the thought of crossing the threshold of his building.
“So you filed the annulment papers?”
Elle sniffed, then wiped her eyes and nose with a tissue. “I had to, Whit. I had this idea the first time I went there. I was going to bring them with me, tear them up, beg his forgiveness. But he didn’t answer the door. And eventually, I stopped putting them in my purse whenever I went there. There was no use.”
“Oh, honey.” Whitney placed her hand over her heart and tilted her head. “My heart is breaking. I can’t believe you held on to this for ten years.”
Elle was quiet for a moment. “Wouldn’t you?”
Whitney closed her eyes and nodded. “Yeah, I guess I would. But I still don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell him you needed more time? Why did you walk down that aisle?”
“I’ve thought about this for years. Literally years. The honest answer is, I didn’t want to disappoint him. The year we dated, I’m not kidding, was blissful. Perfect. If I’d said no that morning, everything would have changed. I loved him, Whit. I always wanted him.”
“But not enough.”
Elle cringed. “I guess not.”
“But now he’s back.”
“Yeah, he’s back and my life’s in a tailspin. I have no idea what to do.”
“Do you still have feelings for him?”
“I don’t think I ever stopped having feelings for him.”
“So maybe this is your chance. People come into our lives for a reason. Maybe this is your second chance at happiness, Ellie.”
“I don’t know. Part of me wants to think so, but I just—”
“Is it Luke? Is that the problem?”
Elle thought about the handsome actor, the one who calmed her but challenged her as well. The one who made her knees buckle and her toes tingle. Of course, he was a factor in her hesitation.
“Yeah. I mean, we’re not exclusive, but the thought of him being with Gina . . . or anyone else really, it makes me want to punch something. Hard.” A knot formed in Elle’s belly just at the thought of Gina and Luke together.
“So tell him. Tell him you want to be monogamous.”
“I don’t know . . .” Her voice trailed off as she stared down at her desk.
“Because of Troy. You want to see what might happen.”
“Maybe, yeah. I just feel—unsettled. My head is in a daze, and not in a good way. The idea of betraying either of them makes me sick to my stomach.”
“You listen to me, you’re a grown woman. There is nothing wrong with exploring this. You owe it to yourself to see what you want. Not what Troy wants or what Luke wants. But what you want.”
“What if Troy’s right about me? What if I can never commit to anyone else? Am I gonna end up some crazy old maid who writes about romance, but who has absolutely no idea what she’s talking about?”
“Okay, bite your tongue. No one even says ‘old maid’ anymore. And have you ever thought maybe you just can’t commit yourself to him?”
“I’ve considered it.”
“But . . . ?”
“But I felt guilty. Troy’s wonderful. I mean seriously, there’s no one better.”
“Honey, he could be the most perfect person on the planet, but if he’s not the guy for you, that’s all that matters. Stop. Feeling. Guilty.”
Elle leaned her elbows on the desk, hanging her head in her hands. “If only . . .”
Elle heard Whitney rise to her feet to stand behind her. She stroked Elle’s back gently with her hand. “What am I gonna do with you?”
“Put me to sleep,” Elle joked. “Put me out of my misery.”
“Nah. You’re stronger than that. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“Me?” Elle’s eyebrows pinched together. “You need to get out more.”
“I’m serious, Ellie. You’re a strong, intelligent, creative woman. Yes, you’ve made mistakes. Yes, you hurt someone you never intended to hurt. You’re human, irrevocably human.”
Elle stood, wiped her face, and sank into Whitney’s arms. “Thank you for being you.”
“I love you, honey. You’ll figure this out.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You will.”
Elle’s moment of comfort in Whitney’s arms was short-lived when Nicole buzzed.
“Elle, Luke Kingston is here to see you.”
“Oh God,” Elle murmured into Whitney’s shoulder.
“He doesn’t know any of this, does he?” Whitney handed her the box of tissue; Elle eagerly grabbed a tissue and dabbed her face. She didn’t want Luke to see her like this.
“No.”
Elle pressed against the intercom button. “Please send him in.”
“No time like the present,” Whitney said, walking to the door. “Text me later. Let me know how you’re