Page 229 of Love Unwritten

“Yes?”

“Remember when I asked you if you like like Ellie?”

“Who could forget it?” I tease.

“Do you think she like likes you back?”

I laugh, which makes him frown.

“I’m not laughing at you,” I clarify.

“Oh.” He doesn’t seem to believe me.

“Your question just caught me off guard.”

“Why?”

“Because out of all the things I expected you to ask, that wasn’t on the list.”

He gnaws on the inside of his cheek. “I was just wondering…”

“What?”

“If she like likes you and you like like her, would you ever…”

“Date her?”

“What’s that?”

“Ask her to be my girlfriend.” I know he is aware of that concept, seeing as he had three in the last year.

“Oh yeah. That.”

“Would it be okay with you if I did?”

“If you did what? Ask Ellie to be your girlfriend?”

“Yeah.”

“Heck yeah! I love her.”

I take a deep breath. “I don’t want you to get too excited, but…”

Nico’s eyes light up as he nods.

Too late. He is practically vibrating with enthusiasm right now.

I pin him in place with my stare. “It may not happen.”

“But it could?”

I push the worry away and say, “Yeah. One day.”

Nico throws his fist in the air. “Yes!”

Everything between Ellie and me is still rather new, but our connection is serious enough for us to admit we love each other. Hiding those feelings from Nico doesn’t sit right with me, which is why I didn’t want to ask her to be my girlfriend without my son knowing about us. Ellie had agreed when I mentioned it. She said that he is a big part of our lives, so to keep a secret like that from him feels unfair, especially after our trip to London.

“So, when do I get a brother?”

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