Page 72 of The Rules We Broke
“I know,” he murmured, voice cracking. “I should have. But I’m here now. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“Brady, how can we ever make it work? Too much has happened and not enough has changed.”
He shaped my face with his hands, thumbs gently brushing the tears from my cheeks. “One thing that’s never changed,” he whispered, “is that I love you. And I’ve only ever loved you.”
I opened my mouth to protest—but he found my lips before the words could come.
For a moment, the world around us exhaled. His kiss was gentle at first, uncertain—testing the waters like we were on the edge of something brand new. When I kissed him back, he didn’t hesitate. He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding through my hair, then down my back, anchoring me against him.
I lost track of time and space as we stood there for minutes, the warmth of his minty breath mingling with mine. The ache to be as close to him as possible running through my veins.
When we finally broke apart, breathless, he kissed my forehead with swollen lips.
“You don’t know how much I’ve missed you, Ellie.”
“I might have an idea,” I said, still trying to catch my breath.
Then he did something I hadn’t felt in years—he lifted me off my feet like he used to, eyes alive with happiness. It was Brady—more grounded, more grown. But still Brady.
“Will you come with me somewhere?”
“It’s kind of late,” I said, but my heart was already halfway out the door.
“I know, but we need to talk, and I want to show you something.”
I thought about it for a moment. “All right.” We definitely needed to talk.
He kissed me again, briefly but tenderly, before setting me down.
“You should probably change first.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise, just go put on some jeans and a warm shirt.”
I started toward the back staircase, but Brady grabbed my hand, spun me into a dip, and kissed me again—this one longer, firmer, more heated.
“Sorry, darlin’. I’m just making up for lost time.” He pulled me upright, eyes locked on mine. “I do love you, Ellie.”
I didn’t say it back. Not yet. He didn’t seem surprised. “I love you enough for the both of us,” he said, brushing a kiss to my cheek.
I walked away in a lovely daze. Up the narrow, hidden staircase, the one that always felt like a secret passage in childhood. I didn’t know what came next, but I found I didn’t care—not tonight. For the first time in a long time, I felt like myself, and I didn’t want to lose that feeling.
I changed into some new jeans I’d had delivered to the house, then pulled on one of my old Auburn sweatshirts. It felt fitting—equal parts comfort and defiance.
When I came down the main staircase, Brady was waiting in the foyer. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up like I’d just stepped out of one of his favorite memories.
He met me at the last step, wrapping me in his arms. Even with me higher up, I was still shorter. Still his Ellie.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yep.”
“Do you have a warm coat you can wear?”
“I left mine in Atlanta,” I said. “I can check my aunt’s closet.”
Brady shook his head. “You can borrow mine again. When I got it back today, it smelled like you.”
