you, or by myself, or even by Piper. I was coming home to talk to you tonight, and not just because I found out Ivy was cheating on me.”
Her eyes go wide. “Peyton told you. I didn’t think she was going to. I told her to sleep on it.”
I shake my head. “No, not Peyton. An old buddy of mine saw Ivy get on an elevator with a guy at the hotel. You told me you were watching Piper. I couldn’t get hold of Ivy earlier, and she hasn’t come home yet. I can put two and two together like that. See not all brawn and no brains,” I say, and I’m rewarded with a wobbly smile.
“I never meant that.”
I push her hair back and cup her face. “So you knew about Ivy?”
“Just today. Things didn’t add up, something was off with Ivy. Then we drove by the hotel and saw her getting out of her car. Peyton wanted proof, and she went to get it. I would have told you, or Peyton would have. I couldn’t let you go on like that. It wasn’t fair, but how do I go against my sister? Landon I never understood why she went after you either.”
“Hey,” I say, teasing. “What’s not to like.”
She lightly pounds her fist into my chest. “You know what I mean?”
I run my thumb over her cheek. “I know.”
“Landon,” she murmurs, a hiccup sob catching in her throat. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’ve been my rock, and now I’m going to take care of you. Not just today, Ella. Forever. I want us to be a family. I want you to wear my grandmother’s ring.”
Her eyes light up and I’m unable to wait one more second. I cup the back of her neck and press my lips to hers, and the second I do, I swear to fucking God, fireworks go off in my brain, and my throat squeezes tight. We lost so much goddamn time.
I break the kiss and her throat gurgles, a mixture of pain and joy in her eyes. “I don’t want to hurt Ivy.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone either but Ivy and I are done. She’s with someone else right now, and this isn’t wrong, Ella. This is right and has been a long time coming.”
“Piper…”
“She’s my daughter. She is my heart. Nothing can change that. We’ll work this out, and know this. Everything worth having is worth fighting for. I know we’ve had a long and convoluted road to get here, Ella. But without it, I wouldn’t have had Piper and I would never want to change that.” I pull her up, and put my arms around her. “I just hate that I didn’t fight for the girl I love earlier.”
“You mean me, right?” she asks with a chuckle.
“Yeah, I mean you, and if it’s okay with you, I’d like to take you upstairs, get you out of these clothes and spend the rest of the night and the rest of my life showing you how much I want you, how right we are together.”
She puts her hands on my shoulders, and she pushes me back. My God, have I read this all wrong? Does she not want what I want?
“Ella?”
She holds her hand out. “I’m Ella Holmes,” I stare at her outstretched arm for a second and tension leaves my body as a laugh bubbles up inside me. I take her hand, bring it to my mouth and kiss it.
“I know who you are.”
“Just getting that out in the open, Landon.” The joy and lightness in her voice fills my heart with all the love I have for her. She angles her head, a small smirk on her face. “Just want to make sure we’re on the same page here.”
“I’m Landon Brooks. The guy’s room you snuck into. The guy you gave your virginity to.”
“That night…it was wonderful.” She puts her arms around me, and lifts her head, her mouth poised open for me, and the welcoming sight nearly makes me fucking sob with happiness. “I never regretted that decision.”
“You have no idea how honored I was. But I wish I’d known. I would have been easier with you.”
She glances away. What is she hiding from me? “Ella?” I ask and turn her face to meet mine. “No more secrets okay. None.”
“I haven’t been with anyone but you.”
My heart nearly explodes in my chest, and I swallow against a painful throat. This woman is a gift, and