanting him. Everyone wants him. But now I’m too greedy to give him up. To let him go. Over my dead body. But how do I make my stance clear with the woman Colt shares a child with?

“Ash, listen,” she rushes out, sensing my barely restrained animosity. “It’snotfine. I know that now. But when I brought it up to him, Colt told me he lovesyou. And here’s the thing. I’ve been in a relationship with someone whose love was split between me and someone or somethingelse. With Terrance, it was his job. And after our conversation this morning, I realized if I ever went down this road with Colt, it would be you. Even if you left him, it would still be you. It wouldalwaysbe you. I don’t want to do that again. The heartache was awful, and Terrance and I wound up hurting each other in irreparable ways. Don’t get me wrong. It would be a hell of a lot easier if Jaxon’s parents loved each other and made things work. But Colt doesn’t love me. And he never will.”

I gulp and look up at her.

“As long asallof Jaxon’s parents love him and are there for him, including you, then I think it’s more than enough. And I think he’ll turn out just fine. Don’t you?”

All.

As in…equal.

The olive branch is more than I could’ve ever expected and makes me want to cry.

“Yes, I’m his mother,” she adds. “But I came for help. For partners in raising him. And who would’ve thought, as it turns out, I’d get a pretty awesome two-for-one deal.” She pulls me into a hug, and I return it, wrapping my arms around her as a shuddered breath escapes me.

I didn’t know I needed her acceptance, her blessing, until this moment. But I feel lighter than ever.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Thankyou,” she returns, letting me go. “We’re all in this together, ya know?

“Like inHigh School Musical?” I quip.

“Huh?”

“‘We’re All in This Together,’” I try again, but she looks as lost as ever. My jaw drops. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seenHigh School Musical.”

“Girl, I’m almost forty,” she reminds me. “It came out when I was in college.”

“Well, yeah, but still.” I hook my arm through hers and guide us back to the apartment. “It’s Zac Efron. He’s a babe.”

“Yeah, he’salmostas cute as your fiancé.” Eleanor winks. “Are you going to say yes when he asks you now?”

“We’ll see,” I reply. “But first, you need to tell Colt the good news.”

“Weneed to tell Colt the good news,” she corrects me.

And damn. No other word has ever felt sweeter.

We.

33

COLT

“You,” Ash murmurs gripping the edge of the doorjamb, “deserve a medal.”

Chuckling, I set my phone on my chest as my eyes slide down her body. “And you look fucking sexy in my T-shirt.”

“Oh, this old thing?” She rubs her thighs together, her hair pulled over her shoulder as the collar of my T-shirt slips over one shoulder, leaving her clavicle on full display. The innocent slip of skin makes my mouth water, and my cock hardens beneath the sheets. The bathroom light casts a glow around her, making my Sunshine look like a fucking angel.